Hull, Massachusetts Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Hull, MA?

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Hull, MA. However, they are subject to both state-level regulations and local municipal requirements. Hull, like other Massachusetts municipalities, operates under the Commonwealth's regulatory framework for short-term rentals (established by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018), while having the authority to adopt additional local ordinances and bylaws to address community-specific concerns.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Hull?

Hull hosts earn a median $36,540/year with $279 ADR and 54% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $50,646+ per year.

See the full Hull market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Hull, MA

Step 1: Understand Regulatory Requirements

Before purchasing or converting a property for short-term rental use, investors must familiarize themselves with:

State registration requirements (mandatory for all operators)
Local Hull-specific regulations (if any have been adopted)
Tax obligations (state and potential local option taxes)
Safety and insurance requirements

Step 2: Property Evaluation

Consider the following factors when selecting property:

Zoning Compliance: Short-term rentals are not considered accessory uses to single-family homes and cannot be grandfathered into existing zoning
Safety Standards: Properties must meet health and safety inspection requirements
Owner vs. Non-Owner Occupied: Different rules may apply based on operator occupancy status
Management Approach: Professional management versus owner operation may trigger different regulatory requirements

Step 3: Registration and Licensing

State Registration: Required for all short-term rental operators
Local Registration: Check if Hull requires additional municipal registration
Annual Renewal: Both state and local registrations typically require annual renewal

Step 4: Insurance and Safety Compliance

Obtain required minimum $1 million liability insurance
Install and maintain safety equipment (smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers)
Post required safety information

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

State-Level Requirements (Mandatory)

Registration Certificate

Certificate of Registration from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
Registry Search: Available through Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Online Registration: Available through the state's registration portal
Certificate Display: Must be posted in a conspicuous location within the rental unit

Insurance Requirements

Minimum Coverage: $1 million liability insurance policy
Platform Coverage: The hosting platform may provide coverage exceeding $1 million
Proof of Insurance: Documentation must be available for inspection

Safety Equipment and Information Posting

Properties must post the following information in a conspicuous location:

Location of fire extinguishers
Location of gas shut-off valves
Location of fire exits
Location of fire alarms
Certificate of registration
Short-term rental street address
Operator contact information and emergency contacts
Recycling and waste disposal instructions

Mandatory Safety Equipment

Smoke detectors (properly installed and maintained)
Carbon monoxide alarms (properly installed and maintained)
Properly maintained and charged multi-purpose fire extinguisher

Local Requirements (Hull-Specific)

Note: Specific Hull regulations were not provided in the source materials. Investors should contact the Hull Town Clerk's office to obtain current local bylaw requirements.

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

State-Level Regulations (Massachusetts)

Tax Structure

State Tax Rate: 5.7% of rental income
Local Option Tax: Municipalities can impose additional tax of up to 6%
Community Impact Fee: Communities can adopt a fee of up to 3% (requires separate vote from local option tax)
Tax Distribution: Local option taxes are distributed back to municipalities quarterly
Amendment Limitations: Communities can only amend local tax rates once per 12-month period

Operational Restrictions

Registration Requirement: All operators must register with the state
Professional Management: Different regulations may apply to professionally managed properties
Owner-Occupied vs. Non-Owner: Different rules may apply based on occupancy status
Zoning Compliance: Must comply with local zoning bylaws (short-term rentals are not grandfathered)

Community Control Measures

Municipalities have the authority to regulate:

Safety: Regular health and safety inspections, nearby owner/manager requirement, additional insurance
Economic: Community impact fees, limits on total number of rentals, rental day limits
Noise: Required lot sizes, location restrictions, occupancy caps, permit requirements for gatherings
Parking: Parking requirements
Environmental: Required trash/recycling provisions

Hull-Specific Regulations

Specific Hull bylaw details were not provided in the source materials. The document references that Hull has a short-term rental bylaw, but the specific provisions are not included in the provided content.

Common Hull regulations may include:

Municipal registration requirements
Additional safety inspections
Local tax rates (if Hull has adopted the local option)
Operating day limits
Occupancy restrictions
Parking requirements

Contact Information

State-Level Contacts

Massachusetts Department of Revenue

Registration and tax information
Registry Search: Available online through DOR portal
Online Registration: Available through state portal

Local Authority Contact

Hull Town Offices Note: Specific contact information for Hull's short-term rental authority was not provided in the source materials.

