Overview: Are STRs allowed in Medford? Yes. Short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Medford, Massachusetts, but only if the property is the operator’s primary residence and all requirements of Medford’s STR ordinance are met. The city explicitly permits:

• Home‑sharing of rooms in the operator’s primary residence, 365 days per year, provided the operator occupies the unit throughout the entire rental term.
• Whole‑unit rentals of the operator’s primary residence for up to 90 days per year (consecutive or nonconsecutive) when the operator is not present during the entire rental term.

How to start a short‑term rental business in Medford

1. Confirm eligibility and property fit

• Confirm the unit is your primary residence (evidence of residency will be requested by the Building Department).
• Verify there are no outstanding building, sanitary, zoning, or fire code violations; unpaid taxes, water/sewer or tax liens; or any other municipal orders that would prohibit STR use.
• Ensure compliance with your condominium documents, HOA, and leases (where applicable).
• Ensure the unit’s occupancy and use are permitted under zoning; if uncertain, request a written zoning status determination from the Building Commissioner.

2. Prepare safety, operations, and compliance systems

• Install and maintain required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors per state and local standards.
• Create and install in‑unit signage that includes: waste disposal instructions per city recycling/trash programs; local parking rules and visitor parking info; local noise ordinances; operator contact information or a locally available contact for emergencies; locations of fire extinguishers and (if applicable) exits and manual fire box alarms in common areas.
• Develop a community information card for guests that includes: emergency phone numbers for Medford Police and Fire; on‑street parking regulations and associated fines (if any).
• Plan guest communications to align with city rules (e.g., occupancy limits, noise, parking).
• Set up guest record retention for all stays to demonstrate compliance (residency, owner permission if not the owner, and days booked) for as long as you operate the STR.
• Establish a system to receive and action booking agent feedback from quarterly reports (if you use third‑party platforms).

3. Complete registration and licensing

• Register with the Building Department online or by paper to be listed in the city’s Short‑Term Rental Registry.
• Pay the annual registration fee of $200 (per unit/operator combination).
• If you list on booking platforms, ensure you do not exceed one listing per booking agent for the same unit.

4. Ongoing compliance and monitoring

• Do not rent for fewer than 10 consecutive hours or at an hourly rate. Commercial meetings and uses are prohibited.
• Comply with all federal, state, and local laws, including Fair Housing and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 151B.
• Ensure the property is free of unresolved violations; if a violation is issued, STR use must be discontinued until cured.
• Track rentals carefully to stay within the 90‑day annual limit for whole‑unit rentals when you are not present.
• If you receive three or more violations within six months (either under this ordinance or any municipal ordinance/state law/building code), the property becomes ineligible for STR use for six months from the third or subsequent violation.
• Monitor booking agent reports and correct any discrepancies.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• City STR registration with the Building Department (online or paper).
• Owner permission/attestation if you are a tenant and/or compliance with condominium/HOA documents (certification at registration).
• Annual registration fee of $200, per unit/operator pairing.
• In‑unit signage with: waste disposal instructions; parking rules; noise ordinance; operator or local contact; fire extinguisher/exit/alarm locations.
• Community information card for guests: Medford Police and Fire emergency numbers; on‑street parking rules and fines (if applicable).
• Guest records to demonstrate compliance (residency; owner consent; rental days).
• Evidence that you are listing no more than one listing per booking agent per unit.
• If you are a booking agent: prepare to submit quarterly electronic reports (format defined by the city) covering listing location, room vs. whole unit, occupied nights, and operator contact info.

Specific regulations for Medford STRs Core operating standards

• Primary residence requirement: The residential unit must be the operator’s primary residence.
• One party at a time: Units may be rented to only one party of guests at a time (no renting separate bedrooms, beds, or spaces to separate parties).
• Occupancy cap: The unit is limited to six guests total, or two guests per guest bedroom, whichever is fewer.
• Booking agent limits: No more than one listing per booking agent per unit.

Rental availability

• Home‑sharing (shared unit): Allowed 365 days per year. One bedroom must be reserved for and occupied by the operator during the entire rental.
• Whole‑unit rentals when the operator is not present: Allowed up to 90 days in total per calendar year (consecutive or nonconsecutive). The operator must not be occupying the unit during those rentals.

Rental period and prohibited uses

• Minimum rental duration: Stays must be 10 consecutive hours or longer (no hourly or sub‑10‑hour rentals).
• No commercial meetings or commercial uses in STRs.

