90 Days a Year: Cambridge’s New Cap on Short-Term Rentals

On August 5, 2026, Cambridge’s Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council cap short-term rentals at 90 days a year, alongside a new “autonomous unit” category reserved for residents who rent out their own home. City officials themselves called the 90-day figure a placeholder, but the vote marks the clearest signal yet that Cambridge is tightening its decade-old rules on Airbnb-style rentals.

A Placeholder Number With Real Teeth

City officials describe the 90-day cap as a placeholder, open to revision before the City Council takes it up. But the number is not arbitrary: San Francisco caps unhosted short-term rentals at the same 90 nights a year, a limit that has become something of a template for cities balancing tourism income against housing supply. For Cambridge, adopting a matching figure would put its rules in line with one of the country’s most tested short-term rental frameworks.

Who Gets to Rent, and How

The proposal also sorts short-term rentals into three categories: owner-occupied units, where a resident rents out individual rooms; adjacent units, in the same building or block as the owner’s primary residence; and the new autonomous units, where a resident rents out their entire home while away. Each category would be restricted to Cambridge residents, a response to what Deputy City Solicitor Elliott Veloso described as owners falsely claiming primary-residence status to qualify.

Mostly Off the Books

Cambridge has regulated short-term rentals since 2017, but enforcement has lagged behind supply. City estimates put roughly 716 short-term rental units in Cambridge, yet only 216 are registered, about three in ten. In June 2026, the City Council moved to close that gap by requiring booking platforms to register with the city and imposing fines of $300 a day for listing unregistered units.

A Limit Home Exchange Never Hits

None of these thresholds, caps, or registration categories apply to home exchange. When two families simply swap homes for a trip, no money changes hands, no night counts against an annual limit, and no unit needs an “autonomous” or “adjacent” label to qualify. It is one more example of how the exchange model sidesteps the administrative weight now landing on short-term rentals in cities like Cambridge.

Experience the Authenticity of Cambridge with HomeExchange

With HomeExchange, you can live that rhythm like a local. Choose from a traditional house, a beachfront villa, or an urban apartment in the heart of a city. Each home offers a unique perspective.

HomeExchange lets you experience true belonging while saving on accommodation costs. Immerse yourself in the local community and enjoy the comforts of a home away from home.