Easthampton, Mass., City Ordinances ch. 4, art. VI (2026) § 4-50.6

Enforcement and Compliance

In Force
Verified 11/11/2026 · Next check 2/9/2027
effective 6/1/2026EasthamptonRegistration & Permitting

Operative Text

Easthampton, Mass., City Ordinances ch. 4, art. VI (2026) § 4-50.6
a. The Board of Health, Building Commissioner and Fire Department shall have the
authority to set reasonable fees and adopt forms and procedures relative to the
implementation of this Ordinance, including but not limited to registration and inspection
of Short-Term Rentals.

b. The Fire Department shall have the authority to promulgate and enforce reasonable
rules and requirements for the provision and maintenance of fire safety and protection
systems, fire extinguishers, informational signage and materials, first aid supplies and
related items in all Short-Term Rentals.

c. Short-Term Rental Owners shall be required to provide access to the Easthampton
Health Department, Fire Department and Building Department for the purpose of
conducting health, fire and life safety inspections within 48 hours of notice (except in
cases of emergency).

d. Failure to schedule or provide access to an inspector upon request shall result in the
immediate suspension of the registration to operate a Short-Term Rental by the
inspecting authority or the Board of Health until an inspection by the appropriate
authority has been conducted. After inspection, Dwelling units found to be in violation of
this Ordinance shall be issued a notice of violation.

e. The City may monitor compliance with this Ordinance through available third-party
services, publicly available information, or by any other lawful means.

f. Notice of Violation. When the Board of Health or its designated agent determines that
the Short-Term Rental not being carried out in accordance with the requirements of this
Ordinance, it shall cause a written order or notice of violation to be served at the address
listed on the Owner’s current Short-Term Rental application by United States Mail, or in
hand delivery.

The notice of violation shall contain:

i. The name, and address of the Owner;
ii. The Short-Term Rental Registration Number;
iii. The address of the building, structure, or land upon which the violation is
occurring;
iv. A statement specifying the nature of the violation;
v. A description of the measures necessary to bring the Property or Dwelling Unit
into compliance with this Ordinance and a time schedule for the completion of
such remedial action;
vi. A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or may be assessed against the
Owner under the notice of violation;
vii. A statement that the violation detailed in the notice may be appealed to the
Board of Health by the filing a written notice of appeal on a form provided by the
Board of Health with the Clerk for the City of Easthampton and the Board of
Health within seven (7) days of the mailing of the notice of violation.

g. If the Owner fails, correct the violation detailed in the notice within the timeframe
provided therein, or to appeal the violation detailed therein within seven (7) days of
receipt of the notice, the Owner shall, beginning the 11th day following the mailing of the
notice be subject to suspension or termination of the Short-Term Rental registration
and/or a civil penalty according to the following schedule:

$100 1st Offense
$200 2nd Offense
$300 3rd Offense and each subsequent offense.

h. Unless the violation is reversed or modified by the Board of Health, taking an appeal
from a notice of violation shall not suspend the running of any civil penalty assessed
hereunder. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
Providing however, that nothing in this section shall prevent by way of the issuance of a
notice of violation, the immediate suspension of a Short-Term Rental Registration should
the Board of Health or its agent deem it in the best interest of the City to do so.

i. All fines imposed under this Ordinance are payable to the City of Easthampton and
payable to the City Clerk within 30 days of the date of the Notice, unless otherwise
stated on the Notice.

j. In the event a Short-Term Rental registration is permanently terminated or suspended,
the Board of Health shall notify the Commissioner of Revenue of the suspension or
termination.

k. Right to Hearing. Any person upon whom any order or notice of violation has been
served, and all affected parties shall have a right to request a hearing before the Board
of Health. To request a hearing, you must submit a written request to the Easthampton
Board of Health within seven (7) calendar days after the day the order or notice of
violation was served. Upon receipt of the request, the Board of Health shall inform all
affected persons in writing of the date, time, and place of the hearing, as well as their
right to inspect and obtain copies of all relevant inspection or investigation reports,
orders, notices, and other documentary information in the possession of the Board of
Health. You have the right to be represented at the hearing and any affected person has
a right to appear at said hearing. The Board of Health shall issue a written decision
within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing. The Board of Health shall have the
power to reverse, affirm or modify the violation detailed in the notice. The decision made
by the Board of Health shall be final. The decision of the Board of Health shall be
reviewable in Superior Court in an action filed in accordance with M.G.L. c. 249 § 4.

l. This Ordinance is intended to be cumulative of all other applicable local, state, and

federal laws. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or divest any other governmental
entity with concurrent jurisdiction from exercising its authority. Any notice, process, or
appeal, to the extent required by such other authorities, shall proceed in accordance with
their respective governing laws and process.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 4-50.6 of Easthampton's Short-Term Rental ordinance establishes how the city enforces compliance with its short-term rental rules. Multiple city departments — including the Board of Health, Building Commissioner, and Fire Department — share authority to inspect properties, issue notices of violation, and suspend or terminate registrations. Civil penalties escalate from $100 for a first offense to $200 for a second and $300 for a third and each subsequent offense, with each day of ongoing violation counting as a separate offense. Owners who receive a notice of violation have the right to appeal to the Board of Health within seven days, and ultimately to seek review in Superior Court under M.G.L. c. 249 § 4.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 11, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 4-50.6, compliant short-term rental operators in Easthampton generally maintain their property in a condition that can pass health, fire, and life safety inspections on short notice — specifically within 48 hours of a request. Operators keep their registration information current so that any notice of violation reaches them promptly by mail or hand delivery, and they respond to or appeal any such notice within the seven-day window to avoid automatic civil penalties beginning on the 11th day after mailing. Staying current with Fire Department fire-safety requirements — including extinguishers, signage, and first aid supplies — is part of ongoing operational compliance under this section.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 4-50.6 gives guests and neighbors an indirect layer of protection by requiring short-term rental owners to submit to inspections and face escalating civil penalties and potential registration suspension when violations go uncorrected. If you believe a short-term rental property is being operated in violation of Easthampton's ordinance, the Board of Health is the primary body authorized to investigate, issue notices of violation, and act on complaints under this section. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney familiar with Massachusetts law can help you understand how to bring a concern to the Board of Health or what remedies may be available under other applicable local, state, or federal laws preserved by § 4-50.6(l).

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Jun 1, 2026
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References Out

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References In

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Related Rules

§ 244.1045
License required
§ 7-253
Requirements for the operation of short-term rentals
§ 7-254
Registration

Source Information

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