Recommended Contacts:

Town Clerk's Office: For registration requirements and local bylaws
Building Department: For safety inspection requirements
Board of Health: For health and safety compliance
Fire Department: For fire safety requirements

Regional Planning Resources

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Address: 1 Fenn Street, Suite 201, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413.442.1521
Website: www.berkshireplanning.org
Services: Regional planning assistance and resources (note: Hull is not in Berkshire County, but BRPC provides statewide resources)

Links to Source Pages

Source Document:

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Short-Term Rental Toolkit (July 2023)
Available at: berkshireplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Toolkit-2023-Short-Term-Rentals-revised.pdf

Additional Resources Mentioned:

Chapter 337 Acts of 2018 (Massachusetts short-term rental legislation)
Massachusetts Department of Revenue registration portal
Local option tax adoption guidance materials

Important Investment Considerations

Regulatory Risk

Municipal regulations can change rapidly
Hull may adopt stricter regulations in the future
State regulations may be amended by the Legislature

Market Dynamics

As of January 2023, 1,891 short-term rental operators were registered in Berkshire County (nearly 3% of housing units)
Approximately 15 of Berkshire County's 32 municipalities adopted local option taxes
Competition levels may vary significantly based on local regulatory environment

Financial Planning

Budget for both state and potential local taxes
Consider insurance costs beyond minimum requirements
Plan for potential local inspection and compliance costs
Account for community impact fees where applicable

Due Diligence Recommendations

Municipal Verification: Contact Hull Town Clerk's office for current local requirements
Legal Review: Consult with Massachusetts attorney familiar with municipal regulations
Insurance Consultation: Work with local insurance agent for appropriate coverage
Zoning Confirmation: Verify zoning compliance with local building/zoning departments

Note: This guide is based on information current as of July 2023. Regulations may have changed. Investors should verify current requirements with local and state authorities before proceeding.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Hull

Hull, Massachusetts is a small coastal town in Plymouth County perched on the tip of a long, narrow peninsula that curls out into Massachusetts Bay, just southeast of Boston. With a year-round population of roughly 10,000, Hull has the feel of a classic New England seaside village, characterized by weathered shingle-style cottages, a working harbor, and broad sandy beaches that have drawn summer visitors since the 19th century. Best known as home to Nantasket Beach, one of the South Shore's most iconic shorelines, Hull also serves as a gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands and sits within easy reach of downtown Boston, located about 30 miles to the northwest across the bay.

Nantasket Beach stretches for roughly three miles along the eastern side of the peninsula and forms the heart of Hull's identity. The wide, gently sloping sand is lined with a classic boardwalk, small restaurants, ice cream stands, and the historic Paragon Park Carousel, a hand-carved merry-go-round that has survived since the early 1900s. Because the beach is essentially within the town itself, virtually every short-term rental in Hull is just a short walk or drive from the surf.

At the end of the peninsula, Fort Revere occupies Telegraph Hill, a former coastal defense site with earthworks dating to the Revolutionary War and a more substantial turn-of-the-20th-century battery. Visitors today come mainly for the panoramic views across Boston Harbor, which on a clear day stretch from the city skyline all the way to Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. The hill is only a few minutes' drive from the center of town and offers an easy side trip for guests staying anywhere on the peninsula.

The Hull Lifesaving Museum, housed in the restored 1889 Point Allerton U.S. Life-Saving Station on the bay side of the peninsula, tells the story of maritime rescue along the New England coast. Exhibits cover the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, local shipwrecks, and the surfmen who patrolled these waters, and the museum's setting right above the water makes it a quiet counterpoint to the busier beach side of town.

Just across the border in neighboring Hingham lies [World's End](en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_End_(Hingham,_Massachusetts), a Trustees of Reservations property of rolling meadows, pine groves, and rocky shoreline looking out over the harbor. A trip here is only a ten- or fifteen-minute drive from most of Hull and offers miles of easy walking trails with some of the best harbor views in the area.

Hull's appeal for short-term rentals comes from this unusual combination: it has the unhurried pace and natural setting of a small beach town, yet it sits within roughly an hour of Boston and the South Shore's historic sites, with the bonus of seasonal ferry access to the Boston Harbor Islands from nearby Hingham. The result is a destination that works equally well for families seeking a classic New England beach vacation and for visitors who want a quieter base from which to explore the greater Boston coast.