Nantucket, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 123 § 123-1
Purpose and intent (Nantucket Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
[Amended 5-7-2024 ATM by Art. 60 , approved 9-27-2024] This bylaw is enacted pursuant to the Town’s Home Rule Authority and the authority set forth in General Laws c. 64G, § 14 , and is intended to: A. Provide for an orderly process for identifying, registering, and regulating short-term rentals within the Town so as to ensure that such short-term rentals do not create or cause any nuisance conditions within the Town. B. Prevent the further growth of residential dwellings owned by corporations and used for the purpose of short-term rentals. C. Continue to permit the operation of short-term rentals by natural persons in order to protect the time-honored tradition of home rentals in Nantucket. D. Allow the Town to implement the short-term rental registration process and to collect sufficient data to accurately assess the practice of short-term rentals, including the impact (if any) this practice may have on affordable/attainable housing and to substantially develop additional regulations, if such data demonstrates additional regulation is necessary.
Nantucket's CH. 123 § 123-1 establishes the foundational purpose of the town's short-term rental bylaw, enacted under Home Rule Authority and Massachusetts General Laws c. 64G, § 14. The rule sets out four core aims: creating an orderly registration and oversight system for short-term rentals, curbing corporate ownership of residential properties used for short-term rentals, preserving the ability of individual people to rent their homes, and gathering data to evaluate the practice's effect on housing affordability. It frames the bylaw as a living regulatory framework that may be expanded if collected data shows further rules are warranted.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating short-term rentals in Nantucket should understand that CH. 123 § 123-1 signals the town's intent to actively register, monitor, and regulate such rentals. Compliant operators—particularly those who are natural persons rather than corporate entities—generally engage with the town's registration process and maintain their properties in a manner that avoids nuisance conditions. Because the bylaw explicitly anticipates the development of additional regulations based on data collected, operators typically stay attentive to any amendments or new requirements that may follow from the town's ongoing assessment.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants and community members, CH. 123 § 123-1 reflects Nantucket's stated commitment to studying and addressing the impact of short-term rentals on affordable and attainable housing. The provision signals that the town has the authority to expand regulations if data demonstrates a need, which may be relevant to residents concerned about housing availability. Those with questions about how the short-term rental registration process affects local housing conditions can contact the relevant town department or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Massachusetts housing law.
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
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