Truro, Mass., Gen. Bylaws ch. 2 § 1 (eff. June 2, 2025) § 2-1-2
Definitions
Operative Text
For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the definitions
indicated.
“Corporation”. All businesses and charitable entities required to file Articles
of Incorporation and Annual Reports with the Massachusetts Secretary of
State or an equivalent agency of another state, pursuant to G.L. c. 156D, § 2
or G.L. c. 180, §4, respectively.
“Owner”. Any person who alone, or severally with others, has legal or
equitable title or beneficial interest in any dwelling unit; a mortgagee in
possession; or agent, trustee or person appointed by the courts. An Owner can
be a single person, a marital unit, a group of people, LLC, or a Trust. The
Owner may also be referred to as the operator, or the Host.
“Short-Term Rental”. The rental of a whole or a portion of a residential or
secondary dwelling unit, in exchange for payment, as residential
accommodations for not more than thirty consecutive days, excluding a Hotel,
Motel, or Lodging House or Tourist Home for Transient Guests as defined in
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64GSection 2-1-2 of Truro's Short-Term Rental bylaw establishes the working definitions that apply throughout the chapter. It defines an 'Owner' broadly to include individuals, married couples, groups, LLCs, trusts, mortgagees in possession, and court-appointed agents — any of whom may also be called an operator or Host. A 'Short-Term Rental' covers the rental of all or part of a residential or secondary dwelling unit for payment lasting no more than thirty consecutive days, but it excludes hotels, motels, lodging houses, and tourist homes for transient guests as defined under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64G.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 2-1-2, property owners in Truro should be aware that the bylaw's definition of 'Owner' is intentionally broad, encompassing LLCs, trusts, and court-appointed agents in addition to individual titleholders. Operators who rent a dwelling unit — or even a portion of one — for thirty or fewer consecutive days generally fall within the chapter's definition of a Short-Term Rental and are subject to its requirements. Compliant operators typically confirm whether their ownership structure and rental arrangement meet these definitions before proceeding with any registration or operational steps required elsewhere in the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 2-1-2 establishes who qualifies as an 'Owner' and what constitutes a 'Short-Term Rental' under Truro's bylaw, which can be relevant to renters trying to understand the regulatory framework that governs their accommodations. Because the definition of Short-Term Rental is limited to stays of thirty consecutive days or fewer, tenants in longer-term arrangements may fall outside this chapter's scope entirely. Those with questions about how these definitions apply to their housing situation may find it useful to consult Truro's municipal offices or a tenant-rights organization familiar with Massachusetts short-term rental law.
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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