Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.290
Penalties
Operative Text
A. Any owner, occupant or other person who refuses, impedes, inhibits, interferes with, restricts or obstructs entry and free access to every part of the structure, operation or premises where inspection authorized by this chapter is sought after a search warrant has been obtained and presented in accordance with regulation 3.3 of article I of the State Sanitary Code, shall be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $500.00. B. Any person who shall fail to comply with any order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $500.00. Each day's failure to comply with an order shall constitute a separate violation. C. Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, for which a penalty is not otherwise provided in any of the General Laws or in any other provision of this chapter, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $500.00.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.290 establishes a tiered penalty structure for violations related to housing inspections and compliance orders. Anyone who blocks an inspector's access after a valid search warrant has been presented, fails to comply with an official order, or otherwise violates the chapter's provisions can be fined between $10 and $500 per violation. Critically, each day that a person fails to comply with an order counts as its own separate violation, meaning fines can accumulate over time.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.290, compliant property owners and managers generally ensure that inspectors with a properly obtained and presented search warrant are given full and unobstructed access to all parts of the property. Operators who receive official compliance orders typically act promptly to address the cited conditions, since each day of non-compliance can be treated as a distinct, separately fineable offense. Maintaining records of corrective actions taken in response to any orders is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating ongoing compliance.
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 § 15.12.290 makes clear that the penalty provisions of this chapter apply to any person, which can include occupants who obstruct a warranted inspection. Tenants who believe an owner or manager is failing to comply with an official order issued under this chapter may have grounds to raise that non-compliance with the Lawrence housing or code enforcement authority, as each day of continued non-compliance can constitute a separate violation. Tenant-rights organizations in Lawrence can help residents understand how these enforcement mechanisms interact with their broader housing rights.
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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