Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 145 § 145-5
Inspection (Great Barrington Short-Term Rental of Residential Properties)
Operative Text
A. Short-term rentals may be subject to inspection by the Great Barrington Health Department, Fire Department, and/or the Building Inspector. Short-term rental owners are required to provide access for the purpose of conducting safety inspections when necessary. Failure to provide access to an inspector upon request and after proper notice will invalidate the license to operate a short-term rental until an inspection by the appropriate authority has been conducted, and all violations have been addressed to the satisfaction of the Department and/or the Town. Failure to comply with orders to correct deficiencies may result in fines or refusal to allow license renewal. B. Owners can appeal a written violation within 21 days of notice in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D. C. In the event that there are three or more violations within a twelve-month period, short-term rental registrations may be revoked and permanently denied by a vote of the Selectboard.
Great Barrington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 145 § 145-5 establishes that short-term rental properties may be inspected by the Health Department, Fire Department, and/or Building Inspector for safety purposes. Owners must allow access when proper notice has been given; refusing to do so invalidates the rental license until a satisfactory inspection is completed. Repeated non-compliance can result in fines, license non-renewal, or—if three or more violations occur within a twelve-month period—permanent revocation of the registration by a Selectboard vote. Owners who receive a written violation notice have 21 days to appeal under MGL c. 40, § 21D.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 145 § 145-5, compliant short-term rental operators in Great Barrington generally maintain their properties in a condition ready for safety inspection by the Health Department, Fire Department, or Building Inspector at any time proper notice is given. Operators typically respond promptly to access requests and correct any cited deficiencies before the next inspection cycle, since unresolved orders can lead to fines or license non-renewal. Operators who receive a written violation notice are aware that they have a 21-day window to file an appeal in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D, and that accumulating three or more violations within twelve months puts the registration at risk of permanent revocation by the Selectboard.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 145 § 145-5 is primarily directed at short-term rental owners rather than tenants, but guests and neighbors should know that Great Barrington short-term rentals are subject to safety oversight by the Health Department, Fire Department, and Building Inspector. If a property appears to have unaddressed safety deficiencies, concerns can generally be reported to the relevant town department, which has authority to inspect and require corrections. Those with questions about how this provision applies to a particular situation may wish to contact the Great Barrington town offices or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance.
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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