Lenox Select Board unanimously waives short-term rental registration fees for 2026

LENOX -- April 22, 2026, Lenox Select Board waives short-term rental registration fees for all of 2026, citing dual delays in state approval and payment software. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to suspend the $150-per-unit annual registration fee, which could have generated up to $30,000 across the town's 170 to 200 short-term rentals, after Land Use Director Eamon reported that Attorney General review of the updated bylaw would not conclude until late May or June, and that the Deckard/Rentalscape payment-processing system will not be operational until August. The board separately tabled a vote on adopting MassDevelopment's Property Assessed Clean Energy financing program, with Chair Neil Mazzeo saying he wanted Town Treasurer-Collector Catherine to review the administrative burden before any decision. In other action, the board unanimously approved a Class 1 automotive dealership license name change for BMW of Lenox, from Sean and Michael Berkshire's AV LLC to Sean and Michael Berkshire's M LLC. Town meeting preview sessions are set for April 29 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex; town meeting itself runs May 7, with 17 articles on the warrant including a telecom tower co-location lease authorization.