Gloucester, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. V (2026) § 5-65
Applicability
Operative Text
This article is applicable to a residential unit that is offered for short-term rental for more than 15 days per calendar year. No residential unit shall be offered as a short-term rental except in compliance with each of the provisions of this article V short term rentals, G.L. Chapter 64G, and all state and local building, fire and health codes.
Gloucester Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. V § 5-65 establishes the scope of the city's short-term rental rules: any residential unit rented on a short-term basis for more than 15 days in a calendar year falls under this article. Units meeting that threshold must comply not only with the local article's requirements but also with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64G and all applicable state and local building, fire, and health codes. The provision effectively creates a compliance floor that combines local ordinance requirements with state law and safety codes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Gloucester Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. V § 5-65, operators of residential short-term rentals who list or rent a unit for more than 15 days per calendar year are generally expected to ensure the property meets every requirement of Article V, G.L. Chapter 64G, and all relevant building, fire, and health codes before accepting guests. Compliant operators typically track the number of rental days per year to determine whether the threshold is crossed and maintain documentation showing adherence to each applicable code. Staying current with both local ordinance updates and state law changes is a common practice among operators seeking to remain in good standing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Gloucester Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. V § 5-65 means that any residential unit offered as a short-term rental for more than 15 days a year is subject to a layered set of legal requirements, including local ordinance rules, Massachusetts G.L. Chapter 64G, and building, fire, and health codes. Tenants or neighbors who believe a short-term rental is operating outside these requirements may consider contacting the relevant Gloucester municipal department or local code enforcement office to raise a concern. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can also be a resource for understanding how these overlapping requirements may apply to a particular situation.
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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