Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.14 § 15.14.020
Definitions
Operative Text
A. Owner. An owner shall be defined as a for profit or not for profit individual or corporation, an agent of a for profit or not for profit individual or corporation, or any person having a legal charge of or authority over a private dwelling, tenement, lodging house, or other residential rental property dedicated to residential use. B. Inspector. An inspector shall be defined as a sanitary code inspector or a building inspector employed by the inspectional services department of the city. C. Rental unit. A non-owner occupied room or group of related rooms within a dwelling or intended for use by one family or household for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. A rental unit shall also mean a non-owner occupied condominium unit. Dwelling units that have current lodging house licenses issued by the licensing board for the city shall not be considered as rental units for the purposes of this section, and will continue to be annually licensed and inspected pursuant to M.G.L 140, sections 22 and 25. D. Director. The director of the inspectional services department or a designee. E. Days means consecutive calendar days. F. Violation notice. A written notice of violation or violation ticket issued by a sanitary code inspector or building inspector from the inspectional services department indicating one or more violations of the state sanitary code, building code, NFPA 1 Fire Code or local ordinances.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.14 § 15.14.020 establishes the core vocabulary used throughout Lawrence's residential rental inspection framework. It defines who qualifies as an 'owner' (broadly, any individual, corporation, or agent with legal authority over a residential rental property), what counts as a 'rental unit' (a non-owner-occupied room or group of rooms used for residential purposes, including condominiums, but excluding licensed lodging houses), and what constitutes a 'violation notice' (a written notice issued by a city inspector citing breaches of the state sanitary code, building code, fire code, or local ordinances). These definitions set the boundaries for who and what falls under the chapter's requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 15.14 § 15.14.020, the definition of 'owner' is intentionally broad, encompassing not only direct property owners but also agents and anyone with legal authority over a residential rental property, meaning property managers and management companies generally fall within its scope. Operators who hold a current lodging house license should be aware that their units are carved out of the 'rental unit' definition and remain subject to a separate annual licensing and inspection process under Massachusetts General Law. Compliant operators typically maintain clear records of their property's classification and ensure that any written violation notices from the city's inspectional services department are tracked and addressed promptly.
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. 15.14 § 15.14.020 is relevant to tenants because it defines the types of units and parties that fall under the city's rental inspection rules, which in turn affects what protections and enforcement mechanisms may apply to a given living situation. Tenants living in non-owner-occupied units—including condominiums—generally fall within the 'rental unit' definition, while those in licensed lodging houses operate under a different regulatory framework. Tenants who receive or become aware of a violation notice issued by the city's inspectional services department may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the broader provisions of ch. 15.14 to understand how that notice fits into the city's enforcement 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 September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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