Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws art v rodents § 34-281
Definitions (Fall River Art. V Control of Rodents and Other Vermin)
Operative Text
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: BUILDING Any structure, whether public or private, that is adapted for occupancy, for transaction of business, for rendering of professional service, for amusement or for the performance of work or labor, including hotels, apartment buildings, tenement houses, rooming houses, office buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants, grain elevators, abattoirs, warehouses, workshops, factories, and all outhouses, sheds, barns and other structures or premises used for business purposes. OCCUPANT The person that has the use of or occupies any business building or a part or fraction thereof, whether the actual owner or tenant. In the case of a vacant business building or any vacant portion of a business building, the owner or other person having custody of the building shall have the responsibility of an occupant of a building. OWNER The actual owner of the business building, whether an individual, partnership or corporation, or the agent of the building, or other person having custody of the building or to whom the rent is paid. In the case of business buildings leased with a clause in the lease specifying that the lessee is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the lessee will be considered the owner for the purpose of this article. RAT ERADICATION The elimination or extermination of rats within buildings such that the buildings are completely freed of rats or there is no evidence of rat infestation remaining, by any or all of the accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation, trapping, clubbing, etc. RAT HARBORAGE Any condition which provides shelter or protection for rats, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind. RATPROOFING A form of construction to prevent the ingress of rats into buildings from the exterior or from one building or establishment to another. It consists essentially of treating all actual or potential openings in the exterior walls, ground or first floor, basements, roof and foundations that may be reached by rats from the ground by climbing or burrowing with material impervious to rat gnawing. VERMIN ERADICATION The elimination or extermination of vermin within buildings such that the buildings are completely freed of vermin or there is no evidence of vermin infestation remaining, by any or all of the accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation, trapping, etc. VERMIN HARBORAGE Any condition which provides shelter or protection for vermin, thus favoring their multiplication and continued existence in, under or outside of a structure of any kind.
Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws Art. V § 34-281 establishes the working definitions for key terms used throughout the city's rodent and vermin control article. Terms such as 'building,' 'occupant,' 'owner,' 'rat eradication,' 'rat harborage,' 'ratproofing,' 'vermin eradication,' and 'vermin harborage' are each given specific meanings that govern how the rest of the article is applied. Notably, the definitions of 'occupant' and 'owner' extend responsibility to agents, custodians, and in some cases lessees, not just the person holding title or a lease.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-281, property owners and managers should be aware that the article's definition of 'owner' is broad — it can include agents, custodians, and even lessees who have accepted maintenance responsibility by lease clause. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with how terms like 'rat harborage' and 'ratproofing' are defined here, since those definitions shape the obligations imposed elsewhere in Art. V. Understanding that a vacant building's owner or custodian is treated as an 'occupant' for purposes of this article helps operators recognize that responsibility does not pause when a property sits unoccupied.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 34-281 is a definitions section, but it has practical relevance for tenants because it clarifies who counts as an 'occupant' and who counts as an 'owner' under Fall River's rodent and vermin control rules. Tenants should note that the article's obligations flow from these definitions — for instance, whether a landlord or a lessee bears responsibility may depend on lease language. Tenants who believe conditions in their building constitute 'rat harborage' or 'vermin harborage' as defined here may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or the relevant municipal authority to understand how the rest of Art. V applies to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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