In May of 2019, the City Council passed a new ordinance for short-term rentals (for example, rooms or units rented on sites like AirBnB or HomeAway), which went into effect on January 1, 2020. The purpose of these regulations is to allow Somerville residents to operate short-term rental units, but to also ensure that those units remain part of the housing stock and do not negatively impact the neighborhood. Please note that if you choose to operate a short-term rental, it must remain in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and building codes. On January 26, 2023 the City Council amended the ordinance to require short-term rentals to register with the City to take effect on April 1, 2023.