Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Chatham, MA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Chatham, MA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (defined as a residential dwelling or any bedroom rented for not more than 31 consecutive days) are allowed subject to registration and Board of Health rules. Occupancy is limited to two (2) occupants per legal bedroom plus two (2) additional occupants. Listings must display the Town-issued registration number; owners must provide owner/operator contact info and a 24/7 contact able to respond within two hours. Rentals must comply with applicable Town zoning, State Sanitary Code, and the State Building Code. 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.

Short-term rentals (defined as a residential dwelling or any bedroom rented for not more than 31 consecutive days) are allowed subject to registration and Board of Health rules. Occupancy is limited to two (2) occupants per legal bedroom plus two (2) additional occupants. Listings must display the Town-issued registration number; owners must provide owner/operator contact info and a 24/7 contact able to respond within two hours. Rentals must comply with applicable Town zoning, State Sanitary Code, and the State Building Code.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Chatham. 1) Submit an online Short-Term Rental Registration application via the Town’s portal and include the required sworn affidavit and owner/operator contact information; 2) Pay the annual fee (initially $50) and submit any required documentation; 3) Undergo required inspections (all first-time applications inspected; phased annual inspections starting 2025; renew annually by Feb 28).

1) Submit an online Short-Term Rental Registration application via the Town’s portal and include the required sworn affidavit and owner/operator contact information; 2) Pay the annual fee (initially $50) and submit any required documentation; 3) Undergo required inspections (all first-time applications inspected; phased annual inspections starting 2025; renew annually by Feb 28).

Vrbo is permitted in Chatham, 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 Chatham 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 Chatham. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.