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Short-term rental (Airbnb) rules in Dennis, Massachusetts

Dennis, Barnstable County · Bylaws checked 2026-10-15 · Reviewed · 10 cited sections

Allowed with a permit

Yes, but you must first register with the Dennis Board of Health and get a Certificate of Registration, renewed every year (registrations expire March 15). Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, your registration number must appear in every listing, and someone must be able to respond to emergencies within 1 hour. A by-right (protected) ADU can't be rented short-term at all.

Registration requiredBoard of Health Certificate of Registration before renting or advertising [1]
What counts as a short-term rentalA home or bedroom rented with advance reservations for 31 consecutive days or less (hotels, motels and licensed lodging excluded) [9]
Registration termOne year, expiring March 15; renewed annually with new application, affidavit and fee (amount not stated in the regulation) [10]
Max occupancy2 per bedroom + 2 more (unless state housing code limits it further) [4]
Listing requirementTown registration number on every listing [5]
Emergency contactMust respond within 1 hour; 24/7 phone posted in unit [6]
Protected (by-right) ADUsNo short-term rental; leases must exceed 31 days [8]

Board of Health registration

Dennis regulates short-term rentals through a Board of Health regulation (approved Nov. 15, 2023; amended May 2024 and July 2025). No owner may rent or offer a short-term rental before registering with the Board of Health and getting a Certificate of Registration, and tenants may not sublet one [1]. Any rental that must register with the state under Chapter 64G must also register in Dennis, and you'll need a copy of your state (Department of Revenue) certificate [2]. A short-term rental is a home or bedroom rented with advance reservations for 31 consecutive days or less [9]. Registrations run one calendar year, expiring March 15 each year [10]. Renewals need a new application, a sworn affidavit of compliance with health and safety codes, and the annual fee [3]. The fee matches the town's Rental Registration fee; the regulation doesn't state a dollar amount, so check the Health Department's page on the town website. Registrations belong to the owner and end when the property is sold.

Operating rules

  • Occupancy: no more than 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 more, unless the state minimum housing standards (105 CMR 410) set a lower limit [4].
  • Listings: the town registration number must appear on every listing [5].
  • Contact: an operator or agent must be reachable 24/7 and able to respond within 1 hour; the contact info must be posted in the unit [6].
  • Trash: removed after each stay or weekly, whichever is more often, in sealable containers [7].
  • Parking: adequate on-site parking is required. The unit is also subject to reasonable inspections.

The Board can suspend, change or revoke a certificate after a hearing, and violations carry non-criminal fines.

Zoning limits

The zoning bylaw doesn't cap or zone short-term rentals of ordinary homes. But a Protected Use ADU can't be a short-term rental, and on a lot with one, both the ADU and the main house must be leased for more than 31 days [8]. ADUs approved by special permit must be leased for at least 12 months. Accepting a registration doesn't mean the town has confirmed the rental meets zoning. State and local room-occupancy taxes and state registration also apply (see the state section).

See how Dennis compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on short-term rentals (airbnb / vrbo) →

Next steps

  1. Register the property with the Massachusetts DOR on MassTaxConnect and get its state Certificate of Registration.
  2. Submit a short-term rental registration application, sworn affidavit, trash affidavit, and fee to the Dennis Health Department (685 Route 134, South Dennis; 508-760-6158) before listing.
  3. Post the 24/7 emergency contact in the unit, cap guests at 2 per bedroom plus 2, and add the town registration number to every listing.
  4. Renew every year before March 15.

Common questions

Do I need to register a short-term rental in Dennis, MA?
Yes. You must register with the Dennis Board of Health and get a Certificate of Registration before renting or advertising. Registrations expire March 15 and are renewed every year.
What are the Airbnb rules in Dennis, Massachusetts?
Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, your town registration number must appear in every listing, and someone must be able to respond to emergencies within 1 hour.
How much is short-term rental registration in Dennis, MA?
The regulation doesn't state a dollar amount; the fee matches the town's Rental Registration fee, so check the Health Department's page on the town website.
Can I short-term rent my ADU in Dennis, Massachusetts?
No. A by-right protected ADU can't be rented short-term; leases must exceed 31 days.

Massachusetts' short-term rental law

Since July 1, 2019, M.G.L. c. 64G has taxed and regulated short-term rentals: stays of 31 days or less in a home, apartment, condo or room booked in advance.

