Provincetown Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Rental Certificate

This permit type does not require primary residence.

Application Process

Register the unit with the Town via online permitting or in person at the Community Development Office; a life-safety inspection must be scheduled within 30 days of application/renewal submission.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 14.45% of gross rental income.

Collection: Hosting platforms typically collect and remit the room occupancy excise on the operator's behalf; operators renting directly must self-remit. Operators must register with DOR regardless.

Rental Limits

Provincetown 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

Check with local government

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

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

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Minimum 5 lb commercial grade (ABC), rechargeable fire extinguisher
• Working smoke detectors with backup batteries
• Working carbon monoxide detectors with backup batteries
• Street address visible from street (lettering minimum 4" tall and 1/2" wide)
• Clear access to electrical panel, boiler, water tank, and escape openings
• Life-safety inspection required (per Massachusetts State Building Code, effective July 1, 2025)

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Enforced by the Board of Health under two distinct tracks (Part XII, Art. 1, Section 7). (1) Non-criminal disposition (G.L. c.40, §21D): any person who violates the regulation is subject to a penalty of $300; each day or portion thereof is a separate offense, and each condition violated is a separate offense. (2) As an alternative to non-criminal disposition, violations may instead be prosecuted by indictment or complaint in district court, where — except as otherwise provided by law or as the court may see fit to impose — the maximum penalty for each violation shall be $1,000. This $1,000 figure (reflected in Max Penalty) is the ceiling for the district-court track, a separate enforcement option from the $300 noncriminal-disposition track, not an escalation of it.

Platform Requirements

• Hosting platforms (intermediaries) collecting rent must register with DOR and file returns/pay taxes
• A copy of the operator's Certificate of Registration (or Certificate number) must be given to any intermediary used.

Compliance Checklist

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

1. Meet safety requirements. Minimum 5 lb commercial grade (ABC), rechargeable fire extinguisher. Working smoke detectors with backup batteries. Working carbon monoxide detectors with backup batteries. Street address visible from street (lettering minimum 4" tall and 1/2" wide). Clear access to electrical panel, boiler, water tank, and escape openings. Life-safety inspection required (per Massachusetts State Building Code, effective July 1, 2025).
2. Obtain liability insurance. $1,000,000 minimum.
3. Apply for Short-Term Rental Certificate. Submit application + $750 fee.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Massachusetts Department of Revenue (MassTaxConnect).
5. Collect and remit taxes. 14.45% on all bookings.
6. Renew annually. $750 renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Provincetown?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Provincetown requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Provincetown?

A Short-Term Rental Certificate in Provincetown costs $750 per year.

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

No. Provincetown allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

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

Provincetown 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 Provincetown?

Short-term rental stays in Provincetown are subject to a combined 14.45% in lodging taxes. This combines 5.7% State Room Occupancy Excise + 6.0% Local Option Room Occupancy Excise + 2.75% Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund. The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What happens if you run a short-term rental without a permit in Provincetown?

Operating without a permit can cost up to $1,000.