Overview: Are STRs allowed in Pittsfield?

Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Pittsfield under a new city ordinance adopted in September 2025. The ordinance defines an STR as the paid rental of a residential property or room for 30 consecutive days or fewer (excluding hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and other lodging businesses). Operators must register with the City Clerk’s office and obtain a license from the Licensing Board after zoning site plan review, departmental approvals (building, fire, health), and a public hearing. The city has set a cap of 150 rental days per year per STR and imposes ownership limits: a person may own up to two STRs, but only if one is owner-occupied and the second is located more than one-half mile away.

How to start an STR business in Pittsfield

• Confirm zoning eligibility and prepare for a site plan review with the City Planner.
• Submit a licensing application to the Licensing Board.
• Obtain approvals/inspections from Building, Fire, and Health departments.
• Attend the required public hearing before the Licensing Board.
• Register with the City Clerk’s office following Licensing Board approval.
• Operationalize compliance:
  • Install and maintain required safety equipment and post required notices.
  • Maintain at least $1 million in liability insurance (or ensure your hosting platform provides equal/greater coverage).
  • Collect and remit state and local taxes (see Taxes).
  • Track rental days against the 150-day cap and maintain records.
• If you are a new or non-owner-occupied operator, ensure the second STR is more than 0.5 miles away.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

City requirements (Pittsfield):

• Zoning site plan review (with City Planner) confirming the use is permissible.
• Licensing application and supporting materials for the Licensing Board.
• Departmental approvals and inspections from Building, Fire, and Health.
• Public hearing with the Licensing Board (operators will be vetted).
• City registration with the City Clerk’s office after licensing approval.
• Proof of insurance meeting state minimums (see below).
• Posting requirements in the unit: certificate of registration, STR street address, operator and emergency contact information, fire safety notices (extinguishers, gas shutoff, exits, alarms), recycling/waste disposal instructions, and any other notices required by local or state rules.
• Compliance with state accessibility and sprinkler system requirements for applicable buildings.

State requirements (Massachusetts):

• Certificate of registration with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) and Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) before operating.
• Liability insurance of at least $1 million unless the hosting platform provides equal or greater coverage.
• Safety posting and signage: location of fire extinguishers, gas shutoff valves, fire exits, and fire alarms in a conspicuous place.
• Taxes:
  • State excise tax: 5.7% of rent.
  • Local option tax: up to 6% (if adopted locally).
  • Community impact fee: up to 3% (requires local adoption and separate vote from the local option; 35% must be directed to affordable housing or local infrastructure).

Optional local fees (subject to separate municipal action):

• Local option excise tax (commonly 4%–6% regionally).
• Community impact fee (up to 3%; requires adoption of the local option).

Specific regulations (Pittsfield, Berkshire County, and Massachusetts)

Pittsfield city-specific rules:

• Definition and legality: STRs are explicitly legalized and defined as rentals of 30 days or fewer; all lodging types excluded by ordinance are not covered.
• Registration and licensing: Required before operation, with approval sequence (zoning site plan review, licensing application, multi-department inspections, and Licensing Board hearing).
• Annual rental day cap: 150 days per year per STR (enforcement relies primarily on good-faith reporting; city not currently tracking platform data).
• Ownership cap: Up to two STRs per person; additional unit allowed only if the original is owner-occupied and the additional STR is more than one-half mile away.
• Inspections: Periodic inspections and compliance with state accessibility and sprinkler requirements.
• Enforcement: Dual enforcement model—zoning enforcement by the Building Commissioner; licensing violations heard by the Licensing Board after input from police, fire, health, and building departments; penalties can include license suspension or restrictions.
• Complaint handling: Pre-ordinance, complaints lacked a clear process; now, the city can investigate and act under the Licensing Board framework.

Berkshire County context:

• As of January 2023, 1,891 STR operators were registered in Berkshire County (~3% of county housing units).
• Approximately 15 of 32 municipalities have adopted local option taxes (4%–6%) and some have implemented community impact fees (up to 3%). Pittsfield’s adoption of a local option and/or fee requires separate local action and is not confirmed in the sources.

Massachusetts state-level rules:

• Registration requirement with EOHED/DOR.
• Insurance minimum: $1 million unless hosting platform provides greater coverage.
• Taxes: 5.7% state excise plus local option up to 6%; community impact fee up to 3% if adopted locally.
• Safety posting obligations and compliance with accessibility and sprinkler standards where applicable.

Contact information for local authorities (Pittsfield)

• Building Commissioner (zoning enforcement and inspections):
  • Role: Enforces zoning provisions; coordinates inspections (building, fire, health).
  • Contact: City of Pittsfield Building Department (phone/email not provided in the sources).
• Licensing Board (licensing and enforcement actions):
  • Role: Receives departmental input; conducts public hearings; issues and can suspend/restrict licenses.
  • Contact: Licensing Board, City of Pittsfield (phone/email not provided in the sources).
• City Clerk’s Office (registration):
  • Role: City registration following Licensing Board approval.
  • Contact: City Clerk’s Office, City of Pittsfield (phone/email not provided in the sources).
• City Solicitor’s Office (legal interpretation):
  • Role: Provides legal counsel on ordinance interpretation and enforcement.
  • Contact: City Solicitor, City of Pittsfield (phone/email not provided in the sources).
• City Planner (zoning/site plan review):
  • Role: Conducts zoning site plan reviews for STRs.
  • Contact: City Planner, City of Pittsfield (phone/email not provided in the sources).
• State resources (Massachusetts):
  • DOR: www.mass.gov/department-of-revenue (for tax registration and filings).
  • EOHED/DOR registration portal: www.mass.gov/info-details/short-term-rental-registry.

Note: Specific phone numbers and emails for city departments were not provided in the sources. Investors should obtain current contact information directly from the City of Pittsfield website.

Links to source pages

• WAMC: Pittsfield adopts short-term rental ordinance, erects regulations and registry requirements — www.wamc.org/news/2025-09-15/pittsfield-adopts-short-term-rental-ordinance-erects-regulations-and-registry-requirements
• iBerkshires: Pittsfield Council OKs Short-Term Rental Regulations — pittsfield.com/story/80287/Pittsfield-Council-OKs-Short-Term-Rental-Regulations.html
• The Berkshire Eagle: Pittsfield City Council approves regulations for short-term rentals — www.berkshireeagle.com/news/central_berkshires/pittsfield-short-term-rental-ordinance-approved/article_566e4cde-c5dd-43da-bfe0-c3235c7a0140.html
• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Toolkit (2023): Short-Term Rentals — berkshireplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Toolkit-2023-Short-Term-Rentals-revised.pdf

This guide is current as of the provided sources. For implementation details, fee schedules, and any city-level local option tax or community impact fee adopted by Pittsfield after September 2025, investors should confirm directly with city departments.