Falmouth Property Management is introducing a new resource for short-term rental owners, built by longtime Falmouth residents and small business owners.
The Town of Falmouth is requiring new permits for all short-term rentals, effective January 1, 2027.
Under Massachusetts law, a short-term rental is any rental of 31 consecutive days or less.
See what the law requires →The named local operator is just one piece of the new Article 17 permit. This is the one requirement we help with. For the full picture of what the permit involves, see the summary below.
Read the full Article 17 summary on the Town of Falmouth website →
Someone named on record, responsible for day-to-day operations and emergency response.
Owners outside that radius can't self-designate. They contract with someone who qualifies.
Available for emergencies or complaints, day or night, with no scheduled hours.
Being your named local operator is a single annual fee. Happy to break this into multiple payments if that's easier.
Our current customers, and our friends, want to meet the permit compliance without changing everything they already have in place. That told us there were going to be many short-term rental owners in the same position. So we're offering this on its own: Falmouth Property Management can simply take on the role that fulfills your Article 17 permit. We're happy to work with the owner and with any system already in place.
This site covers short-term rental compliance specifically. For our full range of property management services, visit Falmouth Property Management.
"When I heard about Article 17, I pulled together a group of people who currently already work in the industry, including small business owners and workers with connections across town, including fire, police, and hospital staff."
"Falmouth should stay the safe, beautiful, small-town place it's always been. We wanted to make that transition easier. Falmouth to Falmouth."
Michelle Burke, Owner, Falmouth Property ManagementWhat we offer right now: a real person on call, who cares about your home because it's in our town.
If you're the name on the permit, does that mean you handle guest issues too?
No.
Being listed as the local operator on the Article 17 permit means the Town, including the Board of Health, Fire, or Police, has a name and number they can reach 24/7 if there's a town-level issue at the property.
It does not mean we're the point of contact for guests. Things like a broken microwave, a lockout, or a problem with the Wi-Fi are property management and guest-service issues, separate from our role as the permit contact.
What if a guest issue comes up? Who do they call?
Your guests continue to contact whoever they normally would: you, your property manager, or your booking platform.
Falmouth Property Management does not replace your existing guest support or property management.
Our role is to be your designated local operator in Falmouth and the local point of contact when the Town needs someone available here.
Can I use FPM as the permit contact even if my property management is handled elsewhere?
Yes.
You can keep your existing property manager or booking platform for day-to-day guest operations, while we serve as the required local operator of record for Article 17 compliance.
What kind of situation would actually trigger a call from the Town?
The Town may need to reach the local operator whenever an issue at the property requires a local response.
A home booked for four guests might unexpectedly become a gathering of twenty. Neighbors may call about excessive noise, or police, fire, or the Board of Health may need someone responsible for the property who is available locally.
That's where we come in.
Falmouth Property Management is the local contact listed for your property. We take the call, work directly with the responding department, and keep you and your property manager informed.
And local really does mean local.
We live here in Falmouth, within the Town-required 20-mile radius, and are available 24/7/365 when the Town needs to reach the local operator.
Problems don't keep business hours. Sometimes they require someone who can actually be here.
How do I get my new permit? Can I go to Town Hall?
Starting January 2027, short-term rental permits must be completed online.
Permits will not be issued in person at Town Hall.
The application is completed through the Town's online permitting system.
Will Falmouth Property Management help me with this?
Yes.
For a one-time fee, we can complete the online permit application on your behalf using the information you provide us.
Will Falmouth Property Management also be my general property manager?
Our local operator service does not require you to change how your property is currently managed.
You can continue working with your existing property manager, booking platform, cleaner, landscaper, or other local service providers.
If you need additional help with your Falmouth property, just ask. We're always happy to talk through what you need.
Do I need to change my current property manager or booking platform?
No.
You can keep your current property manager, Airbnb, Vrbo, Evolve, or whatever system you already use.
Falmouth Property Management can serve specifically as your local operator of record without taking over the rest of your rental operation.
Falmouth Town Meeting approved a new short-term rental bylaw, Article 17, on April 7, 2026.
New permit requirements for short-term and vacation rentals take effect January 1, 2027. Highlights:
Details are subject to change as the Town finalizes its regulations. We'll keep this page updated.
To protect our clients' privacy, we confirm property ownership through the Registry of Deeds before responding to inquiries. If you're not sure of the exact name on the deed, that's okay, just check the box below and we'll take it from there.