State requirements:

  • Register with the Department of Revenue (DOR) on MassTaxConnect and get a Certificate of Registration for each property. Post it in the unit.
  • 14-day exemption: if you rent a property 14 days or fewer in a calendar year, no tax is due. You still have to register and file DOR's declaration by January 15 each year. Go over 14 days and you owe tax on every day, including the first 14.
  • State room occupancy excise: 5.7% of rent (including cleaning and booking fees).
  • Local taxes on top, if your town has adopted them: a local excise of up to 6% (6.5% in Boston), and a community impact fee of up to 3%. The fee applies to "professionally managed" units (an operator with 2 or more units in a town, other than units in the owner's own 1 to 3 family home) and, by separate vote, to units in an owner-occupied 2 or 3 family house. Barnstable County towns add 2.75% for a regional water fund.
  • Insurance: at least $1 million liability coverage per unit, unless the booking platform provides equal coverage (c. 175, §4F).

Towns may go further (c. 64G, §14). They can require local licenses and inspections, cap the number of days or units, limit where rentals are allowed, or ban them entirely.

State sources: M.G.L. c. 64G, §1 (definitions) · M.G.L. c. 64G, §3 (state excise; 14-day exemption) · M.G.L. c. 64G, §3A (local excise) · M.G.L. c. 64G, §3D (community impact fees) · M.G.L. c. 64G, §14 (local regulation) · M.G.L. c. 175, §4F (STR liability insurance) · DOR, Room Occupancy Excise Tax (updated Apr 8, 2026)

What the bylaw says

Exact text from Dennis's published bylaws. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. Short Term Rental Registration, A. Registration/Application Required, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 2
    No OWNER shall rent, or offer to rent, any SHORT-TERM RENTAL, as that term is defined herein, prior to registering with the Board of Health and obtaining a Certificate of Registration. No tenant or lessee of an OWNER shall let or sub-let a SHORT-TERM RENTAL under any circumstances.
  2. Short Term Rental Registration, A. Registration/Application Required, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 2
    Any SHORT-TERM RENTAL required to be registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to the applicable provision of General Laws Chapter 64G shall also be required to register with the Board of Health under this Regulation. A copy of the certificate of registration currently on file with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue will be required.
  3. C. Registration Renewal, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 2
    SHORT-TERM RENTAL registrations shall be renewed annually. All renewals shall require a new application and affidavit, to be submitted to the Board of Health with payment of the annual fee.
  4. Occupancy Requirements, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 3
    The maximum number of OCCUPANTS in a SHORT-TERM RENTAL shall be two (2) per bedroom (as defined by the Board of Health) plus two (2) additional OCCUPANTS unless limited by 105 CMR 410.000 MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HUMAN HABITATION.
  5. Publication of Registration Number, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 3
    The Town-issued registration certificate number shall be included on any listing offering the SHORT- TERM RENTAL for rent.
  6. Contact Information of OWNER, OPERATOR and/or OPERATOR'S AGENT, C., Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 3
    The name and contact information of the OPERATOR must be provided, along with the name and contact information of an OPERATOR’S AGENT, if different from the OPERATOR, who is able to respond to any emergencies that arise during occupancy within one (1) hour of contact by the TOWN’S Health Department or Police or Fire Department to complaints regarding the condition or operations of the SHORT-TERM RENTAL. Contact information must include a telephone number that is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to OCCUPANTS and the above-stated public safety agencies.
  7. Trash Removal, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 3
    The OPERATOR shall be responsible for ensuring that household trash is removed from the premises immediately after occupancy is concluded or once per week, whichever is more frequent. An adequate number of trash containers that can be sealed must be provided.
  8. § 4.11.A(a), Dennis Zoning By-Law (amended through and including ATM May 6, 2025), p. 78
    Any Protected Use ADU created shall be prohibited from serving as a Short-Term Rental defined in General Laws Chapter 64G, Section 1. The minimum leasing term for the Accessory Dwelling Unit or the Principal Dwelling Unit shall be for a term greater than thirty-one (31) days.
  9. Definitions, SHORT TERM RENTAL, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 2
    rented out using advance reservations, for a fee, for a period of not more than 31 consecutive calendar days, excluding:
  10. A. Registration/Application Required, Board of Health Short-Term Rental Property Regulation (approved Nov 15, 2023; amended May 9, 2024 and July 10, 2025), p. 2
    The period of registration shall be for one calendar year expiring annually on March 15
This page summarizes Dennis's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-15. Bylaws are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Building Department (Building Commissioner / zoning enforcement) (508-760-6157) before you build. Spot an error?