Lexington, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 144 § 144-10
Review and appeal; enforcement; severability; effective date (Lexington Condominium Conversion Board)
Operative Text
A. Review and appeal. Decisions of the Board or any hearing officer it may appoint shall be final. A person aggrieved by any action or decision of the Board may appeal to any court of competent jurisdiction such action or decision within 30 days of the date the decision was filed with the Town Clerk or within such time as state law permits. B. Enforcement. Failure to comply with the provisions of the by-law or these regulations may result in the initiation of both civil and criminal actions against any violator pursuant to Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983. Other Town, state, or federal laws may also provide penalties for violations of the by-law and these regulations. Any violation of the by-law or these regulations by an owner of a housing accommodation shall not affect the validity of a conveyance of a condominium unit or an interest in a housing cooperative to a purchaser for value who has no knowledge of the violation. C. Severability. The provisions of these regulations are severable, and if any provisions shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions. D. Effective date. These regulations shall take effect on November 1, 1989. [1] [1] Editor's Note: Copies of Appendix A, Notice Forms, which immediately followed, are on file in the Town offices.
Lexington, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 144 § 144-10 establishes that decisions made by the Rent Control Board (or any hearing officer it appoints) are considered final administrative rulings, though any aggrieved party may seek judicial review in a court of competent jurisdiction within 30 days of the decision being filed with the Town Clerk. Noncompliance with the bylaw or its regulations can trigger both civil and criminal enforcement actions under Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983, and other applicable laws may impose additional penalties. Importantly, a violation by a housing accommodation owner does not automatically void a sale of a condominium unit or cooperative interest to a good-faith purchaser who had no knowledge of the violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 144 § 144-10, operators of housing accommodations in Lexington are expected to maintain ongoing compliance with the rent bylaw and its regulations, since noncompliance can expose an owner to both civil and criminal proceedings under Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983. Compliant operators typically keep accurate records of Board decisions and any filings with the Town Clerk, particularly given the 30-day window for judicial appeals. Owners involved in condominium or cooperative transactions should be aware that their own violations do not automatically invalidate a sale to a good-faith purchaser, but the underlying violation and its enforcement consequences remain.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 144 § 144-10 provides that if you are aggrieved by a Board or hearing officer decision, you have the right to appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction, generally within 30 days of the decision being filed with the Town Clerk or within the time state law allows. The provision also makes clear that violations of the bylaw by an owner can result in civil and criminal enforcement actions, which tenants may be able to raise as relevant context in disputes or complaints. Tenants seeking to understand their options under this provision may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing the enforcement procedures available through the Lexington Board.
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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