🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Lenox, MA
Lenox Urges STR Hosts to Schedule Inspections: Town officials remind property owners of new state and local rules requiring safety checks and annual registration
Lenox Urges Short‑Term Rental Hosts to Schedule Safety Inspections
Photo by nextdoor.com
With tourism season approaching, Lenox officials are reminding short‑term rental operators to comply with updated state and local regulations by scheduling property inspections.
The inspections, required under the state building code and a town bylaw adopted last year, are intended to ensure safety and accountability in a community where as many as 200 short‑term rentals are listed at any given time.
đź“ŽNew Requirements
The state building code, updated in 2025, requires most short‑term rental properties to undergo safety inspections. Lenox’s local bylaw, approved by voters at a special town meeting last November, adds an annual registration requirement. Together, the rules apply to homes, rooms and apartments rented for 31 consecutive days or less through platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
The inspection fee is $150. Owners who live full‑time in their rental properties must schedule inspections every five years, while non‑resident owners are required to schedule them annually.
The bylaw also mandates that properties have on‑site fire extinguishers and posted contact information for the owner or manager. Failure to comply can result in fines of $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second, and $300 for a third. Repeat violations may lead to permit suspension.
Government Websites by CivicPlus®🏠Registration Process
Once the bylaw receives approval from the state Attorney General’s Office, hosts will be able to register online using the town’s new Deckard Rentalscape software platform. In the meantime, registration applications are available from Town Clerk Paul Mattingly at Town Hall.
To schedule inspections, property owners can contact Carolyn Hogencamp, the Building Department’s administrative assistant.
đź“ŤZoning Rules Still Apply
Lenox’s zoning bylaw for short‑term rentals, adopted in 2019, remains in effect. It prohibits accessory dwelling units (ADUs) from being used as short‑term rentals, requires overnight parking to be off‑street, and bans events with tents or amplified music.
Under the zoning rules, up to two bedrooms in a dwelling unit may be rented year‑round by right, provided the owner or tenant is present. Entire dwelling units may be rented for up to 75 days per year, with the possibility of a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals allowing an additional 35 days, for a maximum of 110 days annually.
🎤 Community Concerns
At a public information session last fall, property owners voiced concerns about the cost of complying with new state requirements, including sprinkler systems and monitored fire‑alarm systems. Some argued that the expenses could discourage participation in the short‑term rental market.
Town Planner and Land Use Director Eammon Coughlin explained that the building code changes were statewide and not unique to Lenox. He emphasized that inspections are necessary to ensure safety for guests and compliance with state law.
➡️ Next Steps
The bylaw is currently under review by the state Attorney General’s Office, as required for all new town bylaws. Once approved, the registration system will go live, and enforcement of the new rules will begin.
Town leaders are urging hosts to act quickly. With peak season approaching, they say inspections should be scheduled as soon as possible to avoid fines and ensure properties are ready for visitors.
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