Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-285
Partial invalidity
Operative Text
If any provision of this article or application thereof is held to be invalid or in conflict with applicable laws , this invalidity or conflict shall not affect other provisions or applications of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions and applications of this article are severable.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-285 establishes a severability rule for the rent regulation article: if any single provision or application of the article is found legally invalid or in conflict with other applicable law, that finding does not bring down the rest of the article. The remaining provisions continue in full force as though the invalid portion were never there. This is a standard legal safeguard designed to preserve as much of the ordinance as possible when any part is successfully challenged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Somerville's rent regulations should be aware that Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-285 means a successful legal challenge to one part of the ordinance does not automatically void the obligations created by other parts. Compliant operators generally continue following all unchallenged provisions even when a specific rule is struck down or found inapplicable. Staying current on any court rulings or city announcements about which provisions remain in effect helps operators maintain compliance across the full scope of the article.
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. XI § 7-285 means that tenants retain protections under the rent regulation article even if a court invalidates a particular provision within it. If a landlord argues that a ruling against one part of the ordinance eliminates tenant rights under a separate part, this severability clause is relevant to that claim. Tenants who have questions about which protections remain in force after any legal challenge may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review guidance from the Somerville rent board.
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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