Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Orleans, MA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Orleans, MA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted but subject to Town registration and health/safety requirements: registration with the Board of Health (Town-issued registration number must appear on listings), annual renewal, maximum occupancy of 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, onsite parking only, required 24/7 local contact for emergencies, required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and extinguisher, and subject to inspections and compliance with state/local laws. 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 are permitted but subject to Town registration and health/safety requirements: registration with the Board of Health (Town-issued registration number must appear on listings), annual renewal, maximum occupancy of 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, onsite parking only, required 24/7 local contact for emergencies, required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and extinguisher, and subject to inspections and compliance with state/local laws.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Orleans. 1) Complete and submit the Town rental registration form via the Town’s OpenGov permit portal or by submitting the fillable PDF to the Assessing Department. 2) Include the sworn affidavit of compliance required by the Board of Health, provide owner/operator and 24-hour local contact information, and post the registration certificate in the unit. 3) Pay the annual registration fee ($50 base fee plus $50 per bedroom over two) and renew annually.

1) Complete and submit the Town rental registration form via the Town’s OpenGov permit portal or by submitting the fillable PDF to the Assessing Department. 2) Include the sworn affidavit of compliance required by the Board of Health, provide owner/operator and 24-hour local contact information, and post the registration certificate in the unit. 3) Pay the annual registration fee ($50 base fee plus $50 per bedroom over two) and renew annually.

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