Compliance prerequisites

• No outstanding violations: The unit must be free of any unresolved building, sanitary, zoning, or fire code violations; unpaid taxes; water/sewer or tax liens; abatement orders; stop‑work orders; or other municipal prohibitions. If a violation occurs, STR use stops until cured.
• Three‑strike rule: Three or more violations within six months (under this ordinance or any municipal/state law/building code) render the property ineligible for STR use for six months from the third/subsequent violation.
• Fair Housing and anti‑discrimination: Operators must comply with the Fair Housing Act and Massachusetts G.L. c. 151B and local equivalents.
• Fire/life safety: Required posted information includes locations of fire extinguishers and, where applicable, exits and manual fire box alarms in common areas.

Notifications and guest‑facing requirements

• In‑unit signage (inside, entry level, visible) must include:
  • Waste disposal instructions per city recycling/trash programs.
  • City parking regulations (including visitor parking passes, street sweeping, snow emergencies).
  • Local noise ordinances.
  • Operator contact information, or a locally available contact for emergencies.
  • Locations of fire extinguishers and, if applicable, exits and manual fire box alarms in the building’s common area.
• Community information card for each guest:
  • Emergency numbers for Medford Police and Fire.
  • Description of on‑street parking rules and associated fines (if any).

Records and reporting

• Operator records: Keep records to demonstrate compliance for as long as you operate the STR, including:
  • Residency evidence (if applicable).
  • Owner permission/consent (if you are a tenant or non‑owner).
  • Number of days per year the unit is offered for short‑term rental.
• Booking agent reporting: Booking agents with listings in Medford must submit quarterly electronic reports to the city, including listing location, room vs. whole‑unit designation, occupied nights, and operator contact information.

Registration details and renewal

• Registration is required with the Building Department, online or by paper.
• Annual registration fee: $200, per unit/operator pairing.
• Registration attaches to both the unit and the operator; it does not transfer automatically upon sale. New owners/operators must re‑register to continue STR operations.

Enforcement

• Violations may be enforced via non‑criminal disposition (MGL c. 40, s. 21D) and per the Medford Code of Ordinances.
• Each day of violation is a separate offense.
• The city may seek injunctions and additional penalties/avenues allowed by law.
• Booking agents are prohibited from accepting fees for listings in violation once the city has notified them of the violation.
• Unpaid taxes or surcharges become a lien against the property.
• The Building Commissioner may promulgate regulations to implement the ordinance and enter agreements with booking agents or others to assist with enforcement.

State‑level considerations that may apply in Massachusetts

• State building, fire/life safety, and housing codes: STRs must comply with the Massachusetts State Building Code and related safety standards as administered by the local building department.
• Taxes: Massachusetts imposes a room occupancy excise on lodging (including many short‑term rentals), and some municipalities levy local add‑ons. Boston’s combined state and local rate is 5.7% (5% state occupancy tax + 0.75% Boston local tax), but rates can vary in other municipalities and under certain exemptions. Always verify your tax obligations with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Medford Collector/Treasurer.

Contact information for local STR oversight in Medford Building Department (Short‑Term Rentals)

• Address: City Hall, Room 115A, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155
• Phone: (781) 393‑2509
• Fax: (781) 393‑2415
• Commissioner: Scott Vandewalle — svandewalle@medford‑ma.gov
• Head Clerk: Amy Tenaglia — atenaglia@medford‑ma.gov
• Website: www.medfordma.org/departments/building-department

Additional Medford city resources

• City Hall general contact: www.medfordma.org/contact-us
• Building permits and applications portal (for related permits/inspections): www2.citizenserve.com/Portal/?installationid=315

Important source links

• City of Medford Short‑Term Rental ordinance/guidance (Building Department, updated Sept. 7, 2022): resources.finalsite.net/images/v1675958402/medfordmaorg/kgwuypk8tedl5nmd2prw/SHORT-TERM-RENTAL.pdf
• Building Department (STR forms/links and department contacts): www.medfordma.org/departments/building-department
• Building permit and inspection portal: www2.citizenserve.com/Portal/?installationid=315
• State Building Code overview: www.mass.gov/eopss/consumer-prot-and-bus-lic/license-type/csl/building-codebbrs.html
• Massachusetts state occupancy/excise tax information (general DOR references; confirm current rates and applicability): www.mass.gov/ (search “room occupancy excise”)

Notes

• This summary reflects Medford’s STR ordinance and Building Department guidance available as of the provided sources. Regulations and enforcement practices can change; confirm current requirements with the Building Department before operating.