Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 238 § 238-7
Penalties; enforcement (Springfield Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
A. Penalties. (1) Offering an ineligible unit as a short-term rental. Any person who offers a unit as a short-term rental, or any booking agent who accepts a fee for booking a unit as a short-term rental, where such unit is not an eligible residential unit, shall be fined $300 per violation, per day. Each day's failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation. The Commissioner, the Director, or a designee may also seek an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting the offering of the unit as a short-term rental. (2) Failure to register. Any person who offers an eligible residential unit as a short-term rental without registering with the City under this chapter, or any person who offers an eligible residential unit as a short-term rental while the unit's registration is suspended under this chapter, shall be fined $300 per violation per day. Each day's failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation. (3) Failure to comply with notice of violation. Any person who fails to comply with any notice of violation or other order issued pursuant to this section by the Director, the Commissioner, or a designee for a violation of any provision of this section shall be fined $300 per violation per day. Each day's failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation. B. Enforcement. (1) Enforcement by the City. All violations of this chapter may be penalized by a noncriminal disposition as provided for in MGL c. 40, § 21D . All violations of this chapter are subject to penalty in accordance with the ordinances of City of Springfield, as amended. The provisions of this chapter may also be enforced according to Massachusetts Session Laws Acts of 2008 Chapter 106. Nothing herein shall be construed to preclude the City from seeking any additional penalties or taking any additional enforcement action as allowed for by color of law. (2) Enforcement by booking agent. The City shall enter into agreements with booking agents for assistance in enforcing the provisions of this section, including but not limited to an agreement whereby the booking agent agrees to remove a listing from its platform for exceeding the maximum number of days a residential unit may be offered as a short-term rental, whereby the booking agent agrees to remove a listing from its platform that is deemed ineligible for use as a short-term rental under the provisions of this chapter, and whereby the booking agent agrees to prohibit a host from listing any listing without a valid registration number from the City. Any booking agent that fails to enter into such agreements to actively prevent, remove or de-list any ineligible listings shall be prohibited from conducting business in the City, at the City's sole discretion.
Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 238 § 238-7 establishes a penalty structure for short-term rental violations, including offering an ineligible unit, operating without registration, or ignoring a notice of violation. Each of these infractions carries a fine of $300 per violation per day, with every additional day of non-compliance counted as a separate violation. The City may also pursue injunctive relief through the courts and can coordinate with booking platforms to remove non-compliant listings or bar uncooperative booking agents from doing business in Springfield.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 238 § 238-7, operators of short-term rentals in Springfield generally maintain a valid registration, confirm that their unit qualifies as an eligible residential unit before listing it, and respond promptly to any notice of violation issued by the Director, Commissioner, or their designee. Because fines accrue at $300 per day per violation, compliant operators treat each day of continued non-compliance as a distinct financial exposure. Booking agents working with hosts are also subject to enforcement obligations, so operators should be aware that their listings may be removed from platforms if the unit's registration status is not current.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 238 § 238-7 is primarily directed at hosts and booking agents rather than tenants, but tenants living in buildings where a unit is being offered as an illegal or unregistered short-term rental may have grounds to raise concerns with the City of Springfield's enforcement authorities, including the Director or Commissioner named in this provision. If a tenant believes their building or unit is being used as a short-term rental in violation of this chapter, they may consider contacting the City to report the potential violation, which could trigger a notice of violation and the associated daily fines. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Springfield's short-term rental rules can help residents understand how this provision may intersect with their housing situation.
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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