Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 330 § 330-4
Definitions (Westwood Short-Term Rental)
Operative Text
The following terms used in this chapter shall be construed in accordance with the following definitions: Primary Residence Any property at which a resident resides for at least nine (9) months of the calendar year. Short-Term Rental (STR) The rental of a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, for 28 or fewer consecutive calendar days, as otherwise defined by M.G.L. Chapter 64G , A. The term excludes i) properties that are, or that are required by law to be, licensed as a lodging house, hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast establishment; and ii) Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or their associated primary dwelling units. Short-Term Rental Operator (STR Operator) Any person operating a Short-Term Rental (STR). An Operator must be the owner of the Short-Term Rental Unit. Short-Term Rental Unit (STR Unit) A dwelling unit, or portion thereof, that is being offered as a Short-Term Rental (STR).
Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 330 § 330-4 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the town's short-term rental regulations. A 'Short-Term Rental' covers stays of 28 or fewer consecutive days but explicitly excludes licensed lodging houses, hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) along with their associated primary dwellings. Critically, only the owner of a dwelling unit may qualify as an STR Operator under this chapter — non-owner hosts do not meet the definition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 330 § 330-4, a compliant STR operator in Westwood is the property's owner, not a lessee or subletter. Operators generally confirm that their unit is not classified or legally required to be licensed as a hotel, motel, lodging house, or bed-and-breakfast, and that it is not an ADU or the primary dwelling associated with an ADU, before listing it as a short-term rental. Understanding these definitions is a practical starting point for determining whether a property is even eligible to operate under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, CH. 330 § 330-4 is relevant because it limits who can legally operate a short-term rental in Westwood to the property's owner — meaning a tenant who sublets a unit as a short-term rental would not meet the definition of a lawful STR Operator. If a tenant believes their landlord or another party is operating an STR in violation of these definitions, they may raise that concern with the relevant local authority or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Westwood's bylaws. Understanding these definitions can also help tenants recognize whether their own dwelling unit falls within or outside the scope of CH. 330's requirements.
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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