A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendments

Megan B. Bayer Assistant City Solicitors Paul S. Kawai City Solicitor Sean M. McKendry Elliott J. Veloso Diane O. Pires Deputy City Solicitor Sydney M. Wright Evan C. Bjorklund Kate M. Kleimola Franziskus Lepionka Andrea Carrillo-Rhoads First Assistant City Solicitor Joseph R. Posner CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Public Records Access Officer Office of the City Solicitor Seah Levy 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 June 23, 2025 Yi-An Huang City Manager Cambridge City Hall 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendments Dear Mr. Huang: Enclosed please find proposed amendments to the Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance. The proposed amendments, prepared by the Law Department and the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), are in response to ISD's recommendations to the City Council on changes to the ordinance as outlined in its October 21, 2024 report to the City Council. Among the proposed changes, the amendments would further define what constitutes a short-term rental unit, establishing a new category for "operator-occupied short-term rental units" and add conditions regarding their authorized use. The proposed amendments clarify that all short-term rentals must comply with all the state building code, fire code, sanitary code, and all other state and local habitability requirements. The proposed amendments add requirements that operators of short- term rental units must provide booking information and other related documentation upon request by the City. The amendments also add additional enforcement mechanisms to enable ISD to issue fines or revoke registration from operators of short-term rental units for violations of the ordinance or state regulations. We believe that the changes proposed will provide a more effective regulatory process for short-term rental facilities in the City and enable greater enforcement for noncompliance. Should the City Council wish to proceed with this recommendation, the amendments should be adopted as a City Council zoning petition. Very truly yours, Megan B. Baye meeabbay City Solicitor Attachment Telephone [phone removed] Facsimile [phone removed] TTY/TTD [phone removed]