Fitchburg, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 79 § 79-4
Application for permit or determination of hardship status (Fitchburg Condominium Conversion)
Operative Text
An application for a permit or hardship status determination shall be submitted to the Clerk. A. Each application for a permit shall contain at a minimum the following: (1) A written certification under oath that the applicant has sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, a written notice of intent to convert and a copy of this chapter and regulations issued pursuant thereto to each tenant of a rental housing unit in a building which contains a rental housing unit covered by an application, not more than 60 days and no less than 30 days prior to the date the application is submitted to the Clerk. (2) Written certification that the applicant has offered for sale to each tenant whose rental housing unit is included in the application the unit covered by his or her lease on the date the application is submitted to the Clerk. The unit covered thereby shall continue to be offered to said tenant for 90 days after the permit is issued at a price stated in the application. [Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014 ] (3) An adequate tenant relocation plan describing the manner in which the applicant will assist tenants to locate comparable rental housing. (4) A written certification by an independent licensed engineer or architect that the building which contains any rental housing unit to be converted meets all applicable Building and Health Codes of the City of Fitchburg and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. B. A tenant who believes that he or she is a hardship case may file with the Clerk an application for hardship status. Any such application must be filed within 30 days of receipt of the notice to convert. [Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014 ]
Fitchburg, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 79 § 79-4 establishes the procedural requirements for applying to convert rental housing to condominiums or other ownership forms. A conversion applicant must submit sworn certifications covering advance notice to tenants, a right-of-first-offer to purchase their own unit, a tenant relocation plan, and a licensed engineer or architect's confirmation that the building meets applicable codes. Separately, tenants who believe the conversion would create a personal hardship may file their own application for hardship status with the Clerk within 30 days of receiving the conversion notice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 79 § 79-4, a compliant conversion applicant assembles a complete application package before approaching the Clerk, which includes sworn proof that certified-mail notice was sent to all affected tenants between 30 and 60 days before filing, written documentation of the purchase offer extended to each tenant, a concrete relocation assistance plan, and a code-compliance certification from an independent licensed engineer or architect. The purchase offer to each tenant must remain open for 90 days after the permit is issued at the price stated in the application. Operators generally maintain organized records of all certified-mail receipts and tenant communications to demonstrate compliance with each element of § 79-4.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 79 § 79-4 gives tenants in a building subject to a conversion application specific procedural rights, including the right to receive advance written notice by certified mail and a formal offer to purchase their own unit at the stated price for at least 90 days after the permit is issued. Tenants who believe the conversion would cause them personal hardship may file a hardship status application with the Clerk, but that filing must be made within 30 days of receiving the conversion notice. Tenants who want to understand how these rights apply to their situation may consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the chapter and regulations that the applicant is required to provide along with the notice.
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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