Short-Term Rental Management in New Bedford and the South Coast, MA

Why Guests Come to New Bedford and the South Coast

• Whaling history downtown. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park covers the old whaling district, and its visitor center at 33 William Street is free and open year-round.
• A working waterfront. NOAA's latest Fisheries of the United States report ranks New Bedford first among US ports by catch value for the 23rd consecutive year, driven mainly by sea scallops. The port brings business travel as well as tourists.
• Island ferries. Seastreak runs seasonal ferries from New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket from May through October, and the Cuttyhunk Ferry runs to Cuttyhunk Island year-round. Some visitors book a night in New Bedford on either side of an island trip.
• The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. Founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants, the feast at Madeira Field is billed as the largest Portuguese cultural festival in the world. In 2026 it ran July 30 to August 2.
• South Coast Rail. Commuter rail service to New Bedford began March 24, 2025, with two city stations, Church Street and New Bedford station on Acushnet Avenue. Trains reach Boston's South Station in about an hour and a half.
• Westport's beach. Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport is the region's big ocean beach, with a state campground and daily parking fees charged from late May to mid-October.

The South Coast Rental Year

Summer is the peak. Horseneck Beach, the island ferries and early-August Feast weekend all land between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and coastal homes in Westport, Dartmouth and Fairhaven do most of their year in those months.

Spring and fall hold up better in New Bedford than on the beaches. The national park, museums and restaurants run all year, and the ferries keep sailing into October.

Winter leans on mid-term and work stays. With a year-round port and a commuter line to Boston, furnished stays of a month or more can fill quiet months; our mid-term rentals guide covers how that works.

Short-Term Rental Rules in New Bedford and the South Coast

New Bedford. As of October 2026, New Bedford's zoning ordinance (Chapter 9, Section 1200) defines a "short-term rental" separately from hotels, lodging houses and bed and breakfasts, as a rental reserved in advance for not more than 31 days. We did not find a separate city ordinance requiring short-term rental registration or a local permit in the online code, which Municode shows as codified through ordinances of August 2025. Zoning still decides whether your use fits your district, and the city has been rewriting parts of its zoning, so ask the Department of Inspectional Services, 133 William Street, (508) 979-1540, before you list.

Fairhaven. Fairhaven has a full short-term rental bylaw (Chapter 190, adopted at the June 12, 2021 town meeting). Its key points:

• You must register with the Fairhaven Building Department before renting or advertising, and show your DOR registration.
• The fee is $200 for a registration or renewal, and registrations expire every December 31.
• No more than 120 short-term rentals may be registered in town at one time.
• New applicants must notify abutters within 300 feet.
• The town registration number must appear on every listing.
• An operator or agent must be able to respond in person within one hour to issues raised by the Building Commissioner.
• Rentals are allowed only in one-family, two-family or multifamily dwelling units, not in accessory buildings, and registrations do not transfer on a sale.

Dartmouth and Westport. We did not find a published short-term rental registration bylaw for Dartmouth. Westport drafted a zoning bylaw section on bed and breakfasts and short-term rentals in 2023 and 2024 that would require a Board of Health permit; confirm its current status with Westport's Board of Health or Building Department before you list.

Taxes. The Division of Local Services databank, read October 6, 2026, lists:

Each sits on top of the 5.7% state excise. See our room occupancy tax page and Massachusetts short-term rental laws page for DOR registration and the $1 million insurance rule.

Running a Rental on the South Coast

• Two- and three-family homes. If you live in one unit of a two- or three-family building and rent another, check whether your town adopted the impact fee for owner-occupied two- and three-family homes (Fairhaven has; New Bedford has not).
• Parking. Downtown and North End streets are tight. List off-street parking clearly, and tell guests where to park if the house has none.
• Beach days. Horseneck charges daily parking in season, with a much higher rate for out-of-state cars. Put that in your house guide.
• Coastal storms. Homes near the water in Fairhaven, Dartmouth and Westport face nor'easters and hurricane season. Check your FEMA flood zone and flood coverage.

How New England Host Co Works on the South Coast

New England Host Co manages homes across Massachusetts, with every home within 45 minutes of its crew's base. We manage in Worcester today, so for a South Coast home tell us the address and we will confirm whether a crew can reach it. Ask for a free property analysis on our contact page, or see the wider South Shore and Plymouth region.

FAQ

Does New Bedford Require a Short-Term Rental Permit?

As of October 2026 we found no separate city registration ordinance; New Bedford defines short-term rentals in its zoning ordinance. Ask Inspectional Services at (508) 979-1540 about zoning for your address, and register with Massachusetts DOR.

Is There a Cap on Airbnbs in Fairhaven?

Yes. Fairhaven's bylaw allows no more than 120 registered short-term rentals at one time, with a $200 annual registration through the Building Department.

What Room Tax Applies in New Bedford?

The 5.7% state excise plus New Bedford's 6% local excise. The DLS databank lists no community impact fee for New Bedford as of October 2026.

Can Guests Take a Ferry to the Islands from New Bedford?

Yes. Seastreak sails to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket seasonally from May through October, and the Cuttyhunk Ferry runs year-round.

This page is general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice.