Somerville, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI (2026) § 7-132
Findings
Operative Text
The city council finds: The federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and Massachusetts Fair Housing Act, G.L. Chapter 151B impose an affirmative duty on local governments to make reasonable accommodation in their land use and zoning regulations and practices when such accommodation may be necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to housing; (a) The office of strategic planning and community development must identify and develop a plan for removing governmental constraints to housing for individuals with disabilities including local land use and zoning constraints or providing reasonable accommodation; (b) A fair housing reasonable accommodation procedure for individuals with disabilities and developers of housing for individuals with disabilities to seek relief in the application of land use, zoning and building regulations, policies, practices and procedures will further the jurisdiction’s compliance with federal and state fair housing laws and provide greater opportunities for the development of critically needed housing for individuals with disabilities. ( Ord. No. 2011-09 , 10-13-2011 )
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-132 sets out the city council's formal findings underlying the city's fair housing reasonable accommodation framework. It acknowledges that both federal law (the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988) and Massachusetts state law (G.L. Chapter 151B) place an affirmative duty on local governments to make reasonable accommodations in land use and zoning when needed to give people with disabilities equal access to housing. The provision also establishes that creating a formal accommodation procedure helps the city meet those legal obligations while expanding housing opportunities for people with disabilities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Section 7-132 signals that Somerville has committed, at the policy level, to removing zoning and land use barriers for individuals with disabilities and for developers building housing for them. Property owners and developers operating in Somerville should be aware that a reasonable accommodation procedure exists, meaning requests for relief from land use, zoning, or building regulations on disability-related grounds have a recognized pathway. Operators who develop or manage housing in Somerville generally familiarize themselves with this framework as part of their broader fair housing compliance obligations under both federal and state law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 7-132, Somerville's city council has formally recognized that individuals with disabilities have the right to seek reasonable accommodations in the application of local land use, zoning, and building regulations. This findings provision underpins a formal procedure through which people with disabilities—or developers building housing for them—can request relief from regulatory requirements that create barriers to equal housing opportunity. Tenants or prospective residents who believe a zoning or land use rule is preventing equal access to housing may explore the reasonable accommodation procedure established under this article, and tenant-rights organizations familiar with Somerville's fair housing process can help explain available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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