Short-Term Rental Regulations · The Berkshires, MA and NY
Is The Berkshires short-term-rental friendly?
Town-by-town rules
Rules vary by town. Austerlitz, Great Barrington, Lee, and Stockbridge publish local permit or registration processes. Egremont's STR zoning received Attorney General approval on October 7, 2026, subject to posting or publication. No current local process was found for Monterey, Sheffield, or West Stockbridge.
Last updated: . Every fact links to its official source.
Town-by-town rules
| Town | Permit required? | Annual cost | Primary-residence / night-cap limits | Lodging tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austerlitz (NY) | The Town publishes an STR permit application for a single property. The application requires supporting floor plans, insurance, septic documentation and an application fee set by Town Board resolution. (Austerlitz official STR materials (opens in a new tab), Town-hosted STR application adopted August 21, 2025 (opens in a new tab)) | A current town STR registration fee was not stated in the cited materials. (Austerlitz short-term rentals (opens in a new tab)) | A primary-residence requirement or annual night cap was not stated in the cited materials. (Austerlitz short-term rentals (opens in a new tab)) | The county implementation FAQ linked by the Town states a 4% occupancy tax effective July 1, 2025 for rentals under 30 consecutive days. New York state and local sales taxes apply separately under state STR rules effective March 1, 2025; the combined sales-tax rate was not confirmed. (Austerlitz official STR materials (opens in a new tab), Official county implementation FAQ linked by Austerlitz (opens in a new tab), New York STR sales tax (opens in a new tab)) |
| Egremont | The Attorney General approved Egremont's June 29, 2026 STR zoning amendment on October 7, 2026. It allows STRs by right in Rural/Residential and Village District zoning, and takes effect once the town posts or publishes it. No separate local STR registration process was found. (Attorney General approval of Egremont STR zoning (opens in a new tab)) | A current town STR fee was not found in the cited materials. (Town of Egremont official materials (opens in a new tab)) | A primary-residence requirement or annual night cap was not found in the cited materials. (Town of Egremont official materials (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Egremont was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Town of Egremont official materials (opens in a new tab)) |
| Great Barrington | A short-term-rental registration is required before advertising and renting a property for 30 consecutive days or less. (Great Barrington STR FAQ (opens in a new tab), Town registration hub confirms adopted bylaw (opens in a new tab)) | The Town states that STR registration costs $200. A 2.75% credit-card convenience fee or $1.50 e-check fee may apply. (Great Barrington STR FAQ (opens in a new tab)) | The Town summary states unlimited rental days when the owner resides on premises, and a 150-day annual limit when the owner is not on premises. One STR per owner is allowed. (Great Barrington STR bylaw summary (opens in a new tab), Town registration hub confirms adopted bylaw (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Great Barrington was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Great Barrington STR FAQ (opens in a new tab)) |
| Lee | Town bylaws require STRs to be registered with the Town. (Lee STR registration (opens in a new tab)) | The Town lists a $100 STR registration cost. (Lee STR registration (opens in a new tab)) | The 2025 bylaw restricts properties owned by corporations, trusts or partnerships, with a stated exception involving a single Lee residential property and primary residence of the majority owner or beneficiary. Tenant STR operation requires explicit written lease authority. No general annual night cap was found. (Lee STR bylaw amended 2025 (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Lee was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Lee STR registration (opens in a new tab)) |
| Monterey | No dedicated local STR registration process was found in the cited materials. That does not mean STRs are permitted or exempt from town requirements. Massachusetts DOR operator registration remains separate. (Town of Monterey official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab)) | A current town STR fee was not found in the cited materials. (Town of Monterey official materials (opens in a new tab)) | A primary-residence requirement or annual night cap was not found in the cited materials. (Town of Monterey official materials (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Monterey was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Town of Monterey official materials (opens in a new tab)) |
| Sheffield | No dedicated local STR registration process was found in the cited materials. That does not mean STRs are permitted or exempt from town requirements, and Massachusetts DOR operator registration is still required separately. The town's linked zoning compilation dates from May 2019, so check for later changes. (Town of Sheffield official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab)) | A current town STR fee was not found in the cited materials. The town's linked zoning compilation dates from May 2019, so check for later changes. (Town of Sheffield official materials (opens in a new tab)) | A primary-residence requirement or annual night cap was not found in the cited materials. The town's linked zoning compilation dates from May 2019, so check for later changes. (Town of Sheffield official materials (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Sheffield was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Town of Sheffield official materials (opens in a new tab)) |
