Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 145 § 145-4
Requirements for short-term rental operations (Great Barrington Short-Term Rental of Residential Properties)
Operative Text
A. An owner shall post in any short-term rental unit the following information in a conspicuous place: (1) The owner's certificate of registration with the Town; (2) Short-term rental street address; (3) Contact information for the operator and whom to call in an emergency; (4) Instructions for recycling and waste disposal; (5) Notice that dogs must be leashed when outdoors if not in a securely fenced enclosure; (6) Notice that no excessive noise shall occur after 8:00 p.m. or earlier than 8:00 a.m. B. Each unit shall contain functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and a properly maintained and charged multi-purpose fire extinguisher. C. A short-term rental is not allowed on any property with outstanding violations of building, fire, health codes, and/or Town bylaws. D. Events that include amplified music or tents which would customarily require a license or permit are prohibited. E. Signs on the property advertising the short-term rental are prohibited.
Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 145 § 145-4 establishes a set of operational requirements for short-term rental units in the town. Owners must post specific information conspicuously inside the unit, including registration certificates, emergency contacts, and house rules covering noise, pets, and waste disposal. The provision also mandates working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and a charged fire extinguisher in every unit, and it bars short-term rentals on properties with unresolved code violations. Certain activities—such as events with amplified music or tents requiring permits—and on-property advertising signs are prohibited entirely.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to CH. 145 § 145-4 generally keep a clearly visible posting inside each rental unit that includes the town-issued registration certificate, the unit's street address, operator contact details, emergency contacts, recycling and waste instructions, and notices about the leash rule and quiet hours (8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.). Compliant operators also ensure that smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and a properly charged multi-purpose fire extinguisher are functional before each guest stay. Before listing a property, operators typically confirm that no outstanding building, fire, or health code violations exist on the property, and they avoid placing advertising signs on the premises or hosting permit-required events such as amplified-music gatherings or tented events.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under CH. 145 § 145-4, guests staying in a Great Barrington short-term rental are entitled to find a conspicuous posting with the owner's registration, the unit address, emergency contacts, and house rules, as well as working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and a fire extinguisher. If these items are absent or the property appears to have unresolved code violations, tenants or guests can document the conditions and consider reporting concerns to the relevant Town of Great Barrington enforcement office or health and building departments. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing authorities can help clarify what remedies or complaint processes may be available under this provision.
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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