New Marlborough, Mass., Protective By-Laws § 24 (2024) § 24.4
RESTRICTIONS
Operative Text
24.4.1 Owner. An Owner may not offer more than two (2) properties for
STR use in the Town. One STR must be the Owner’s primary
residence or an Owner-adjacent STR.
24.4.2 Income Restriction. STR is prohibited in dwelling units designated
as affordable or otherwise income restricted, which are subject to
affordability covenants or are otherwise subject to housing or rental
assistance under local, state, or federal law.
24.4.3 Occupancy. Occupancy cannot exceed more than three persons
(adults and children) per bedroom as defined by the Board of Health.
Occupancy must comply with all state and local health and safety
regulations.
24.4.4 Signage. Signs on a property advertising STR are prohibited.
24.4.5 Outstanding Violations. STR is not permitted in any property with
any outstanding taxes or violations of building, fire, health or any
other applicable code or Town bylaw.
24.4.6 Violations. Parking violations shall be reported to the Police
Department. Unleashed dogs shall be reported to the Animal Control
Officer. All other violations shall be reported to the Select Board.Section 24.4 of New Marlborough's Short-Term Rental By-Law establishes a set of operational restrictions that apply to all short-term rentals (STRs) in town. Owners are capped at two STR properties, at least one of which must be a primary residence or owner-adjacent unit, and STRs are entirely prohibited in affordable or income-restricted housing. Additional rules limit occupancy to three persons per bedroom, ban on-property STR advertising signs, bar STRs at properties with outstanding taxes or code violations, and direct different categories of violations to specific town authorities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners operating or considering STRs under § 24.4 generally ensure that no more than two of their properties are offered for STR use and that at least one qualifies as a primary residence or owner-adjacent unit. Compliant operators confirm that any property offered for STR is free of outstanding taxes and building, fire, health, or other code violations before listing, and they refrain from posting any signs advertising STR availability on the property. Operators also track occupancy against the three-persons-per-bedroom standard set by the Board of Health and route any violations to the correct authority — parking issues to the Police Department, unleashed-dog complaints to the Animal Control Officer, and all other matters to the Select Board, as specified in § 24.4.6.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 24.4 provides renters and neighbors with clear grounds to raise concerns when an STR appears to be operating outside these restrictions — for example, if a unit is subject to an affordability covenant, if occupancy limits appear to be exceeded, or if on-property advertising signs are posted. Under § 24.4.6, the by-law designates specific reporting channels: parking violations go to the Police Department, unleashed-dog issues go to the Animal Control Officer, and all other violations are directed to the Select Board. Individuals who believe a violation is occurring may contact the appropriate town body or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how these provisions 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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