Boston requires every rental unit to be registered with Inspectional Services by July 1 each year, at $25 per unit the first time and $15 per unit to renew, according to the City of Boston.
Boston combines yearly registration, a five-year inspection cycle and short-term rental rules that limit what an investor can do with a 1-4 unit property. For the Massachusetts rules that apply statewide, see DSCR loans in Massachusetts.
Do Boston rentals have to be registered?
Yes. Every rental unit must be registered annually by July 1, at $25 per unit for first-time registration and $15 per unit for renewals, capped at $2,500 per building or $5,000 per complex, under Boston Municipal Code 9-1.3.
- Missing registration carries a $300 per month fine.
- Owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units still register but pay no fee.
Exception: Owners who live outside Massachusetts must designate a Boston-based resident agent authorized to accept service on their behalf, under Municipal Code 9-1.3.
According to the City of Boston, How to register a rental property and Boston Municipal Code 9-1.3, as of October 2026.
How often are Boston rentals inspected?
Boston inspects non-exempt rental units at least once every five years, at $50 per unit in buildings of one to three units and $75 per unit in all other buildings, including condo units, under Municipal Code 9-1.3.
| Building | Inspection fee per unit |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 units | $50 |
| All other buildings, including condos | $75 |
Exception: Units in owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer rental units are exempt from inspection. Chronic offenders are inspected more often.
According to Boston Municipal Code 9-1.3, as of October 2026.
Can a Boston investor property be a short-term rental?
Generally no. Boston limits short-term rentals to units that are the operator's primary residence or owner-adjacent units in two- or three-family homes where all units are owned by the same owner-occupant, under its 2018 short-term rental ordinance.
- A non-owner-occupied investor property does not fit those categories.
Exception: These terms come from the 2018 ordinance text. Check the current code before planning short-term use.
According to the Boston short-term rental ordinance (2018), as of October 2026.
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