Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 330 § 330-8
Certificate of Registration (Westwood Short-Term Rental)
Operative Text
All STR Units shall be annually registered with the Town. A STR Certificate of Registration, with or without conditions, shall be issued by the Town Planner following receipt and satisfactory review of all submittal items required pursuant to § 330-9 , and upon determination of eligibility pursuant to § 330-6 . A. Prior to the issuance of a STR Certificate of Registration, the Town Planner shall request a report from the Town of Westwood Health Division, Building Division, and Fire Department, each of which may conduct a pre-approval health and safety inspection pursuant to § 330-12 . B. The STR Certificate of Registration shall be subject to the Applicant's compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including provisions of this chapter and the Town of Westwood's Zoning Bylaw. C. The STR Certificate of Registration shall be valid for one (1) calendar year or portion thereof. Each Application for an annual renewal of a STR Certificate of Registration shall be considered and processed in the same manner as the initial Application for STR Certificate of Registration. D. The STR Certificate of Registration shall include a registration number, and shall identify the type of STR Unit, the specific rooms that may be used as sleeping accommodations, and the maximum occupancy for each such room and for the STR unit as a whole. E. A STR Certificate of Registration shall be non-transferable; and shall become null and void upon any change in property ownership and/or upon any change in the Primary Residence of the Short-Term Rental Operator that makes the unit ineligible for operation as a Short-Term Rental under this Chapter. F. The STR Operator may request Modification of a STR Certificate of Registration during the term of the Certificate of Registration, to alter the floor plan and/or maximum occupancy of an STR Unit, or to change the contact information for the STR Operator or secondary contact person. In such event, the Town Planner shall review and process the Modification Application in the same manner as it would review and process the initial Application. No Modification shall be granted for a change property ownership or change in Primary Residence of the STR Operator. G. The Town Planner may deny an Application for STR Unit for good cause.
Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 330 § 330-8 establishes that every short-term rental (STR) unit in Westwood must be registered with the Town on an annual basis through a Certificate of Registration issued by the Town Planner. Before a certificate is issued, the Health Division, Building Division, and Fire Department may each conduct a pre-approval health and safety inspection. The certificate is tied to the specific operator and property — it cannot be transferred to a new owner or remain valid if the operator's primary residence changes in a way that makes the unit ineligible — and it must be renewed each year following the same process as the initial application.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 330 § 330-8, compliant STR operators in Westwood obtain and maintain a current Certificate of Registration before listing or renting their unit, and they renew it annually through the Town Planner's office. Operators generally keep their registration information current, including room designations, maximum occupancy figures, and contact details, and they submit a Modification Application through the Town Planner whenever those details change. Because the certificate becomes void upon a change in property ownership or a disqualifying change in the operator's primary residence, operators who anticipate such changes are generally aware that a new application process would be required.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 330 § 330-8 gives guests and neighbors a basis for verifying whether a Westwood STR unit is operating with a valid, current Certificate of Registration issued by the Town Planner. A lawfully registered unit will have an assigned registration number and will specify which rooms may be used for sleeping and the maximum occupancy allowed — information that tenants or guests can request to confirm. Those who believe an STR is operating without a valid certificate or outside its registered conditions may raise the matter with the Town of Westwood directly, or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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