Canton, Mass., Gen. By-Laws art. XXVI3 (2024 ed.) § 6
Enforcement
Operative Text
A. Whoever violates any provision of this Short Term Rentals by-law or a
regulation promulgated hereunder may be penalized by indictment or
on complaint brought in the district court. The Town may also seek to
enjoin violations through any lawful process. The election of one
remedy shall not preclude enforcement through any other lawful
means.
B. Whoever violates any provision of this Short Term Rentals By-law or a
regulation promulgated hereunder may be penalized by the
noncriminal disposition process as provided in G.L. c.40, §21D. If
noncriminal disposition is elected, the penalty shall be one hundred
dollars ($100) for the first offense, two hundred dollars ($200) for the
second offense and three hundred dollars ($300) for a third or
subsequent offense. Each day or portion thereof shall constitute a
separate offense. The Board of Health or its agent or any police officer
of the Town shall be the enforcing authority.Canton, Massachusetts General By-Laws Article XXVI3 § 6 establishes two parallel enforcement tracks for violations of the town's Short Term Rentals by-law. Under the criminal track, violators may face prosecution by indictment or complaint in district court, and the town may also seek an injunction through any lawful process. Under the noncriminal track, fines escalate from $100 for a first offense to $200 for a second and $300 for a third or subsequent offense, with each day (or part of a day) of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense. The town is not required to choose only one enforcement path — multiple remedies may be pursued simultaneously.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of short-term rentals in Canton should be aware that Article XXVI3 § 6 gives the town broad enforcement authority, including both civil fines and potential criminal prosecution. A compliant operator generally maintains current registration, follows all regulations promulgated under the by-law, and promptly corrects any identified deficiencies to avoid accumulating per-day violations. Because fines compound daily and criminal referral remains an option regardless of whether noncriminal disposition is also pursued, operators typically treat any notice of violation as requiring immediate attention.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Neighbors and tenants affected by an unlawfully operated short-term rental in Canton may find it useful to know that Article XXVI3 § 6 authorizes the Board of Health, its agents, or town police officers to act as the enforcing authority. Complaints about a suspected violation can generally be directed to the Canton Board of Health or local police, who have the power to issue noncriminal citations or refer matters for criminal prosecution. Those seeking to understand their options may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource familiar with Massachusetts municipal by-law enforcement.
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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