Barnstable, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 506 § 506-3
General provisions (Barnstable Lodging, Bed-And-Breakfast, and Guesthouse Licenses)
Operative Text
A. Every lodging house keeper shall keep or cause to be kept, in permanent form, a register in which shall be recorded the true name and residence of every person engaging or occupying a private room averaging less than 400 square feet of floor area. Such register shall be kept for a period of one year after the last entry therein, and shall be open to the inspection of the licensing authorities, their agents and the police. B. Whoever being licensed as a lodging house keeper or being in actual charge, management or control of such lodging house knowingly permits the property under his or her control to be used for the purpose of immoral solicitation, immoral bargaining or immoral conduct, including criminal activities such as prostitution, use and sale of drugs, possession of drugs, and gambling, shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings against the license and shall be subject to a fine and imprisonment as set out by statute. C. Whenever the Licensing Authority issues a lodging house license, the licensee may let individual rooms to individual persons only and may not contract out rooms to an entity or institution which intends to choose lodgers for the rooms. Such conduct will be held to constitute leasing out of the license and is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in suspension or revocation of the license.
Barnstable, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 506 § 506-3 establishes three core rules for licensed lodging houses. First, operators must maintain a permanent register recording the true name and residence of every occupant of rooms under 400 square feet, keeping that register available for inspection by licensing authorities and police for at least one year. Second, knowingly allowing the property to be used for immoral conduct or criminal activity—such as prostitution, drug use or sale, or gambling—exposes the license holder to disciplinary action, fines, and potential imprisonment. Third, a lodging house license permits renting rooms only to individual persons directly; contracting with a third-party entity to fill rooms is treated as an improper transfer of the license and can result in suspension or revocation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to CH. 506 § 506-3 generally maintain an up-to-date, permanent guest register capturing each occupant's true name and residence for rooms averaging under 400 square feet, and keep that register accessible to licensing authorities and police for a full year after the last entry. Compliant operators also take reasonable steps to prevent their property from being used for prohibited conduct—including prostitution, drug activity, and gambling—since knowing permission of such activity triggers disciplinary proceedings and potential criminal penalties. When letting rooms, operators under this provision rent directly to individual lodgers rather than contracting with organizations or institutions that would select occupants on the licensee's behalf, as that arrangement is treated as an unlawful transfer of the license.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under CH. 506 § 506-3, lodging house occupants in Barnstable have an interest in knowing that their name and residence are recorded in the operator's register and that this information may be reviewed by local licensing authorities and police. The provision also establishes that a licensed operator cannot lawfully allow the premises to be used for criminal activity, which may be relevant if a tenant experiences or witnesses such conditions. Tenants who believe a lodging house is being operated in violation of these rules—such as through improper subletting arrangements or failure to maintain required records—may consider contacting Barnstable's local licensing authority or a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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