RECENT PRESS & SOCIAL MEDIA
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2027 STR REGISTRATION REMINDER
ANNUAL STR REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2027
Just a reminder that the town requires all STR hosts to register their listing with the town every year and include their 6-digit Short-Term Rental Permit number in listings on rental platforms and real estate websites. The town has just launched a new registry and here is STR information and a link to it if you have not already gotten one from the town
NO DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ON STATE STR INSPECTION REQUIREMENT
Although funding was passed at town meeting to hire a STR Inspector in the Building Department, but a specific role/responsibility definition has not been published. Local STR regulations include complaint-based inspections but routine (annually or every 5 year) inspection requirements are only mentioned in recently passed MA Building Code legislation. For 1 and 2 family homes in which STRs are operated, routine inspection requirements are based on primary use and occupancy but those terms in the legislation are not specifically defined.
The guidance states "A primarily owner occupied one- and/or two-family dwelling used for short term rentals that is not a lodging house is NOT subject to periodic inspection." However, it leaves the definition of 'primarily owner occupied' to each town's interpretation based on their local zoning definitions. Nantucket's zoning bylaws (Chapter 139) define OWNER OCCUPIED as follows: "The primary residence, or temporary (seasonal) residence, of a person(s) or the individual beneficiaries of a legal entity that holds title to the property, where such persons are physically present and living within dwelling units on said property for at least three months each calendar year. Properties owned by corporations and the like, time sharing interval dwelling units, or where all units are made available for rent do not qualify as owner occupied." But it is simply conjecture on my part as to how or if the town will proceed with defining, implementing and enforcing a local STR inspection policy. Click below for full narrative of guidance and stay tuned!!!
STRANDED TRAVELERS MAKE THE FRONT PAGE
Our Stranded Traveler line was ringing off the hook on Monday May 31, 2026 and the story hit the front page of the Inquirer & Mirror the following week. We felt the community and our visitors deserve a more comprehensive and coordinated response. Winter storms loom ahead of us
What do you think?
'UNNAMED CLIENT' CHALLENGE TO ARTICLE 1 OVERRULED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
In a May 18, 2026 decision, the AG confirmed the legal passage of Article 1 (a citizen's article submitted by Fishing Charter Captain Brian Borgeson, requiring a 2025 Special Town Meeting) which permits by right, long and short term rentals in all zones. The challenge from an anonymous client was denied.
NANTUCKET CURRENT REPORTS ON STM 2025
"Nantucket's five-year stalemate over short-term rentals has ended.
During Tuesday night's Special Town Meeting, Article 1, which legalizes short-term rentals (STRs) by right across Nantucket, was passed by a vote of 1045 - 421, clearing the two-thirds threshold needed for adoption with 71 percent support. The passage of Article 1 was the culmination of a divisive five-year debate over whether to restrict short-term rentals, and essentially kills existing legal challenges of STRs on Nantucket........"
RENT RESPONSIBLY REPORTS ON ARTICLE 1
Rent Responsibly is an education and community-building platform for short-term rental operators. We help owners, hosts, and managers navigate their local laws, professionalize their hospitality businesses, and rent responsibly. They are a strategic partner with GovOS, Nantucket's STR Registry operator and reported on the outcome of Nantucket's 2025 Special Town Meeting.
Get Informed - Read the reports
The Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) commissioned an independent study by the UMass Amherst Donahue Institute of vacation rentals that are managed by local real estate agencies. NAREB collected rental data from participating agencies for the period of 2019-2022, removed duplications and personal information and turned it over to the Donahue Institute for analysis and they published their report in June 2023.
VIEW THIS UPDATED REPORT FOR 2025
Get The Facts. Read The Reports.
ProcessFirst was selected by the town to delve into online rental platform, MA State STR registry, home sales data and combine it/ compare it to the extent possible with similar data being independently aggregated by the Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), removing duplicates and protecting personal information.