City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Orleans, MA
How Orleans regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- Registration required
Based on: Town of Orleans General Bylaw Ch. 132, Registration of Rental Properties (adopted May 2023 Annual Town Meeting
Summary of the rule
Orleans Code Ch. 132 (Registration of Rental Properties), adopted 5-8-2023 ATM Art.53: §132-3 defines RENTAL to include short-term rentals; §132-4A no owner shall rent/offer to rent any rental prior to filing the rental registration certification form with the Assessor's office; §132-4B annual. Six-section bylaw is a BARE registration form filed with the Assessor — NO fee, NO inspection, NO occupancy determination, and NO supply device (no cap, per-owner limit, primary-residence rule, or zoning exclusion). Enforced by Fire Chief via MGL c.40 §21D. Confirms this is the ENACTED registration-only Ch.132, distinct from the heavier proposed STR-specific draft.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Orleans · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.