Georgetown, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 457 § 457-3
Certification required (Georgetown Rental Occupancy)
Operative Text
Whenever a rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement other than a hotel, motel or rooming house is vacated by the occupant or occupants thereof, or within 10 days before the expiration date of the anticipated vacancy, it must be certified by the Board of Health or its agent, prior to being reoccupied by a new occupant, as meeting the standards set forth in the Sanitary Code, Article II, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation, as promulgated and from time to time amended by the Department of Public Health of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the authority of MGL C. 111, § 127A . However, regardless of the number of occupancy changes during any twelve-month period, one such certification shall be sufficient for such twelve-month period.
Georgetown, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 457 § 457-3 establishes that most residential rental units — excluding hotels, motels, and rooming houses — must receive a health certification before a new tenant moves in after a vacancy. The certification, issued by the Board of Health or its agent, confirms the unit meets Massachusetts Sanitary Code Article II minimum habitability standards. Notably, one certification per twelve-month period is sufficient regardless of how many tenant turnovers occur during that time.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Georgetown CH. 457 § 457-3, compliant rental operators generally arrange for a Board of Health inspection and obtain certification either at the time of vacancy or within the 10-day window before the anticipated vacancy date. Operators keep documentation of each certification on file, since a single certificate covers all re-occupancies within the same twelve-month period. Scheduling inspections proactively — rather than waiting until a new tenant is ready to move in — is a common practice to avoid delays in re-renting a unit.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Georgetown CH. 457 § 457-3 gives incoming tenants the right to occupy a unit only after it has been certified by the Board of Health as meeting Massachusetts Sanitary Code Article II habitability standards. If a new tenant believes a unit was re-rented without the required certification, they may raise that concern with the Georgetown Board of Health, which is the body responsible for issuing and overseeing these certifications. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can help explain what options may be available when a certification appears to be missing or out of date.
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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