Gloucester Rental Registry

Helping Landlords and Tenants Create Great Living Spaces

Our mission is to improve safety and habitability of rental units in Gloucester, Massachusetts by helping our landlords access services to improve the safety and value of their units, and our tenants understand their rights and obligations for property care.

What’s New with Gloucester Rental Regs

On April 10, 2025, the Board of Health (BOH) approved new rental regulations designed to enhance tenant safety while supporting landlords. Based on consultations with landlords and a review of housing issues, we believe these changes will create more value for landlords and ensure safer environments for tenants.

Benefits of the New Regs At-A-Glance

No Pre-rental Inspection
to Register

Illustration of Old $90 Registration Fee, Now $30

Lower Fee:
$30 Year Per Building

Pen & Paper to Sign Agreement for Simple Sanitary Compliance

Simple Sanitary Code Compliance

Resources for Property Improvements

⛔ Old Regulations Requirements

Pre-rental inspection required
Complex renewal timing and $90 per unit, per Rental Certificate, issued
Compliance via Health Department inspection
Certificate of Rental Dwelling issued after post-inspection corrections
Up to $500/day fine for non-compliance - rarely enforced
Permitting not called out as pre-requisite to access City of Gloucester services

✅ New Regulation Benefits

No inspection required
Only $30 per building, annually, to Register
Compliance by understanding and agreeing to follow State Sanitary Code
Access to funding and support to improve your unit upon registration with BOH
$500/day fine for unregistered properties - will be actively enforced
Registering is the first step to work with any City department for rental unit support services, including City grants, short-term rentals, Gloucester Housing and Action, Inc.

Rental & Permitting Regulations

Landlords - Register Today

New Services Coming Soon for BOH-Registered Gloucester Landlords

Click an item below for more information:

Funding Resources

Master list access and help in applying for home improvement grants.

Reputation Building

Join a published list of BOH-Registered landlords to attract tenants.

Tenant Match

Share open units with tenants trained on State law for care of your property.

Stay Informed

Opt-in and get new funding, information, and safety updates for your property.

Unit Review

Request a complimentary inspection for help setting up or improving your units.

Short-Term Rental

Register to meet the pre-requisite for short-term rental permitting.

Non-Permitted Property Owners: Open the Door to a Fresh Start!

Amnesty Special Offer

Gloucester Health Department remains committed to ensuring safety and habitability for all rental properties. While we are focused on landlord services and support, lack of registration will be enforced vigorously and may include a minimum $500 fine per day, require inspection, keep you from access to critical services and even the right to rent.

Don’t lose your valuable money on fines; get a fresh start, and register with the Health Department! Stay tuned for more information on this special amnesty registration offer with no penalties for past non-compliance.

Click the Sign Up button below to stay informed of this upcoming announcement so you can open the door to funding resources and property improvement programs!

Sign Up for Health Department Updates