Sandwich, Mass., Gen. Bylaws ch. 12 (2025) § 12.04
Registration & Inspections
Operative Text
1) All short-term rentals shall be registered and inspected annually through the
Sandwich Building Department in accordance with Table 110 Section 110.7 Periodic
Inspections 780 CMR and shall adhere to all their health and safety requirements,
including occupancy limitations based on inspections. The annual fee shall be set by
the Select Board.
2) The certificate of registration is issued to the operator and does not run with the land.
If the short-term rental is sold or transferred out of ownership, a new application for a
certificate of registration shall be filed by the new operator before short-term rentals
can continue or resume.
3) Rental certificates shall be displayed on the property in a prominent location and shall
include 24-hour local contact information; name and telephone number.
4) The Town reserves the right to post rental locations on the Town Website per MGL
Ch. 64G, Section 14.Section 12.04 of Sandwich's Short-Term Rental bylaw requires that every short-term rental unit be registered and physically inspected each year through the Sandwich Building Department, following the periodic inspection standards set out in 780 CMR Table 110 Section 110.7. A certificate of registration is tied to the individual operator, not the property itself, meaning a sale or ownership transfer voids the existing certificate and requires a fresh application before rentals can resume. Certificates must be visibly posted on the property with 24-hour local contact information, and the Town may publicly list registered rental locations on its website under MGL Ch. 64G, Section 14.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12.04, compliant short-term rental operators in Sandwich maintain an active annual registration with the Sandwich Building Department, pay the fee set by the Select Board, and schedule the required periodic inspection under 780 CMR Table 110 Section 110.7 before each rental season. Operators who acquire a property through purchase or transfer file a new certificate of registration application before resuming any short-term rental activity, since the prior owner's certificate does not carry over. A valid certificate is kept posted in a prominent location on the property and includes a name and telephone number reachable around the clock, ensuring guests and neighbors can reach a local contact at any hour.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12.04 gives short-term rental guests and neighbors a basis for verifying that a rental is operating legally in Sandwich — a properly registered unit will display its certificate of registration in a prominent location along with 24-hour local contact information. If a rental lacks a visible certificate or appears to be operating without a current registration from the Sandwich Building Department, that may indicate a violation of § 12.04 that can be reported to the Building Department. Tenant-rights organizations and local housing advocates can help individuals understand what remedies or complaints may be available when a short-term rental appears to be out of compliance with the annual registration and inspection requirements.
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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