Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.040
Repairs and inspection
Operative Text
A. An owner shall make any and all repairs necessary to remedy any violations found by the Inspectional Services Department within the time stated on the order to make repairs, unless he or she requests a hearing pursuant to the hearing regulations of the State Sanitary Code. B. The Inspectional Services Department shall, within five days after the dates for compliance specified in an order to repair issued pursuant to 105 CMR 410.830, make an on-site inspection to determine whether there has been compliance with its order. This inspection shall be made within twenty-four hours of the dates for compliance specified in an order, however, if one or more of the violations or conditions cited in the order to repair are determined to be conditions which may endanger the health or safety, and well-being of the occupant(s) as defined in 105 CMR 410.750. An inspection under 105 CMR 410.830 shall comply with the requirements of 105 CMR 410.822. C. If, upon reinspection, it is determined that the owner has remedied the violations cited in the order to make repairs, the administrative citation shall note this finding and shall be filed with the Inspectional Services Department. D. Copies of the administrative citation indicating that the violation has been remedied and no fine has been assessed shall be served on the same individuals who received notice of the initial administrative citation. This notice shall be served within five days of the reinspection. E. If, upon reinspection, it is determined that the owner has failed to remedy the violations cited, this shall be noted on the administrative citation and a fine shall be assessed against the owner in accordance with the terms of Section 8.60.060 of this chapter. F. Copies of the administrative citation noting the assessment of a fine for failure to remedy the violations cited shall be served on the same individuals who received notice of the initial administrative citation within five days of the fine being assessed against the owner.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.040 establishes a repair-and-reinspection cycle for housing violations in Cambridge. When the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) issues an order to repair, the property owner must complete all required repairs within the timeframe stated in that order, unless the owner formally requests a hearing under the State Sanitary Code. After the compliance deadline passes, the ISD must conduct a follow-up on-site inspection—within five days in most cases, or within twenty-four hours when any cited condition poses a potential danger to occupant health or safety. Depending on whether violations have been remedied, the ISD issues an administrative citation either closing out the matter or assessing a fine, and copies of that citation must be served on all parties who received the original notice within five days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.040, compliant property owners generally act promptly on ISD repair orders, completing all cited repairs before the deadline specified in the order. Operators who believe an order is incorrect have the option of requesting a hearing under the State Sanitary Code rather than simply allowing the deadline to pass. Because the ISD is required to reinspect and, if violations remain unresolved, to assess fines under § 8.60.060, maintaining documentation of completed repairs—such as contractor invoices, permits, and dated photographs—is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating timely compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.040 gives tenants a meaningful procedural backstop: once an ISD repair order is issued, the department is obligated to return and verify whether the owner actually made the required fixes, and to assess fines if the owner did not. Tenants who are aware of an outstanding repair order can monitor whether a reinspection has occurred and whether an administrative citation was issued, since copies must be served on the same individuals who received the original notice. Tenants who believe violations remain unaddressed may consider contacting the ISD directly, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether an unresolved violation under § 8.60.040 is relevant to any existing housing dispute.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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