Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-251
Definitions
Operative Text
Autonomous unit . A residential unit that is the operator’s primary residence and being offered in its entirety as a short-term rental. The operator is not staying in the unit during the term of said rental.
Booking agent . Any person or entity that facilitates reservations of or collects payment for a short-term rental on behalf of or for an operator.
Director . The director of the inspectional services department ("ISD") or his or her designee.
Operator . A natural person who is the owner, or lessee of the owner, of a residential unit that seeks to offer said residential unit as a short-term rental.
Primary residence . A residential unit in which an operator resides for at least nine months out of a 12-month period. Primary residence shall be demonstrated by showing that as of the date of applying for registration or renewal as a short-term rental, the operator has resided in said residential unit for nine of the past 12 months or that the operator intends to reside in the residential unit for nine of the next 12 months, in accordance with the proof of primary residence requirements set forth below.
Proof of primary residence . A copy of the deed (if owner) or lease (if tenant), driver’s license or state issued identification, as well as one other document showing residency at the residential unit for the short-term rental, such as: utility bill, cable bill, or motor vehicle registration.
Residential unit . A dwelling unit within a dwelling classified under the Building Code ("Code") as residential use, as those terms are defined in the Code, but excluding: a congregate living complex, elderly housing, group residence, homeless shelter, orphanage, temporary dwelling structure, and transitional housing. This term shall not include a hotel, motel or any other non-residential use.
Shared unit . A residential unit that is the operator’s primary residence and only a portion of the unit is being offered as a short-term rental. The operator shall be staying in the unit during the term of said rental.
Short-term rental . The rental of a residential unit for its intended purpose, in exchange for payment as residential accommodations for a duration of fewer than 28 consecutive days. Such a rental may or may not be facilitated through the use of a booking agent.Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-251 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's short-term rental rules. It distinguishes between two types of rentable units—an 'autonomous unit,' where the operator is absent during the guest's stay, and a 'shared unit,' where the operator remains on the premises—and limits who qualifies as an operator to natural persons who own or lease the unit. It also defines a short-term rental as any residential stay of fewer than 28 consecutive days made in exchange for payment, and sets out what counts as a primary residence and what documents can prove it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and lessees considering short-term rentals in Somerville should familiarize themselves with the definitions in Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-251, because these terms govern eligibility and registration throughout the broader ordinance. Compliant operators generally maintain documentation—such as a deed or lease, a driver's license or state-issued ID, and a supporting residency document like a utility bill—that satisfies the proof-of-primary-residence standard. Operators also typically track their actual days of residency to demonstrate they meet the nine-out-of-twelve-month threshold that defines a primary residence under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who lease a residential unit and wish to offer it as a short-term rental should be aware that Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-251 includes lessees within the definition of 'operator,' meaning tenants may fall under the ordinance's requirements and restrictions just as owners do. The same primary-residence standard—nine months of residency within a twelve-month period—applies regardless of whether the operator owns or rents the unit. Tenants with questions about how these definitions affect their situation can consult Somerville's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) or a local tenant-rights organization for general 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 September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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