Short Term Rental Registration

All Short Term Rentals (STR’s) either owner occupied or non-owner occupied must be registered with the Town of Nahant.

The purpose of registering is intended to make the operation of short-term rentals legal for Nahant residents, protect the safety of renters, residents, and first responders, ensure that the primary use of the property remains residential, and ensure that short-term rentals will not be a detriment to the character and livability of the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Overview:

A Short-term rental refers to an owner-occupied, tenant-occupied or non-owner occupied property including, but not limited to, an apartment, house, cottage, condominium or a furnished accommodation that is not a hotel, motel, lodging house, or bed and breakfast establishment, where at least 1 room or unit is rented to an occupant or sub-occupant for a duration of less than twenty-eight (28) consecutive days and all accommodations are reserved in advance, provided however, that a private owner occupied property shall be considered a single unit if leased or rented as such.

Are you eligible for a local license?

Short Term rentals classified as “Owner Occupied” or “Owner Adjacent” are eligible for a local license in all Residence and Business zoning districts.

Short Term rentals classified as “Non-Owner Occupied” are only eligible in Business zoning districts with a Special Permit.

Special permits shall be granted by the Board of Appeals for non-owner-occupied short term rentals, only upon its written determination that the adverse effects of the proposed use will not outweigh its beneficial impacts to the Town or the neighborhood, in view of the particular characteristics of the site or parcel, and of the proposal in relation to that site. In addition to any specific factors that may be set forth in this by-law, the determination shall include consideration of each of the following:
September 24, 2024

1. Specific factors that are set forth in Section 9 of these by-laws;
2. Compliance with all Town regulations and bylaws and laws of the
   Commonwealth, including all health and safety regulations;
3. The ability of the property owner, or agent/property manager to respond to
   complaints within a timely manner;
4. Prior experience managing a short-term rental property;
5. Sufficient off-street parking;
6. Appearance of property in comparison to the neighborhood;
7. Host-guest agreement requiring compliance with all Nahant Short-Term Rental
   by- aws and regulations; and
8. Prior and/or current experience with the Town including, but not limited to:
   a. Previous or temporary residency;
   b. Family residency;
   c. Business properties or services; and
   d. Other community involvement.

If eligible, what will you need to obtain a local license?

All Short Term Rentals must have an active local license to operate in Nahant as well being registered with the Commonwealth. The Short Term Rental Rules and Regulations are provided below and explain what is required of an owner. The application process includes various required inspections of the property as well submission of required documents.

You may submit the application to the Town without all required information however it will not be approved until all required information is provided. Submission of the application will inform the Town that you will be inquiring about required inspections and documents.

Here are some highlighted requirements:

1) Proof or Registration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
2) Certificate of Good Standing from Nahant’s Office of Inspectional Services;
3) Municipal Lien Certificate from Nahant’s Office of Treasurer-Collector;
4) Certificate of Compliance from Nahant’s Fire Department (every other year);
5) Certificate of Fitness from Nahant’s Board of Health (every other year);
6) Certificate of Code Compliance from Nahant’s Office of Inspectional Services (every other year);
7) Attestation of Compliance with Nahant by-laws and regulations;
8) Guest Information Packet (see General By-Laws, Article XXIII, Section 4);
9) Parking Plan (see Section 8, below);
10) Certificate of Liability Insurance (no less than $1,000,000 of coverage); and
11) Operator affidavit for owner occupied/adjacent rentals or a special permit for nonowner occupied rentals.
12) To the extent required by Massachusetts Law, a non-owner occupied, owner adjacent, owner occupied without owner present, and an owner-occupied Short-Term Rental unit with six (6) or more bedrooms shall document state safety law compliance by providing a Massachusetts Chapter 34 review (780 CMR 34.00) of the dwelling unit prepared by a licensed architect or design professional along with documentation that demonstrates full compliance with all recommendations described in that Chapter 34 review.
13) A D/B/A Certificate from the town clerk’s office, if necessary

Short Term Rental Property Requirements:

a) It shall be the responsibility of the Owner(s) to ensure full compliance with the Town of Nahant’s Bylaws, Short Term Rental Rules and Regulations and any other applicable state and local health and safety laws or regulations. Failed compliance may result in immediate revocation of any certification, non-renewal of a certification or both. In the event of a revocation, the Owner(s) will be afforded a hearing before the Board of Selectmen within fourteen (14) days of the date of revocation.

b) In accordance with Section 3 of Nahant’s Short-Term Rental By-Laws (Article XIX), the Board of Selectmen shall determine the number of bedrooms and occupancy of the Short-Term Rental property and report the number of bedrooms and occupants on the rental certificate. Occupancy shall be based upon two people per bedroom.

How To Register your Short Term Rental

Application Process:

The Town of Nahant will be utilizing an online permit software in the future. Until that service becomes available, permit applications will need to be downloaded and submitted by email or in-person to the Inspectional Services Department.

All Short Term Rentals must be registered with the Town of Nahant and must be completed each calendar year by January1st.

Application:

Short Term Rental Application

After completing the application please email or drop off to the Nahant Inspectional Services Department along with any required documents that you have.

Note: You may submit the application to the Town without all required information however it will not be approved until all required information is provided. Submission of the application will inform the Town that you will be inquiring about required inspections and documents.