Methuen, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 21 § 21-6
Severability
Operative Text
If any provision or section of this ordinance shall be held to be invalid, then such
provision or section shall be considered separately and apart from the remaining provisions or
sections of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(Ord. #136, Effective Aug. 4th, 1983)Section 21-6 of Methuen's Fair Housing ordinance (ch. 21) is a standard severability clause, meaning that if any single part of the ordinance is found legally invalid by a court, that part is treated as separate and removed, while the rest of the ordinance continues to operate as if the invalid portion never existed. This type of provision is common in legislation and is designed to preserve the overall intent and effect of the law even when one component fails legal scrutiny. It does not create new rights or obligations on its own, but rather protects the durability of the surrounding rules.
Plain English — not legal advice.
For property owners and managers operating under Methuen's Fair Housing ordinance (ch. 21, § 21-6), this severability clause means that compliance obligations under the ordinance's other sections remain in effect even if a court invalidates one particular provision. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all remaining sections of ch. 21 without interruption, regardless of any legal challenge to a specific part. Staying informed about any court rulings affecting the ordinance helps operators understand which provisions remain operative.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
As a tenant in Methuen, § 21-6 of ch. 21 means that the fair housing protections you may rely on are not entirely undone if one part of the ordinance is successfully challenged in court. The remaining provisions stay in full force, so rights and remedies established elsewhere in ch. 21 generally continue to be available. Tenants who believe their fair housing rights have been violated may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or a fair housing agency to understand which protections remain in effect.
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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