Otis, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 108 § 108-3
Registration and licensing requirements (Otis Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
A short-term rental license term is 12 months, from January 1 to December 31, and renewable between December 1 and February 1. New applications or sales of STR-registered properties must provide new registrations prior to start of, or restart of, STR. Information to be submitted to the AHJ on the forms provided and must include but is not limited to the information below. Prior to issuance or during the term, an inspection by the AHJ may be conducted to verify the information provided. A. Owner's name: as recorded by the Collector, with mailing address. B. Operator's name: the name and contact information of the local responsible party listed as the emergency contact for the STR. This may be the owner or the booking agent/hosting platform. C. Operator's agent/booking agent: hosting platform, realtor or other entity. D. MA DOR certificate of registration: a copy of the certification of registration with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. E. Health and safety compliance. Applicants shall attest under penalties of perjury that a dwelling unit or bedroom offered for STR shall comply with all state and local requirements for health and safety and the standards of fitness for human habitation as stated in the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, Chapter II, 105 CMR 410.000, by including at a minimum the following: (1) Compliance with residential smoke and CO detector law pursuit to MGL c. 148, § 26F; (2) A fire extinguisher shall be mounted in (or near) kitchens used for the STR in a clearly visible location, or if the unit offers no kitchen, a fire extinguisher will be mounted in a location easily accessible to occupants. F. Septic or municipal sewer compliance: a signed attestation as to the number of bedrooms permitted in the Board of Health records; for sewer users, a copy of a quarterly sewer user's tax bill to verify current status. G. Number of bedrooms: as listed in BOH records. H. Water supply: Well water used for drinking or cooking (potable) purposes must be tested prior to initial registration and every subsequent five years for attachment to the registration form to ensure that it is safe to use for personal consumption. I. Parking: number of off-street parking spaces provided. J. Recycling: Recycling of household waste is required. Any outside waste containers must be secured. They must be weatherproof and animal-/rodent-proof. Waste and recycling is the responsibility of the owner. Purchase of commercial compactor permit required.
Otis, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 108 § 108-3 establishes a structured annual licensing framework for short-term rentals (STRs), running calendar-year from January 1 through December 31, with renewal windows between December 1 and February 1. The rule requires property owners to submit detailed registration information to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), covering ownership, operator contacts, tax registration, health and safety attestations, septic or sewer status, bedroom counts, water quality, parking, and waste management. The AHJ retains authority to inspect properties before issuing a license or at any point during the license term to verify submitted information. New owners of previously registered STR properties must complete fresh registrations before resuming short-term rental activity.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Otis, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 108 § 108-3 generally maintain an up-to-date annual license by submitting the required registration forms to the AHJ each renewal cycle between December 1 and February 1. Compliant operators keep on file a current Massachusetts Department of Revenue certificate of registration, a signed health-and-safety attestation (including smoke and CO detector compliance under MGL c. 148, § 26F and a properly mounted fire extinguisher), and documentation of septic or sewer status and bedroom count as recorded by the Board of Health. Operators relying on well water for drinking or cooking arrange testing prior to initial registration and every five years thereafter, and they ensure that waste and recycling containers are secured, weatherproof, and animal-proof, with a commercial compactor permit obtained as required.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Guests and prospective short-term renters in Otis can look to CH. 108 § 108-3 for assurance that licensed STR units are required to meet Massachusetts State Sanitary Code standards, including functional smoke and CO detectors and accessible fire extinguishers, before a license is issued. If a rental appears to lack a current license or does not meet the health, safety, or habitability standards described in this provision, tenants may raise those concerns with the Otis AHJ, which has authority to inspect properties and verify compliance. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing offices can help individuals understand 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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