Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.080
Failure to pay fines
Operative Text
A. Notice of a fine which has been issued pursuant to Section 8.60.060 of this chapter shall be served on the owner and on the occupants who receive notice of the initial administrative citation. B. In addition, the owner shall be given notice that the fine shall automatically double if any violation cited in the administrative citation is not remedied within two weeks of service of the notice of the fine and shall automatically triple if any violation is not remedied within one month of service of the notice of the fine. C. Any person aggrieved by the failure of the City to take such enforcement action, may seek injunctive relief in the District or Superior Court pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 214 and 218, Section 19C to require action by the City in accordance with its enforcement obligations under this section.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.080, when a fine is issued following an administrative citation, both the property owner and the notified occupants must receive formal notice of that fine. The provision builds in automatic escalation: if a cited violation remains unresolved two weeks after the fine notice is served, the fine doubles, and if it persists through one month, it triples — no additional action by the City is required to trigger these increases. Anyone harmed by the City's failure to carry out its enforcement duties under this section may pursue injunctive relief in Massachusetts District or Superior Court under the relevant state statutes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.080 generally track the exact date a fine notice is served, since the two-week and one-month escalation thresholds run from that date automatically. A compliant property owner typically documents remediation efforts and retains evidence that violations were corrected before those deadlines, because the doubling and tripling of fines occur without any further City action. Maintaining clear records of repairs and communications with the City is a common practice for demonstrating timely compliance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.080, tenants who received notice of the original administrative citation are also entitled to receive notice of any resulting fine. If the City fails to fulfill its enforcement obligations under this section, the provision expressly recognizes that aggrieved persons may seek injunctive relief in District or Superior Court under Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 214 and 218, Section 19C. Tenants who believe enforcement is not proceeding as required may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the options available to them.
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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