Truro, Mass., Gen. Bylaws ch. 2 § 1 (eff. June 2, 2025) § 2-1-5
Penalties and Enforcement
Operative Text
2-1-5-1 Enforcement Options. Whoever violates any provision of this bylaw,
or a regulation promulgated hereunder may be penalized by indictment or on
complaint brought in the district court. The Town may seek to enjoin
violations thereof through any lawful process, and the election of one remedy
by the Town shall not preclude enforcement through any other lawful means.
2-1-5-2 Non-Criminal Disposition. Whoever violates any provision of this
bylaw, or a regulation promulgated hereunder may be penalized by a
noncriminal disposition process as provided in Massachusetts General Laws,
Chapter 40, section 21D and the Town's non-criminal disposition by-law
(Chapter 2). If non-criminal disposition is elected, then any person who
violates any provision of this bylaw or regulation shall be subject to a penalty
in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense; two
hundred dollars ($200) for the second offense; and three hundred dollars
($300) for a third and subsequent offense. Each day or portion thereof shall
constitute a separate offense. The Board of Health or its agent, or any police
officer of the Town, shall be the enforcing authority.
2-1-5-3 Suspension of Certificate of Registration. If a notice of violation of
this bylaw or any regulation promulgated hereunder or other order is issued to
the Owner of a dwelling unit operated as a Short-Term Rental by the Board of
Health or its designee, after a Certificate of Registration is issued, the Board
of Health, after a hearing, may suspend for a period of time determined by the
Board of Health or revoke said Certificate of Registration until the violation
has been cured or otherwise resolved. Multiple violations by any Owner may,
at the discretion of the Board of Health and after a hearing, disqualify that
Owner from obtaining a Certificate of Registration for a period of up to three
years.
2-1-5-4 Civil Penalty. In accordance with G.L. c. 64G, §14(v), the Town may
assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for any violation of this bylaw or a
regulation issued hereunder. Each day a violation continues shall be
considered a separate offense.Truro, Mass., Gen. Bylaws ch. 2 § 1 — Short-Term Rental § 2-1-5 establishes a layered enforcement framework for violations of the town's short-term rental rules. Violations can be pursued through criminal indictment, non-criminal fines starting at $100 for a first offense and escalating to $300 for third and subsequent offenses (with each day counting as a separate offense), civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day, or injunctive relief — and the town may use more than one of these paths simultaneously. A short-term rental operator's Certificate of Registration can also be suspended or revoked after a hearing, and repeat violators may be barred from obtaining a new certificate for up to three years.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of short-term rentals in Truro should be aware that § 2-1-5 gives the Board of Health, police officers, and the town itself multiple concurrent tools to address non-compliance. A compliant operator generally maintains an active Certificate of Registration, promptly addresses any notice of violation, and avoids conditions that could trigger escalating daily fines — which can reach $5,000 per day under the civil penalty provision — or suspension of their registration. Operators with multiple violations risk a discretionary three-year disqualification from holding a Certificate of Registration, underscoring the importance of ongoing adherence to the bylaw and any regulations issued under it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants or neighbors affected by a short-term rental that may be operating in violation of Truro's rules, § 2-1-5 identifies the Board of Health (or its agent) and town police as the primary enforcing authorities under the non-criminal disposition process. Complaints about potential violations can generally be directed to the Truro Board of Health, which has the authority to issue notices of violation, hold hearings, and seek suspension or revocation of an operator's Certificate of Registration. Those seeking to understand their options under this provision may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the town's non-criminal disposition bylaw (Chapter 2) for procedural details.
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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