Newburyport, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. VIII (2026) § 5-257
Severability
Operative Text
The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision of this article, or the application of such provision, is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this provision of this article which can and shall be given effect without the invalid provision or application. If any provision of this article is held invalid, the corresponding provision found in chapter 527 of the Acts and Resolves of 1983 shall govern.
Section 5-257 of the Newburyport Code of Ordinances ch. 5, art. VIII establishes a severability rule for the article as a whole. If a court finds any individual provision of the article to be legally invalid, that ruling does not automatically invalidate the rest of the article's provisions. Instead, the remaining provisions continue in force, and the corresponding language from Massachusetts Chapter 527 of the Acts and Resolves of 1983 steps in to fill any gap left by the invalidated provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-257, operators subject to Newburyport's rent regulations can take note that the article is designed to remain functional even if a specific provision is successfully challenged in court. A compliant property owner or manager generally continues to follow all other provisions of ch. 5, art. VIII that remain in effect, and looks to Chapter 527 of the Acts and Resolves of 1983 as the fallback standard for any provision that is struck down. Staying informed about any legal challenges to the article's provisions helps operators understand which rules are currently operative.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5-257 provides tenants with the assurance that a legal challenge to one part of Newburyport's ch. 5, art. VIII does not wipe out the protections offered by the rest of the article. If a specific provision is invalidated, the corresponding rule from Massachusetts Chapter 527 of the Acts and Resolves of 1983 takes its place, meaning baseline protections remain available. Tenants who have questions about how a court ruling on a particular provision may affect their rights can consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource for general guidance.
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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