| Stockbridge | All short-term rentals must register annually with the Town. (Stockbridge short-term rental page (opens in a new tab)) | The Town states a registration fee may be required as determined by the Select Board, but the amount was not stated in the cited source. (Stockbridge short-term rental page (opens in a new tab)) | The Town limits occupancy to the dwelling legal occupancy and requires a local manager or responsible party. A general annual night cap was not stated. (Stockbridge short-term rental page (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for Stockbridge was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Stockbridge short-term rental page (opens in a new tab)) |
| West Stockbridge | No dedicated local STR registration process was found in the cited materials. That does not mean STRs are permitted or exempt from town requirements. Massachusetts DOR operator registration remains separate. (Town of West Stockbridge official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab)) | A current town STR fee was not found in the cited materials. (Town of West Stockbridge official materials (opens in a new tab)) | A primary-residence requirement or annual night cap was not found in the cited materials. (Town of West Stockbridge official materials (opens in a new tab)) | Massachusetts charges a 5.7% state room-occupancy excise. A local rate for West Stockbridge was not found in the cited materials. (Massachusetts room occupancy excise (opens in a new tab), Town of West Stockbridge official materials (opens in a new tab)) |
"Not found" means the restriction was not located in the linked official materials reviewed as of the update date. It does not prove that no later, uncodified, parcel-specific, or special-district rule applies.
Good to know
- Austerlitz (NY): The county implementation FAQ states that county occupancy-tax registration is separate from town permitting and is renewed every two years. Its 2025 statement about platform collection is not assumed current for November 2026. (Austerlitz official STR materials (opens in a new tab), Official county implementation FAQ linked by Austerlitz (opens in a new tab))
- Egremont: The Attorney General approved the zoning amendment on October 7, 2026, although the town's June document still says approval is pending. Confirm posting or publication and the parcel's zoning. South Egremont follows Egremont rules. (Attorney General approval of Egremont STR zoning (opens in a new tab), Egremont June 2026 bylaw (opens in a new tab))
- Great Barrington: The registration number must be posted in online advertisements and inside the unit. Safety, inspection, ownership, and event restrictions also apply. (Great Barrington STR FAQ (opens in a new tab), Great Barrington STR bylaw summary (opens in a new tab), Town registration hub confirms adopted bylaw (opens in a new tab))
- Lee: A property manager must live within 30 miles, maintain a 24-hour telephone number and respond within two hours to complaints. Registrations expire June 30 annually. Advertising must include the Lee registration number and maximum occupancy. (Lee STR bylaw amended 2025 (opens in a new tab))
- Monterey: The town's current STR operating process is not spelled out in the cited materials. Confirm zoning and any inspection requirements for the parcel before listing. (Town of Monterey official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab))
- Sheffield: The town's current STR operating process is not spelled out in the cited materials. Confirm zoning and any inspection requirements for the parcel before listing. The town's linked zoning compilation dates from May 2019, so check for later changes. (Town of Sheffield official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab))
- Stockbridge: A local manager or responsible party must respond within two hours to problems and within 30 minutes in an emergency. Safety inspections may apply. (Stockbridge short-term rental page (opens in a new tab))
- West Stockbridge: The town's current STR operating process is not spelled out in the cited materials. Confirm zoning and any inspection requirements for the parcel before listing. (Town of West Stockbridge official materials (opens in a new tab), Massachusetts operator registration (opens in a new tab))
FAQ
What should I verify before listing in the Berkshires?
Confirm the exact parcel jurisdiction, zoning or land-use eligibility, permit or registration status, tax registrations, and any HOA or deed restrictions for Austerlitz, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Monterey, Sheffield, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge.
Are the rules the same across the Berkshires?
No. The governing city, town, county, and special district can change the permit, cap, and tax requirements.
What does "not found" mean?
It means the rule was not found in the cited materials. It is not a guarantee that no rule applies.
Do platforms handle every tax or permit?
Platforms may not handle every tax or permit. Confirm collection, filing, and registration responsibility directly with the jurisdiction.
General information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules change, so verify current requirements with the jurisdiction before listing.