Mattapoisett, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. 19:00 (2021) § 19:03
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purpose of this regulation, the following words shall have the following meanings:
A) Common area: means any hallway, lobby, stairway, walkway, entry door, or room which is accessible
to the general public, visitors, and occupants of any hotel or motel.
B) Compliance: means meeting all the requirements of 105 CMR 410.000, MGL c.111, Section 122, MGL
c. 140, Sections 32 A-E, MGL c, 270, Section 22, and other applicable building, fire, and health laws,
rules, and regulations. It shall also mean correcting any violations in a work-person like fashion and
restoring all parts of the facility to the condition they were before occurrence of any such violations.
Compliance shall also mean in those cases where licenses or permits are required to perform work
necessary to correct the violations, such as, but not limited to building, plumbing and wiring that the
appropriate official certifies that the work has been completed in accordance with the applicable laws
and regulations.
C) Dwelling: means every building or shelter used or intended for human habitation and every other
structure or condition located within the same lot line whose existence causes or is likely to affect
noncompliance with the provision of 105 CMR 410.000 and these regulations.
D) Efficiency Units: means any unit, room, or suite of rooms within a hotel or motel providing both cooking
and sleeping accommodations, is self-sufficient in living requirements for a limited period of time and
meets the current minimum standard of fitness human habitation, as defined in 105 CMR 410.000.
E) Guest Unit: means any unit, room, or suite of rooms within a hotel or motel providing sleeping, but not
cooking facilities, for transient motorists.
F) Hotel: means any building or group of buildings providing sleeping accommodations and suitable food
service for transient motorists. A hotel may also be referred to as a “facility” or “establishment”.
G) Motel: means any building or group of buildings providing sleeping accommodations providing for
transient motorists and which is not licensed as an Inn. A motel may also be referred to as a “facility” or
“establishment”.
H) Occupant: means every person living or sleeping in a dwelling, guest unit, or efficiency unit.
I) Owner/Operator: means every person who alone or severally with others:
a. Has legal title to any dwelling, dwelling unit, mobile dwelling unit, or parcel of land, vacant or
otherwise, including a mobile home park; or
b. Has care, charge or control of any dwelling, dwelling unit, mobile dwelling unit or parcel of land,
vacant or otherwise, including a mobile home park, in any capacity including but not limited to agent,
executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the holder of legal title; or
c. Is a mortgagee in possession of any such property; or
d. Is a agent, trustee or other person appointed by the courts and vested with possession or control of
any such property; or
e. Is a manager or person who operates a facility licensed according to Section 4. Each such person is
bound to comply with the provisions of these minimum standards as if he were the owner and may
reside on premise.
J) Person: means every individual, partnership, corporation, firm, association, or group, including a city,
town, country, or other governmental unit, owning property, or carrying on an activity regulated by 105
CMR 410.000 and these regulations.
K) Pets: mean any domestic animal other than a service, comfort, or support animal which accompanies a
person with disabilities.
L) Smoking: means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted tobacco or nicotine containing
product, or marijuana-infused product in any form which emits smoke or vapor.
M) Stairway: means any group of stairs consisting of three or more risers.
N) Violation: means any condition in a motel, hotel, guest unit, efficiency unit, dwelling, rooming house, or
upon a parcel of land which fails to meet any requirements of 105 CMR 410.000c, applicable laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and these regulations.Section 19:03 of Mattapoisett's Board of Health Hotel and Motel Regulations (Feb. 2021) establishes the working vocabulary for the entire regulatory framework. It defines key terms—such as "common area," "compliance," "guest unit," "efficiency unit," "hotel," "motel," "occupant," "owner/operator," and "violation"—that are used throughout the rest of the regulations. These definitions determine the scope of who and what is covered, including which spaces, structures, and individuals fall under the rules. The definitions also clarify that "compliance" goes beyond simply meeting standards—it includes restoring facilities to their prior condition and obtaining any required permits for corrective work.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of hotels and motels in Mattapoisett should be familiar with the definitions set out in § 19:03, because these terms shape every obligation and enforcement action under the broader regulation. Notably, the definition of "owner/operator" is broad, encompassing not just titleholders but also agents, managers, trustees, and others with care or control of the facility—meaning responsibility for compliance can extend to on-site managers. Compliant operators generally ensure that all spaces meeting the definition of "common area" are maintained to applicable standards, and that any corrective work requiring permits (such as plumbing or electrical repairs) is certified as complete by the appropriate official.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Guests and occupants of hotels and motels in Mattapoisett benefit from understanding the definitions in § 19:03, which establish who qualifies as an "occupant" and what spaces and conditions are covered by the regulation. The broad definition of "violation" means that any condition failing to meet 105 CMR 410.000 or other applicable Massachusetts law can be subject to enforcement under this framework. Those who believe a condition in their unit or a common area constitutes a violation may consider contacting the Mattapoisett Board of Health or 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 November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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