Reading, Mass., Bd. of Health Health Regs. § 10 § § 10
Human Habitation
Operative Text
Town of Reading Community Services
SECTION 10 HUMAN HABITATION
105 CMR 400.000 State Sanitary Code I General Administrative Procedures and 105
CMR 410.000 State Sanitary Code II Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human
Habitation are hereby adopted as most recently amended as a local regulation with the
additions of the following:
400.700 Penalties
(c) (1) These regulations may be enforced by those procedures noted in the Town of
Reading General Bylaw Article 21. In the event that procedure is followed, a person
shall be subject to a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35.00). Each day that the offense
continues shall constitute a separate offense.
410.600 Storage of Garbage and Rubbish
(D) The occupants of each dwelling, dwelling unit and rooming unit shall be
responsible for the proper placement of this garbage and rubbish in the receptacles
required in 105 CMR 410.600 (C) or at the point of collection by the owner. Garbage
and rubbish shall be placed at the curb no earlier than 4:00 PM the day before the
scheduled collection day.
410.910 Penalty for Failure to Comply with Order
Any person who shall fail to comply with any order issued pursuant to the provisions
of 105 CMR 410.000 shall upon conviction be fined not less than ten nor more than
five hundred dollars. Each day’s failure with an order shall constitute a separate
violation. See also 105 CMR 410.854 (B). These regulations may be enforced by
those procedures noted in the Town of Reading Bylaw Article 21. In the event that
procedure is followed, a person shall be subject to a fine of thirty-five dollars per
offense. Each day that the offense continues shall constitute a separate offense.
410.920 Penalty for Other Offense
Any person who shall violate any provision of 105 CMR 410.000 for which penalty is
not otherwise provided in any of the General Laws or in any other provision of 105
CMR 410.000 shall upon conviction be fined not less than ten nor more than five
hundred dollars. These regulations may be enforced by those procedures noted in
Town of Reading General Bylaw Article 21. In the event that procedure is followed,
the person shall be subject to a fine of thirty-five dollars per offense. Each day that
the offense continues shall constitute a separate offense.Reading, Mass., Board of Health Health Regulations § 10 adopts the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 400.000 and 410.000) as a local regulation, adding specific local rules on garbage placement and penalties. Fines for violations range from $35 per offense under the Town's General Bylaw Article 21 enforcement process, up to $500 per day upon criminal conviction for failing to comply with a housing order or for other code violations. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, meaning fines can accumulate quickly over time.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Reading, Mass., Board of Health Health Regulations § 10, property owners are expected to maintain their dwellings in compliance with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code minimums and Reading's local additions. Compliant operators typically ensure that garbage receptacles are properly provided and that tenants have a designated collection point, since occupants are responsible for placing rubbish at the curb no earlier than 4:00 PM the day before collection. Operators who receive a compliance order from the Board of Health generally act promptly to correct cited conditions, as each day of non-compliance can be treated as a separate violation carrying fines up to $500 per day upon conviction, or $35 per day under the bylaw enforcement track.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Reading, Mass., Board of Health Health Regulations § 10 incorporates state minimum habitability standards and gives local authorities the power to issue orders and levy fines against anyone—including landlords—who violates those standards. If a dwelling unit fails to meet the minimum fitness standards set out in 105 CMR 410.000, tenants may have grounds to report conditions to the Reading Board of Health, which can issue compliance orders backed by daily fines. Tenants who believe their housing conditions are substandard may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand how this provision and the underlying State Sanitary Code may apply to their situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.