Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.14 § 15.14.030
Registration
Operative Text
All owners of private residential rental housing units ("owners"), including condominium units, in the city shall register no later than March 31 of each year with the inspectional services department identifying the property by street address and the number of units of housing at each address. All owners must register each rental unit annually with the inspectional services department, and must attest to and affirm that they are familiar with their obligations to comply with this section, the state sanitary code (105 CMR 410), the state building code (780 CMR), the city zoning ordinances, federal, state and local fair housing regulations, and all other regulations applicable to residential dwellings, and that they intend to comply with said regulations. An owner owning multiple units in the same building may submit one form representing all said units. All rental unit registrations shall be recorded in an electronic database of all owners for an initial fee of $25.00, and annual renewal fees of $15.00, for each rental unit; said fees shall be capped at an annual maximum of $1,500.00 per building. The director shall work to employ technology to the extent possible in order to optimize the fairness and effectiveness of the registration process.Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances § 15.14.030, every owner of a private residential rental unit in Lawrence — including condominiums — must register each rental unit with the Inspectional Services Department by March 31 of every year. Registration requires identifying the property by street address and unit count, and the owner must affirm familiarity with and intent to comply with a range of applicable codes, including the state sanitary code, building code, zoning ordinances, and fair housing regulations. A one-time initial fee of $25.00 per unit applies, followed by annual renewal fees of $15.00 per unit, with total fees capped at $1,500.00 per building per year. Owners of multiple units in the same building may file a single consolidated registration form.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under § 15.14.030 register every rental unit with the Lawrence Inspectional Services Department on or before March 31 each year, submitting the required street address and unit count information along with the required attestation of familiarity with applicable codes — including 105 CMR 410, 780 CMR, and fair housing regulations. Owners of multiple units within a single building generally submit one consolidated form covering all units in that building, which also helps manage costs given the per-unit fee structure and the $1,500.00 annual per-building cap established by § 15.14.030. Keeping records of submitted registration forms, confirmation receipts, and fee payments supports a clear compliance trail year over year.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 15.14.030 establishes a public registration system for rental housing in Lawrence, meaning tenants can inquire with the Inspectional Services Department about whether a rental unit is properly registered. An owner's failure to register as required under § 15.14.030 — including the annual attestation of code compliance — may be relevant information when raising concerns about housing conditions or code violations. Tenants who believe their unit is unregistered or that their landlord is not meeting the obligations affirmed under this section may contact the Lawrence Inspectional Services Department or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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