Boston, Mass., Mun. Code § 16-52 (2026) § 16-52.4

(A) Properties subject to this Section must be maintained in accordance with the relevant Sanitary Codes, Building Codes and local regulations concerning external and/or visible maintenance. The owner, local individual or local property management company must inspect and maintain the property on a monthly basis for the duration of the vacancy.
(B) The property must contain a posting with the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the local individual or property management company responsible for the maintenance. The sign must also indicate the name, address and telephone number of the property owner and the owner’s authorized Agent for the purpose of service of process. This sign must be posted on the front of the property so it is clearly visible.
(C) When a building is vacant, unguarded and open to unauthorized entry, all building openings must be closed, secured and protected as follows.
(1) When a building is vacant, all building openings shall be closed and secured to prevent entry by unauthorized persons in a manner not inconsistent with rules and regulations issued by the Inspectional Services Department for securing vacant buildings.
(2) For a building that is determined by the Inspectional Services Department to be chronically or habitually violated or upon any renewal of the registration statement required in Subsection 16-52.3, the property owner must implement and provide proof satisfactory to the Inspectional Services Department that, in addition to complying with the security standards set forth elsewhere in this Section, said building either: contains all of the security features set forth in division (C)(2)(a) below, or is unviolated, as described in division (C)(2)(b) below.
(a) Every opening larger than one square foot in area that is located less than 8 feet above the ground or that is accessible from ground level or within 8 feet in any direction of an exterior stairway, fire escape or other means of access shall be secured using practices and materials approved by the Inspectional Services Department and the Office of the City Fire Marshal, including, but not limited to, stainless steel plates or shutters, steel mesh grates, lexan panels and concrete blocks.
(b) 1. For purposes of this Section only, the term
UNVIOLATED shall refer to a building that:
a. Has a permanent door or window, as applicable, in each appropriate building opening and that has each such door or window secured to prevent unauthorized entry; and
b. Has all its door and window components, including, without limitation, frames, jambs, rails, stiles, muntins, mullions, panels, sashes, lights and panes, intact and unbroken.
2. A building that does not meet the definition of “unviolated” shall be deemed “violated”.
(c) It shall be a violation of this Section for a vacant building to become violated, if the owner has otherwise represented proof to the Inspectional Services Department that such building is unviolated. With respect to a vacant building represented by the owner as unviolated, if the Commissioner determines, based on an inspection by the Inspectional Services Department or a report prepared by another City Agency and provided to the Inspectional Services Department, that such building is violated, the Commissioner shall send by certified mail a written notice of violation to the person responsible for the day-to-day supervision and management of the building or to the authorized agent for service of process as identified on the sign required by division (B) above, or if there is no such sign, then sent by certified mail to the owner of record. Within 30 days of the mailing of such notice of violation, the owner shall be required to comply with this division (C).
(D) Adherence to this Section does not relieve the owner of any applicable obligations set forth in Code regulations, Covenant Conditions and Restrictions and/or Home Owners Association rules and regulations.