Georgetown, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 457 § 457-5
Failure of Board of Health to make inspection (Georgetown Rental Occupancy)
Operative Text
If within 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after receipt of written notification of a vacancy from the owner, managing agent or person in possession, the Board of Health or its agent fails to make an inspection, then the rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement may be reoccupied without such certification.
Under Georgetown, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 457 § 457-5, when an owner or managing agent provides written notice of a vacancy, the Board of Health has 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to conduct an inspection. If the Board of Health or its agent does not complete that inspection within the allotted time, the dwelling unit, apartment, or tenement is permitted to be reoccupied even without the otherwise-required certification. This provision essentially creates a deemed-approval mechanism when the Board of Health fails to act promptly.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 457 § 457-5, compliant operators typically document the date and method by which written vacancy notification was delivered to the Board of Health, and they track the 72-hour inspection window (excluding weekends and holidays) carefully. If the Board of Health does not conduct an inspection within that window, the unit may lawfully be reoccupied without certification, but maintaining clear records of the notification and the elapsed time helps demonstrate compliance. Keeping copies of all written notices and any correspondence with the Board of Health is a practice commonly associated with orderly management under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 457 § 457-5 establishes that a rental unit may be reoccupied without a Board of Health certification if the Board fails to inspect within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of receiving written vacancy notice from the owner or agent. Tenants moving into a unit under these circumstances may want to understand whether the inspection window lapsed legitimately, as this affects the certification status of the unit. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing authorities can help clarify what records an owner should have on file and what options exist if questions arise about the inspection process.
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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