Otis, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 108 § 108-5
Additional STR requirements (Otis Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
A. Maximum occupancy. The maximum occupancy is two adult persons per bedroom, plus one. Example: A two-bedroom STR equals five persons occupancy. The Title 5 system design room count may be used to set the maximum occupancy. B. Bedrooms Available. The maximum number of bedrooms in a STR cannot exceed the number specified in the septic system design specification or the property. C. Rental duration. Renting for an hourly rate or periods less than eighteen (18) hours is prohibited. D. Extra commercial use. Commercial meetings or group events that exceed the occupancy capacity of the STR license are prohibited. E. Household waste. 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 § 108-5 sets several baseline operating rules for short-term rentals (STRs). Occupancy is capped at two adults per bedroom plus one, and the number of rentable bedrooms cannot exceed what the property's septic system is designed to handle. Rentals shorter than 18 hours are prohibited, commercial events beyond the licensed occupancy limit are banned, and owners bear full responsibility for proper waste management—including recycling, secured weatherproof containers, and a commercial compactor permit where required.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of STRs subject to CH. 108 § 108-5 generally keep their listed occupancy consistent with the two-adults-per-bedroom-plus-one formula and verify that the bedroom count advertised does not exceed the septic system's design specification. Compliant operators also ensure that no rental period is booked for less than 18 hours and that no commercial meetings or group events are permitted beyond the licensed occupancy. On the waste side, operators typically maintain secured, weatherproof, and animal-proof containers, establish a recycling program, and obtain any required commercial compactor permit before hosting guests.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Guests and tenants staying at an Otis STR are protected by the occupancy and duration standards set out in CH. 108 § 108-5, which means a rental should not be advertised or operated in ways that violate the septic-based bedroom limit or the 18-hour minimum stay rule. If a property appears to be operating outside these standards—such as overcrowding or improper waste handling—guests or neighbors can raise concerns with the Town of Otis's local licensing or code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney 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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