MA Attorney General Upholds Nantucket's Vote To Legalize STRs

5/19/2026

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell upheld Nantucket’s bylaw legalizing short-term rentals (STRs) across most of the island, rejecting a legal challenge that argued the measure violated state zoning law. The bylaw, approved at a November 2025 Special Town Meeting by a decisive two-thirds vote, ended years of contentious debate over STRs. Attorney Nina Pickering-Cook claimed the proposal should have been barred because similar measures had failed at earlier town meetings within the previous two years. However, the attorney general concluded the new article differed enough from prior proposals and that state law did not clearly prohibit reconsideration. The ruling emphasized the limited scope of the attorney general’s review and the legal presumption favoring locally approved bylaws. Supporters said the decision validates Nantucket’s democratic process, while opponents may still pursue further legal action.

Nantucket Current (05/18/26) JohnCarl McGrady