Cheshire, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 178 § 178-1
Standards for short-term rentals (Cheshire Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
The Town of Cheshire supports the safe and legal operation of short-term rental dwellings to support the local economy and offer a variety of overnight lodging options for visitors to the Town. The performance standard section will offer the assurance that all short-term rental properties will be acceptable uses within the Town of Cheshire if the performance standards are met for any given property and that the property owner has applied for and received a registration of the property as a short-term rental and applied for an received a business certificate. A. The property owner must apply to register the property on a form provided by the Town of Cheshire and receive a business certificate from the Town of Cheshire. B. The property shall follow all relevant state and local statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to health and safety. C. The property owner shall provide, with the registration application, a copy of the registration certificate with the MA Department of Revenue for each dwelling unit they are registering. D. A registration fee of $100 shall be paid at the time of registration and $100 at each annual renewal. E. A lack of compliance with these standard or any complaint arising from the use of the property will be referred to the appropriate Town department for investigation. If the property owner is found to be in violation of a performance standard, the short-term rental registration may be revoked after a hearing with seven days' advance notice and may not be renewed until the property complies.
Cheshire, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 178 § 178-1 establishes a framework under which short-term rental properties in the Town of Cheshire are permitted uses, provided they meet defined performance standards. Operators must register with the Town, obtain a business certificate, pay a $100 registration fee (and $100 annually at renewal), and supply proof of Massachusetts Department of Revenue registration for each dwelling unit. Properties must also comply with all applicable state and local health and safety rules; complaints or non-compliance are referred to the appropriate Town department, and a registration may be revoked after a noticed hearing if a violation is found.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 178 § 178-1, compliant short-term rental operators in Cheshire generally complete the Town's registration form, secure a business certificate, and submit a copy of their MA Department of Revenue registration certificate for each unit before accepting guests. The $100 registration fee is due at initial registration and again at each annual renewal. Operators who receive a complaint or are found out of compliance should be aware that the Town may refer the matter for investigation and, following a hearing with at least seven days' advance notice, may revoke the short-term rental registration until the property comes into compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 178 § 178-1 establishes that short-term rental properties in Cheshire are required to meet performance standards covering registration, business certification, and health and safety compliance. Guests or neighbors who believe a property is operating in violation of these standards can note that the bylaw directs complaints to be referred to the appropriate Town department for investigation. Those with concerns about a specific property's compliance may consider contacting the Town of Cheshire directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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