Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.060
Certificate of occupancy required
Operative Text
A. Whenever dwelling unit, apartment or tenement is vacated by the occupant or occupants, it is to be certified by the health department through its code enforcement division prior to being reoccupied by a new tenant or occupant so that it meets the standards set forth in "The Sanitary Code, article II, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Health Under Human Habitation," adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. No public utilities shall be turned on until such unit or units have been certified as being fit for human habitation. If inspection is not made within 96 hours, then public utilities may be turned on temporarily upon request of the owner filed with the health department. B. Any owner of such property used for dwelling purposes failing to comply with this section shall pay a fine of $25.00 per day for every day the owner allows any person or persons to live, occupy, or inhabit the said premises without having received a certificate of fitness for human habitation from the department of public health, division of code enforcement. The department of public health, division of code enforcement, shall be authorized to issue certificates of fitness for human habitation for occupancy based upon compliance with the Sanitary Code, article II, Minimum Standards for Health and Human Habitation. C. Be it further stated that the public utility company (Massachusetts Electric Company), will be responsible for furnishing all information pertaining to customer accounts. Massachusetts Electric Company will terminate electrical service upon request of the health department on dwelling units not in compliance with article II of the State Sanitary Code law and/or certificate of occupancy ordinance.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.060 establishes that whenever a dwelling unit, apartment, or tenement is vacated, it must be inspected and certified as fit for human habitation by the Lawrence Health Department's code enforcement division before any new occupant moves in. Public utilities cannot be activated in the unit until that certification is issued, though if the inspection has not occurred within 96 hours of a request, utilities may be turned on temporarily at the owner's request. Owners who allow occupancy without the required certificate face a $25.00 per-day fine, and the electric utility is authorized to terminate electrical service to units found out of compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.060, compliant property operators generally ensure that a unit is inspected and certified by the Health Department's code enforcement division after each vacancy and before a new tenant takes occupancy. Operators typically coordinate utility activation only after certification is in hand, and if the 96-hour inspection window passes without an inspection, they file a written request with the health department to allow temporary utility service. Staying current with the certification process helps owners avoid the $25.00 per-day fine that accrues for each day a unit is occupied without a valid certificate of fitness for human habitation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.060 gives incoming tenants a basis to expect that their unit has been inspected and certified as fit for human habitation by the Health Department's code enforcement division before they move in. If a tenant has reason to believe that certification was never obtained prior to their occupancy, they may contact the Lawrence Health Department's code enforcement division to inquire about the unit's compliance status or file a complaint. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Lawrence housing law can help residents understand how this provision interacts with other protections and what general enforcement paths may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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