Newton, Mass., City Ordinances §§ 20-160–20-168 (2020) § 20-164
Responsibilities of Operators
Operative Text
(a) General Responsibility. The Operator shall be responsible for the proper supervision, operation, and
maintenance of the Short Term Rental in accordance with the requirements of this article and all other
pertinent laws, regulations, and codes. The Operator shall also be responsible for the behavior and activity
of guests that results in a violation of this ordinance. The appointment of an agent shall in no way relieve
the Operator from responsibility for full compliance with the law.
(b) No Nuisance. Short Terms Rentals shall not result in the disruption of the peace, tranquility, or safety of
the immediate residential neighborhood through the production of noise, vibration, light, glare, trash, fumes,
odors, traffic, parking congestion, or any other nuisance beyond that which normally occurs in the
immediate residential area.
(c) Compliance with City Ordinances and State and Local Laws. All Short Term Rentals shall comply with
all applicable ordinances and local, state, and federal codes applying generally to residential properties in
the City, including but not limited to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 30 of the Revised Ordinances
of the City.
(d) Commercial Events Prohibited. A Short Term Rental property shall not be used for a commercial event
during its occupancy as a Short Term Rental. Commercial events include luncheons, banquets, parties,
weddings, meetings, charitable fundraising, commercial or advertising activities, or other gatherings for
direct or indirect compensation.
(e) Agreements with Occupants. Operators may not enter into any rental or use agreements that are inconsistent
with the terms of this article.
Newton Ordinances On-Line - Chapter 20 - page 45
§ 20-159 NEWTON ORDINANCES —MISCELLANEOUS ORDINANCES § 20-159
(f) Minors. No Short Term Rental shall be rented to any unemancipated person who is younger than eighteen
(18) years of age.
(g) Occupant Registries. The Operator of every Short Term Rental must maintain, in permanent form, a
registry log of occupants. It must include the names and home addresses of occupants, occupant’s license
plate numbers if traveling by car, dates of stay, and the room assigned to each occupant. The registry log
must be available for inspection by any City official upon request.
(h) Fire Prevention Notice. Operators shall post in a visible place inside the short-term rental unit information
regarding the location of any fire extinguishers, gas shut off valves, fire exits and fire alarms in the unit and
building.
(i) Notice of Registration. The Operator of every Short Term Rental shall post in a prominent place within the
rental the house rules below as well as the certificate of registration with the City of Newton. The Operator
shall clearly display the Newton Registration number in all advertisements or notices offering use of the
short term rental, including but not limited to online advertisements, postings.
(j) House Rules. Operators shall institute house rules to prevent the Short Term Rental from being a cause of
complaint to the Police Department or a cause of nuisance or annoyance to the neighbors or neighborhood.
1) House rules must make occupants aware of the City’s ordinances and the Operator’s policies, which
shall be in writing. At a minimum, house rules shall adequately address the following:
i. Noise control, including use of audio equipment that may disturb the peace
ii. Adherence to laws regarding disorderly behavior
iii. Proper garbage disposal
iv. Location of parking stalls on the property
v. Neighborhood parking regulations and restrictions
vi. Occupancy limits according to the City’s Zoning Ordinance
vii. Any other provisions as may be required by City Officials.
2) Operators shall ensure all occupants are aware of the house rules by distributing them prior to the
date of occupancy and posting them in a visible place.
(k) Egress and Access. Operators of short term rentals, classified as one-family or two-family dwellings for
the building code, shall be responsible for ensuring that adequate egress is provided in accordance with the
the appropriate section of Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR.
(l) Maintenance. The building and all parts thereof shall be kept in good general repair and properly
maintained.
(m) Burden of Proof and Cooperation. The burden of proof is placed on the Operator to demonstrate that they
are operating within the limits of this article. Operators must cooperate with any enforcement or
investigation proceedings under this article.
Newton Ordinances On-Line - Chapter 20 - page 46
§ 20-159 NEWTON ORDINANCES —MISCELLANEOUS ORDINANCES § 20-159
(n) False Information. Submission of false information shall constitute a violation of this ordinance..Section 20-164 of Newton's City Ordinances establishes a broad set of operational responsibilities for short-term rental operators. It requires that operators maintain proper supervision and upkeep of their rental, prevent nuisance conditions in the surrounding neighborhood, prohibit commercial events on the premises, and keep a registry of all occupants available for city inspection. The provision also mandates that operators post fire safety information, house rules, and their Newton registration number prominently within the unit and in all advertisements, and places the burden of proof on the operator to demonstrate compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-164, compliant short-term rental operators in Newton generally maintain a permanent, up-to-date occupant registry that includes names, home addresses, license plate numbers, dates of stay, and room assignments, and make it available to city officials on request. They post fire safety information, house rules, and their Newton registration certificate visibly inside the unit, and display the Newton Registration number in every advertisement or listing. Operators also ensure that rental agreements with occupants are consistent with the article's requirements, that no commercial events take place during occupancy, and that no rental is made to an unemancipated minor under 18.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-164 establishes that the operator—not the guest—bears primary legal responsibility for the short-term rental's compliance with Newton's ordinances, including maintaining safe conditions, preventing neighborhood nuisances, and providing written house rules before occupancy begins. Guests have a right to receive house rules in advance and to find fire safety information, the operator's Newton registration certificate, and posted house rules displayed visibly inside the unit upon arrival. If these obligations appear to be unmet, tenants or neighbors may raise the issue with Newton city officials, who have authority to inspect occupant registries and investigate potential violations under this article; tenant-rights organizations can also help clarify available options.
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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