Somerville

Municipal housing and tenant protection ordinances

Rules (43)

Posting of name and address of owner or agent

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. I § 7-1

Parking permit restriction notification

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. I § 7.2

Fair housing policy

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-41

Police power

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-42

Definitions

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-43

Unlawful housing practices

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-44

Exemptions

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-45

Fair housing commission

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-46

Fair housing commission duties

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-47

Fair housing commission procedures

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-48

Declaration of emergency

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-61

Title

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-62

Definitions

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-63

Condominium conversion procedures

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-64

Permitting process

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-65

Notice to tenants given prior to date of this ordinance

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-66

Condominium/cooperative review board

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-67

Effective date

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-68

Severability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-69

Annual reporting

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-70

Penalties for violation

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-71

Purpose

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-250

Definitions

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-251

Applicability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-252

Requirements for the operation of short-term rentals

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-253

Registration

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-254

Registry

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-255

Penalties; enforcement

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-256

Regulations

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-257

Severability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-258

Effective date

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-259

Purpose

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-280

Definitions

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-281

Applicability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-282

Required notices

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-283

Non-waivability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-284

Partial invalidity

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-285

Enforcement

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-286

Effective date

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-287

Applicability

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XII § 7-290

Written notice to tenants required

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XII § 7-291

Enforcement

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XII § 7-292

Effective date

Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XII § 7-293

Code Compilations

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.I

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. I

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article I — In General

General provisions of Somerville's housing ordinance article: scope, posting of owner name and address, definitions.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.III

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. III

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article III — Fair Housing

Somerville local fair-housing protections, prohibiting discrimination on protected classes beyond those in G.L. c.151B.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.IV

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. IV

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article IV — Condominium/Cooperative Conversion

Tenant protections in condominium and cooperative conversion proceedings, including notice periods, relocation assistance, and right-of-first-refusal provisions.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.X

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. X

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article X — Short-Term Rentals

Licensing and operational requirements for Airbnb/VRBO-type short-term rentals in Somerville residential units.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.XI

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. XI

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article XI — Housing Stability Notification Act

Somerville's advance-notice requirement when a rental property owner intends to sell; mirrors the Boston ch.10-11 pattern.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov

Somerville Ord. Ch.7 Art.XII

Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. XII

Somerville Code of Ordinances Chapter 7 Article XII — Notice of Building Sale

Notice of Building Sale ordinance (effective 2026-07-09): requires 6 months advance notice to tenants and the city when a residential rental building is listed for sale.

Official source: www.somervillema.gov