Revere, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 8 09 § 8.09.020
Definitions (Revere Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
"Condominium building." A building or structure containing individually owned units created and existing in compliance with M.G.L. ch. 183A . "Dwelling." A building or place of residence, classified for residential use. "Operator." The owner of the residential unit that the owner seeks to offer as a short-term rental. Only one owner may be registered as an operator on the short-term rental registry for a residential unit. "Owner-adjacent unit." In a residential dwelling containing four or fewer residential units, each of them owned or partially owned by the operator, and on them being the operator's primary residence, an owner-adjacent unit is any residential unit in the dwelling other than the operator's primary residence unit. "Owner-adjacent condominium unit." In a condominium building or association that includes the operator's primary residence unit, any unit also owned in whole or in part by the operator other than the operator's primary residence unit. "Primary residence unit." A Residential unit that is the primary residence of the operator, and is not located within a dwelling with other residential units, e.g. a single-family residential dwelling. "Residential unit." A dwelling unit within a dwelling that is classified as residential use and that contains at least one bedroom or sleeping area. For purposes of this chapter, a residential unit shall not include any units in a hotel, motel, licensed rooming house or lodging house or licensed bed and breakfast. "Short-term rental." The rental for a fee of a residential unit, reserved in advance, for periodic residential occupancy for a single rental period of fewer than thirty days and not exceeding in any case a cumulative total of six months of rental within a calendar year. "Short-term rental enforcement office." The department designated by the mayor authorized to implement, oversee, and enforce the provisions of this chapter and any other statutes, regulations, and ordinances relating to premises within the city of Revere that are advertised, listed, or used as short-term rental. "Short-term rental enforcement officer." Any individual authorized by the short-term rental enforcement office to enforce the provisions of this chapter. "Short-term rental registry." A database maintained by the short-term rental enforcement office that shall record and preserve information about operators who are permitted to offer residential units as short-term rental. The short-term rental registry shall be maintained by the short-term rental enforcement office. A property not listed in the short-term rental registry is prohibited from being offered for short-term rental. "Short-term rental unit." A residential unit that is offered, advertised, or otherwise used for short-term rental. ( C.O. 21-211 , § 1, 8/23/2021 )
Section 8.09.020 of Revere's short-term rental ordinance establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the city's short-term rental regulatory framework. Key terms include 'short-term rental,' which covers fee-based rentals of residential units lasting fewer than thirty days and no more than six cumulative months per calendar year, and 'operator,' meaning the owner who registers a unit for such use. The definitions also distinguish between different property configurations—such as owner-adjacent units and primary residence units—that determine which rules apply to a given rental arrangement. Only units listed in the city's short-term rental registry are permitted to be offered for short-term rental.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners in Revere who wish to offer a unit for short-term rental should familiarize themselves with the defined terms in § 8.09.020, as these definitions govern how the rest of the ordinance applies to their specific property type. Compliant operators ensure they are properly registered in the short-term rental registry maintained by the short-term rental enforcement office, since any property not listed in that registry is prohibited from being offered for short-term rental. Owners should also note that only one owner may be registered as an operator per residential unit, and that distinctions between 'owner-adjacent units,' 'owner-adjacent condominium units,' and 'primary residence units' affect eligibility and registration requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants in Revere, § 8.09.020 provides important context about what qualifies as a short-term rental and who is authorized to operate one. Because only registered operators may legally offer a residential unit for short-term rental, tenants who believe a unit is being rented without proper registry listing may have grounds to raise that issue with the short-term rental enforcement office. Tenants seeking to understand their rights in connection with a short-term rental arrangement may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Revere's ordinance.
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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