Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-258
Severability
Operative Text
If any provision in this section shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be considered separately and apart from the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect. Editor's note(s)-- See the editor's note following § 7-256 .
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-258 establishes a severability rule for the rent regulation article, meaning that if a court with proper authority strikes down any single provision within the article, that ruling applies only to the invalidated provision. The rest of the article's provisions continue to operate as if the invalidated portion had never been included. This is a standard legal mechanism designed to preserve the overall regulatory framework even when one part of it is successfully challenged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-258, operators who manage rental property subject to Somerville's rent regulations should understand that a successful legal challenge to one part of the ordinance does not automatically void the obligations created by other sections. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all remaining, unchallenged provisions of the article even if a specific rule within it is struck down by a court. Staying current on any court rulings affecting the ordinance helps operators understand which specific provisions remain in effect.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. X § 7-258 means that tenant protections built into the rent regulation article are not necessarily eliminated in their entirety if one provision is ruled invalid by a court. Tenants may still be able to rely on other sections of the article that remain in full force, including any rights related to rent increases, eviction protections, or complaint procedures. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Somerville's ordinance can help clarify which provisions remain operative following any court decision affecting § 7-258's article.
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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