| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Status | Permitted with registration |
| Permit / License Required | Yes — annual rental registration with the Town of Barnstable Health Division (Board of Health) under Chapter 170 Rental Properties. No comprehensive S |
| Tax Rate | 14.45% total — 5.7% Massachusetts state excise, 6% Town of Barnstable local excise, and 2.75% Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund excise (all rem |
| Minimum Stay | Unknown (a proposed ordinance had floated a three-night minimum, but it was withdrawn). |
| Permit Fee | Annual town registration fee: $90 for the first unit and $25 for each additional unit on the same parcel. |
| Penalties | Failure to register can result in a non-criminal citation and a $100 fine; the Health Division conducts compliance checks and responds to complaint-ho |
| Primary Residence Required | No (no primary-residence requirement under current town registration). |
Short-term rental operations in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Massachusetts are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes — annual rental registration with the Town of Barnstable Health Division (Board of Health) under Chapter 170 Rental Properties. No comprehensive STR-specific licensing ordinance currently in force. The associated permit fees are Annual town registration fee: $90 for the first unit and $25 for each additional unit on the same pa.
Short-term rental operators in Barnstable (Cape Cod) should be aware of these tax obligations: 14.45% total — 5.7% Massachusetts state excise, 6% Town of Barnstable local excise, and 2.75% Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund excise (all remitted to DOR).. Yes — STR operators must register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) for tax collection; DOR certificate required with town applicatio.
Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Barnstable (Cape Cod) include: Primary residence requirement: No (no primary-residence requirement under current town registration).. Minimum stay: Unknown (a proposed ordinance had floated a three-night minimum, but it was withdrawn)..
Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Barnstable (Cape Cod): No STR-specific zoning amendment in force — a proposed 2020 zoning amendment recognizing STR as a permitted residential use was withdrawn by the Town Council on November 5, 2020.. Density rules: None currently in force (a withdrawn 2020 proposal would have limited owners to two STR properties and capped town-wide STRs at 1,500)..
Hosts who fail to comply with Barnstable (Cape Cod)'s short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Failure to register can result in a non-criminal citation and a $100 fine; the Health Division conducts compliance checks and responds to complaint-hotline reports..
Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.
Official Source ↗Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Barnstable (Cape Cod) with proper registration and permits. Annual registration must be renewed each year. Health/safety inspection may be required (typically at first registration and periodically thereafter). Operators must also register with MA DOR for room
Yes. Barnstable (Cape Cod) requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes — annual rental registration with the Town of Barnstable Health Division (Board of Health) under Chapter 170 Rental Properties. No comprehensive STR-specific licensing ordinance currently in force..
Short-term rental hosts in Barnstable (Cape Cod) are subject to the following tax obligations: 14.45% total — 5.7% Massachusetts state excise, 6% Town of Barnstable local excise, and 2.75% Cape Cod & Islands Water Protection Fund excise (all remitted to DOR)..
Hosts who operate without proper permits in Barnstable (Cape Cod) may face enforcement. Failure to register can result in a non-criminal citation and a $100 fine; the Health Division conducts compliance checks and responds to complaint-hotline reports..
Cape Cod / Barnstable takes a comparatively hands-off, Airbnb-friendly approach versus Boston; a comprehensive STR general ordinance and zoning amendment (Items 2020-192 and 2020-193) were withdrawn in November 2020.
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