Somerville, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI (2026) § 7-133
Applicability
Operative Text
Reasonable accommodation in the land use and zoning context means providing individuals with disabilities or developers of housing for people with disabilities, flexibility in the application of land use and zoning and building regulations, policies, practices and procedures, or even waiving certain requirements, when it is necessary to eliminate barriers to housing opportunities. In accordance with 42 United States Code Section 3602, an individual with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities; anyone who is regarded as having such impairment; or anyone with a record of such impairment, pursuant to 24 Code of Federal Regulations Section 100.201. A request for reasonable accommodation may be made by any individual with a disability, his or her representative, or a developer or provider of housing for individuals with disabilities, when the application of a land use, zoning or building regulation, policy, practice or procedure acts as a barrier to fair housing opportunities.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-133 establishes that people with disabilities—or those who develop or provide housing for them—can request flexibility in how local land use, zoning, and building rules are applied to them. The provision adopts the federal definition of disability from 42 U.S.C. § 3602, covering physical or mental impairments that limit major life activities, as well as those regarded as having or with a record of such impairments. When a regulation, policy, or procedure creates a barrier to housing opportunity, this section opens a formal pathway to seek an accommodation, including the potential waiver of certain requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-133, property owners and developers who build or manage housing for people with disabilities are among those who may submit a reasonable accommodation request when a zoning or building rule poses a barrier. Compliant operators typically document how a specific regulation limits housing access for individuals with disabilities and submit that documentation through the appropriate municipal channel. Familiarity with both this local provision and the federal fair housing standards it references—particularly 24 C.F.R. § 100.201—helps operators understand the scope of accommodations that may be available.
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. VI § 7-133 gives individuals with disabilities, or their representatives, the right to request that the city apply its land use, zoning, and building rules more flexibly when those rules create barriers to housing. Tenants or prospective tenants who believe a local regulation is preventing them from accessing or remaining in housing may explore filing a reasonable accommodation request with the relevant Somerville municipal office. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing agencies can help individuals understand how this provision interacts with federal fair housing protections and what documentation is generally involved in such requests.
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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