Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-1
Purpose
Operative Text
Pursuant to Chapter 527 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1983, as amended by Chapter 709 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1989, and Chapter 228 of the Massachusetts Acts of 2024, the City of Salem may enact an ordinance providing more protection to tenants than is provided by the general laws. Chapter 228 of the Act of 2024 specifically authorized the City of Salem to adopt an ordinance, by majority vote, to regulate the conversion of housing accommodations in the city to the condominium or cooperative form or ownership in buildings containing not less than two residential units.
Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-1 establishes the legal foundation for Salem's tenant-protection ordinance, rooted in a series of Massachusetts state acts from 1983, 1989, and 2024. The provision explains that state law expressly permits Salem to go beyond baseline state protections for tenants. Most notably, the 2024 act authorized Salem to regulate the conversion of residential buildings with at least two units into condominiums or cooperatives, subject to a majority vote of the city council.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Salem should be aware that Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-1 signals the city's broad authority to impose tenant protections that exceed state minimums. Operators who own multi-unit residential buildings generally stay informed about local ordinances governing condo or cooperative conversions, since this provision explicitly authorizes Salem to regulate such transactions. Reviewing the full chapter alongside this foundational section helps operators understand the scope of local requirements that may apply to conversion projects.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-1 reflects Salem's state-granted authority to provide residents with protections that go further than what Massachusetts general law requires, particularly around the conversion of rental housing to condominiums or cooperatives in buildings with two or more units. Tenants living in multi-unit buildings who are concerned about a potential conversion can look to this chapter as the basis for any local rights that may apply to their situation. Tenant-rights organizations and local rent boards can be useful resources for understanding how the protections authorized by this provision may be relevant to a given circumstance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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