Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.060
Fines for failure to repair
Operative Text
A. If an owner fails to remedy a violation cited in an order to make repairs within the allotted time, or fails to remedy the violation within the time set out in any extension granted under Section 8.60.050 of this chapter, or fails to file a timely appeal, a fine shall be assessed against the owner. B. Notice of the assessment of a fine shall be served on the owner in accordance with the notice provisions of the State Sanitary Code. C. Notice of the fine shall be served on the same individuals who received notice of the initial administrative citation. D. The amount of the fine shall be set according to the following schedule: 1. One hundred dollars per day for each violation referred to in 105 CMR 410.830(A) and required to be corrected within twenty-four hours; or 2. Ten dollars per day for each violation referred to in 105 CMR 401.830(B) and required to be repaired in an amount of time determined by the Inspectional Service Department but, in any event, no more than thirty days. E. If a court with either civil or criminal jurisdiction determines that an extension of time for making repairs is appropriate and so orders pursuant to Section 8.60.050 , then during the time of the extension, no fines or other penalties under this chapter shall accrue.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.060 establishes a daily fine system that activates when a property owner misses the deadline to fix a cited violation, fails to secure a valid extension under § 8.60.050, or does not file a timely appeal. The fine rate depends on the severity of the violation: $100 per day applies to the most urgent violations requiring correction within 24 hours, while $10 per day applies to less critical violations with repair windows of up to 30 days. Fines stop accruing during any court-ordered extension of time granted under § 8.60.050, and notice of the fine must be delivered to the same parties who received the original citation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.060, compliant property operators generally act on repair orders before their deadlines expire, keep records of completed work, and formally pursue any extension through the proper channels under § 8.60.050 if more time is genuinely needed. Operators who miss a deadline without an approved extension or a pending appeal face daily fines that can accumulate quickly, particularly for high-priority violations carrying the $100-per-day rate. Maintaining documentation of repair timelines, contractor work, and any extension requests helps demonstrate good-faith compliance if a fine is later contested.
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 § 8.60.060 gives tenants context for understanding what happens after a landlord is cited but does not make repairs on time — daily fines begin accruing against the owner, which is an enforcement mechanism the city administers independently. Tenants who are aware of an unresolved repair order may contact Cambridge's Inspectional Services Department to inquire about the status of a cited violation and whether fines under § 8.60.060 have been assessed. Tenant-rights organizations in Cambridge can help residents understand how this provision interacts with other housing protections and what options exist when repairs remain incomplete.
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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