Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Arlington, MA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Arlington, MA, but with restrictions. STRs are prohibited in affordable/income-restricted housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Operators must certify compliance with the State Sanitary Code, Building Code, and local health/fire codes. Units must be registered annually, and records of rentals must be maintained and made available to the Town upon request. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are prohibited in affordable/income-restricted housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Operators must certify compliance with the State Sanitary Code, Building Code, and local health/fire codes. Units must be registered annually, and records of rentals must be maintained and made available to the Town upon request.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Arlington. 1. Complete the Short Term Rental Registration & Renewal Form and submit it to the Office of the Select Board. 2. Pay the annual registration fee of $25.00 per bedroom, per unit. 3. Certify compliance with the State Sanitary Code, Building Code, Fire/Carbon Monoxide requirements, and Arlington Zoning Bylaws.

1. Complete the Short Term Rental Registration & Renewal Form and submit it to the Office of the Select Board. 2. Pay the annual registration fee of $25.00 per bedroom, per unit. 3. Certify compliance with the State Sanitary Code, Building Code, Fire/Carbon Monoxide requirements, and Arlington Zoning Bylaws.

Vrbo is permitted in Arlington, MA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Arlington are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Arlington. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.