Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-42
Police power
Operative Text
This article shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of said city for the protection of public welfare, prosperity, health and peace of its people. (Code 1963, § 17-2)
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-42 establishes that the rental regulations contained in Article III exist as an exercise of the city's police power—the governmental authority to enact rules protecting public welfare, prosperity, health, and peace. This framing gives the ordinance its legal foundation and signals that the city has determined these regulations serve a broad public interest, not merely private ones. It does not itself create specific duties or rights, but it underpins the enforceability of the other provisions in the article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Because Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III § 7-42 roots the entire Article III regulatory scheme in the city's police power, operators generally treat the article's requirements as carrying the full weight of municipal law rather than as advisory guidelines. Compliant property managers typically maintain familiarity with all provisions of Article III, recognizing that the police-power designation reinforces the city's authority to enforce them. Staying current with any amendments to the article is a common practice among operators who understand this foundational provision.
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. III § 7-42 signals that the protections found throughout Article III are grounded in the city's broad authority to safeguard public welfare, which can reinforce the weight those protections carry in disputes or enforcement proceedings. Tenants who believe other provisions of Article III have been violated may find it useful to reference this police-power basis when raising concerns with Somerville's relevant municipal offices or a local tenant-rights organization. Understanding this provision's role as the legal foundation of the article can help tenants contextualize the rights and remedies available elsewhere in Article III.
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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