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POR 2016 #255 · Agenda item attachment · Sep 26 2016
That the City Manager is requested to refer the attached short-term rental draft ordinance to the City Solicitor, Inspectional Services Department and any other relevant department for comment and review as components of a potential short-term rental ordinance and be referred to a joint hearing of the Housing and Public Safety Committees scheduled on October 26, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. for discussion, and to hear back from the City on the proposed policies
WORKING DRAFT: OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR KELLEY
Chapter 4.30—Short-Term Rentals
4.30.010—Short Title
This Chapter may be cited as the Short-Term Rental Ordinance of the City of Cambridge.
4.30.020—Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance shall be to make the operation of short-term rentals legal for
Cambridge residents, protect the safety of renters, owners, visitors, and neighbors, and ensure that
short-term rentals will not be a detriment to the character and livability of the surrounding
residential neighborhood.
4.30.030—Definitions
(1) Short-term rental. Any rental stipulated to be less than 30 consecutive days.
(2) Owner-occupied unit. Any dwelling unit with short-term rentals that is also the primary
dwelling unit for its owner, or occupied by the primary lease-holder.
(3) Owner-adjacent unit. Any dwelling unit in a residential building with four or fewer total
units where all units are owned by the same person or entity, and one of the four units is
used as the owner’s primary place of residence.
4.30.040—Requirements
Short-term rentals are permitted in all districts where residential use is permitted subject to the
following limitations:
(1) All short-term rentals are either in owner-occupied units or owner-adjacent units.
(2) All short-term rental operators are registered with Inspectional Service Department
prior to use and occupancy.
(3) If the short-term rental is to occur in an owner-adjacent unit, that unit must have been
inspected for fire safety, building code violations, and sanitation within 6 months of
its registration in order to be rented.
(4) Compliance with codes shall be posted at the main entrance to the unit.
(5) The proprietor of a short-term rental operates no more than one (1) owner-occupied
unit and one (1) owner-adjacent unit.
(6) Short-term rentals may be subject to fees and or taxes as promulgated by the City and
or State authorities
Owner-adjacent units can be rented out only as a whole unit.
The number of short-term rentals in an owner-occupied unit shall be limited by the number of
bedrooms in the unit, not by the number of unrelated residents.
4.30.050—Penalty To be designated during Ordinance Committee hearing
4.30.060—Enforcement To be designated during Ordinance Committee hearing
4.30.061—Registration Shall be per regulation to be promulgated by Inspectional Services Department
and updated as appropriate