Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-3
Applicability
Operative Text
In accordance with chapter 228 of the Massachusetts Acts of 2024, this chapter shall be applicable to housing accommodations located within the City of Salem which contain two or more residential units that have been used in part or whole as rental housing in the 12 months prior to the date of notice of intent to convert into condominium or cooperative ownership subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. Further, owners shall be required to comply with the provisions of Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983, as amended, and the provisions of this ordinance, which shall be construed to be supplementary to the provisions of Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983, as amended. Any protection or benefits for tenants created by this ordinance for the protection and benefit of tenants shall be in addition to, and not instead of, any benefits or protection provided by any statute of the Commonwealth or by any decision of any court.
Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-3 establishes which properties fall under Salem's condominium conversion rules: specifically, residential buildings within Salem containing two or more units that have been used at least in part as rental housing during the 12 months before an owner files a notice of intent to convert to condo or cooperative ownership. The ordinance works alongside Massachusetts state law—particularly Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983—rather than replacing it, meaning both sets of rules apply simultaneously. Any tenant protections created by this local ordinance are layered on top of whatever rights already exist under state law or court decisions, so tenants may hold more protections than state law alone would provide.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Salem Code of Ordinances ch. 51, art. I § 51-3, property owners considering a condominium or cooperative conversion should be aware that the ordinance applies to any Salem building with two or more units that has functioned as rental housing—even partially—within the year preceding a notice of intent to convert. Compliant operators generally review both this local ordinance and Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983, as amended, since both frameworks govern the conversion process and must be satisfied concurrently. Owners typically document the rental history of their units carefully, as that 12-month usage period is a key threshold for determining whether the chapter's requirements are triggered.
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 § 51-3 is designed to protect renters in buildings of two or more units that are being converted to condominiums or cooperatives, and it explicitly states that its protections are in addition to—not a replacement for—rights available under Massachusetts state law, including Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983. This means tenants in covered buildings may have a broader set of rights than state law alone would provide, and a violation of either the local ordinance or the state statute could be relevant in a dispute. Tenants who believe a conversion is proceeding without proper compliance may consider reaching out to the City of Salem, a local tenant-rights organization, or a legal aid provider to understand the full scope of protections available under this provision.
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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