Short Term Rentals in Concord
Thousands of visitors visit Concord every year to enjoy the cultural venues, explore historic sites and visit friends and family. Many are looking for comfortable places to stay nearby. For those wishing to make their property available to paying guests, online platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo and Homeaway are making the marketing and reservations easier than ever before. Concord does allow homeowners to offer rooms within their primary home for such short-term rentals through designation either as a Tourist Home or as a Bed & Breakfast.
Offering your Property as a Tourist Home
What is a Tourist Home? This is a short-term rental of a furnished room or unit that is reserved in advance. The owner may or may not be on-site during the guest’s stay.
What’s the difference between a Tourist Home and a Bed and Breakfast? A bed and breakfast is a property licensed to run as a commercial venue. Such facilities serve food and require a review by Concord’s health department for the serving of food. At a tourist home food is not provided to guests.
What properties are eligible? Designation is available to single-family detached dwellings with applications received exclusively from the property owner. The home must be the property owner’s primary residence with the short-term rental an accessory use. No more than three rooms in the home may be rented. Sufficient parking must be available on-site, with a minimum of two spaces plus one additional space for each rentable room. (See Zoning Table IV, Section 7.7 for parking details.)
What is the process of designation? Approval for a Tourist Home is through a Special Permit issued by the Concord Zoning Board of Appeals under Concord Zoning Code 5.3.15 for temporary paid lodging.
How do I apply for a Special Permit? The Application procedures can be found on the Town of Concord website. (https://concordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5433/ZBA-Special-Permit-Application-Procedures). Among the materials required are a copy of your deed, architectural plan of the property, site photographs of the home in relation to neighborhood, along with a fee of $200.
Operating a Tourist Home
Taxes: Renting your home is a business so be sure to maintain consistent accounting and records of your guests.
- Like any commercial enterprise you must file business tax returns.
- Obtain a Business Certificate from the Town of Concord Clerk’s office.
- All operators of short-term rentals must register with Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) through MassTaxConnect and collect and pay Room Occupancy Excise tax. Some hosting platforms will facilitate state excise tax filings for you. (Note: A property is exempt from the short-term rental tax if it is rented for 14-days or less per calendar year, the operator registers with DOR, and files a declaration stating that they intend to rent their property for 14-days or less.)
Insurance: Massachusetts requires you advise your homeowners insurance carrier and maintain a policy with coverage of a minimum $1 million. If you are renting your home typical homeowner policies do not cover property damage or injury on your property. Some short-term rental hosting platforms provide such coverage as part of their service.
