Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws art v rodents § 34-282
Allowing premises to be or become infested (Fall River Art. V Control of Rodents and Other Vermin)
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises within the City to maintain the premises in a vermin-infested or rat-infested condition, or permit any such premises to become infested with vermin or rodents.
Section 34-282 of Fall River's Code of Bylaws makes it unlawful for any premises within the city to be maintained in a condition infested with vermin or rodents, or to be allowed to reach that state. The rule applies to both owners and occupants, placing responsibility on whoever controls the property. It is a preventive standard as much as a reactive one, covering both existing infestations and the failure to prevent one from developing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-282, compliant property owners generally conduct routine inspections for signs of rodent or vermin activity, address entry points and harborage conditions proactively, and respond promptly when an infestation is identified. Maintaining records of pest-control measures and vendor visits can help demonstrate that a property is being managed in accordance with this provision. Because the rule covers both maintaining and permitting an infested condition, operators typically treat prevention as an ongoing obligation rather than a one-time fix.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-282 gives occupants a basis to raise concerns when a rental unit or its common areas are vermin- or rodent-infested, since the rule explicitly covers occupants as well as owners. Tenants who observe infestation conditions may report them to Fall River's local code enforcement or health department, which has authority to inspect and cite violations of this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Massachusetts can help explain how this local bylaw interacts with state sanitary code protections and what options are generally available to renters facing pest conditions.
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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