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Is Airbnb legal in Boston, Massachusetts?

Investor units are banned outright. Boston only registers owner-occupied units across three categories: Home Share, Limited Share, and Owner-Adjacent. Non-owner-occupied investor rentals are illegal regardless of registration, with fines starting at $300 per day. Registration is $200 a year for whole-unit categories plus a $65 business certificate.

Showing the researched rules for Boston, MA below. Type your Boston address to jump to the verdict.

Not allowed

Investor units are banned outright

Boston only registers owner-occupied units across three categories: Home Share, Limited Share, and Owner-Adjacent. Non-owner-occupied investor rentals are illegal regardless of registration, with fines starting at $300 per day. Registration is $200 a year for whole-unit categories plus a $65 business certificate.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Registration (Home Share)
Issued by
City of Boston, Inspectional Services Dept
Cost
$200 / year
Renewal
Annual

Key limits

Owner-occupancy
must be primary residence 9+ months per year
Investor units
non-owner-occupied rentals banned
Night cap
none; no annual limit for eligible units
Threshold
STR means under 28 consecutive days

Taxes

Room occupancy tax
14.95%

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Rule out investor units
    Boston bans investor units regardless of registration, so rule it out before buying.
  2. 2
    Pick your category
    Choose Home Share, Limited Share, or Owner-Adjacent based on how you occupy the unit.
  3. 3
    Register and notify
    Register with ISD, get a $65 business certificate, and notify neighbors within 300 feet.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
Condo associations frequently ban STRs; check the master deed and bylaws.
Platform enforcement
The city requires platforms to share data and remove rule-breaking units.

Sources

BNBCalc Boston guide · Airbnb Boston registration rules

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.