South Hadley, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 136 § 136-2
Registration and license required (South Hadley Residential Short-Term Rental Units)
Operative Text
Except as provided in § 136-4 below, no person, firm, trust, partnership, corporation or other legal entity may rent, or offer to rent, to individuals or households any short-term rental unit without a license issued by the Building Commissioner.
South Hadley's Code of Bylaws Chapter 136, Section 136-2 establishes that operating a short-term rental unit in the town requires a license from the Building Commissioner before any rental activity—or even an offer to rent—can lawfully occur. The rule applies broadly to any type of legal entity, from individual property owners to corporations and trusts. Certain exemptions exist under § 136-4, which carves out specific situations from this licensing requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under South Hadley CH. 136 § 136-2, compliant short-term rental operators obtain a license from the Building Commissioner before listing or renting any unit to guests. This means that advertising a unit for short-term rental without a valid license in hand is itself a violation of the bylaw, not just the act of renting. Operators generally review § 136-4 to determine whether any exemption applies to their property before beginning the licensing process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
South Hadley CH. 136 § 136-2 gives short-term rental guests a basis to verify that the unit they are renting is properly licensed by the Building Commissioner. If a unit appears to be operating without the required license, tenants or prospective renters can inquire with the South Hadley Building Department about a property's licensing status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can help individuals understand what options may be available when a rental is found to be operating outside the requirements of this provision.
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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation