Nahant, Mass., Gen. Bylaws art. XXIII (2023) § 2
Definitions
Operative Text
Short-term rental - an owner-occupied, tenant-occupied or non-owner occupied property including, but not limited to, an apartment, house, cottage, condominium or a furnished accommodation that is not a hotel, motel, lodging house, or bed and breakfast establishment, where: (i) at least 1 room or unit is rented to an occupant or sub-occupant for a duration of less than twenty-eight (28) consecutive days; and (ii) all accommodations are reserved in advance; provided however, that a private owner- occupied property shall be considered a single unit if leased or rented as such. Short-Term Renter - Any person or persons occupying a dwelling unit, or a bedroom within a dwelling unit, as a short-term rental for a duration of less than twenty-eight (28) consecutive days. Short-Term Rental Operator - The person or persons offering a dwelling unit or bedroom for short-term rental, who may be either the owner or the primary leaseholder of the dwelling unit with the written permission of the property owner and the condominium association if applicable. Owner Occupied Short-Term Rental - The Short-Term Rental of a dwelling unit, of no more than the number of lawful bedrooms within such dwelling unit that is the principal residence of its operator. Owner Adjacent Unit — A residential unit offered as a Short-Term Rental which is not the owner's Principal Residence but which is located within the same dwelling and/or parcel as the Principal Residence. Non-Owner Occupied Short-Term Rental - A dwelling unit made available for short-term rental that is neither the Principal Residence of the owner nor is located within the same residential building as the owner’s Principal Residence.
Article XXIII of Nahant's General Bylaws establishes the foundational vocabulary for the town's short-term rental regulatory framework, adopted in May 2023 and approved by the Attorney General in November 2023. The provision draws clear distinctions among the types of properties that qualify as short-term rentals — covering owner-occupied, tenant-operated, and non-owner-occupied arrangements — and defines the roles of the renter, the operator, and the property type based on factors such as stay duration (under 28 consecutive days), advance reservation, and the operator's relationship to the property. Three distinct property categories are established: owner-occupied units (the operator's principal residence), owner-adjacent units (non-primary units on the same parcel as the owner's home), and non-owner-occupied units (properties with no ownership connection to the operator's residence).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Article XXIII of Nahant's General Bylaws, property owners and primary leaseholders who offer accommodations for stays of fewer than 28 consecutive days need to understand which definitional category applies to their property, as each category — owner-occupied, owner-adjacent, or non-owner-occupied — carries distinct regulatory implications throughout the bylaw. Operators who are primary leaseholders rather than owners should be aware that Article XXIII requires written permission from the property owner and, where applicable, the condominium association before they may act as a short-term rental operator. Compliant operators generally maintain documentation that accurately reflects their relationship to the property and the nature of the unit being offered.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Article XXIII of Nahant's General Bylaws defines a 'Short-Term Renter' as any person occupying a dwelling unit or bedroom for fewer than 28 consecutive days under a short-term rental arrangement, which means tenants in this role have a distinct legal status from long-term leaseholders under the bylaw. Tenants who are primary leaseholders and wish to operate a short-term rental out of their unit should be aware that Article XXIII requires written permission from the property owner — and the condominium association if applicable — before doing so. Those with questions about how these definitions affect their rights or obligations may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the full text of Nahant's General Bylaws Article XXIII.
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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