Oak Bluffs Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Oak Bluffs does not require a specific STR permit at this time. Check with local government for any zoning or business license requirements.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 11.7% of gross rental income.

Collection: Operators (and intermediaries/hosting platforms that collect rent on an operator's behalf) must register with DOR via MassTaxConnect and remit the combined state and local-option room occupancy excise directly to the Commonwealth; the Commonwealth then distributes the local-option share to Oak Bluffs.

Filing: Monthly; returns due on or before the 30th day following the month

Rental Limits

Oak Bluffs does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Each individual stay must be 31 days or fewer per stay.

Zoning & Restrictions

No Oak Bluffs-specific zoning restriction on ordinary short-term rentals (stays of 31 days or fewer) is currently in effect; the town has not enacted a short-term rental bylaw that changes the default residential use, so traditional whole-house/room STRs are generally allowed subject only to standard Massachusetts state requirements (registration, taxes, insurance, inspections).

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Operators must maintain at least $1,000,000 ($1 million) liability coverage per short-term rental stay in insurance covering the property's use as a short-term rental.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Under the 10th Edition of the Massachusetts building code (780 CMR), non-owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings used as short-term rentals require annual inspection/certification by the local building official; primarily owner-occupied lodging houses used for short-term rentals require inspection/certification at least once every five years. The property owner is responsible for requesting the inspection, and the municipality may charge an inspection fee.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Oak Bluffs:

1. Meet safety requirements. Under the 10th Edition of the Massachusetts building code (780 CMR), non-owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings used as short-term rentals require annual inspection/certification by the local building official; primarily owner-occupied lodging houses used for short-term rentals require inspection/certification at least once every five years. The property owner is responsible for requesting the inspection, and the municipality may charge an inspection fee.
2. Obtain liability insurance. $1,000,000 ($1 million) liability coverage per short-term rental stay minimum.
3. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR).
4. Collect and remit taxes. 11.7% on all bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Oak Bluffs?

Oak Bluffs does not require a dedicated short-term rental permit, but you must still register for and remit applicable lodging taxes. Confirm local zoning rules still allow short-term rentals at your property before listing.

Does Oak Bluffs require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Oak Bluffs does not impose a primary-residence requirement, so non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Oak Bluffs?

Oak Bluffs does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Oak Bluffs?

Short-term rental stays in Oak Bluffs are subject to a combined 11.7% in lodging taxes. This combines 5.7% Massachusetts state room occupancy excise + 6% Oak Bluffs local option room occupancy excise. The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.