Somerville, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI (2026) § 7-136
Reviewing authority
Operative Text
(a) Requests for reasonable accommodation shall be reviewed by the office of strategic planning and community development using the criteria set forth in section 7-137 . (b) The office of strategic planning and community development shall issue a written decision on a request for reasonable accommodation within 30 days of the date of the application and may either grant, grant with modifications, or deny a request for reasonable accommodation in accordance with the required findings set forth in section 7-137 . (c) If necessary to reach a determination on the request for reasonable accommodation, the office of strategic planning and community development may request further information from the applicant consistent with fair housing laws, specifying in detail the information that is required. In the event that a request for additional information is made, the 30-day period to issue a decision is stayed until the applicant responds to the request. ( Ord. No. 2011-09 , 10-13-2011 )
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-136, requests for reasonable accommodation in housing are reviewed by the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, which must issue a written decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application. The office may grant, grant with modifications, or deny the request based on the criteria outlined in section 7-137. If the office needs additional information to make its determination, it may request that information in a detailed, fair-housing-compliant manner, and the 30-day clock pauses until the applicant responds.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Somerville should be aware that under § 7-136, reasonable accommodation requests are handled by the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development rather than resolved unilaterally by the landlord. Compliant operators generally cooperate with any information requests the office may issue during its review, understanding that such requests must be specific and consistent with fair housing laws. Familiarity with the findings criteria in section 7-137 helps operators understand the framework within which accommodation decisions are made.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-136, tenants who submit a reasonable accommodation request are entitled to a written decision from the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development within 30 days, unless the office requests additional information, which pauses that timeline. If a request for more information is made, responding promptly helps ensure the review process moves forward. Tenants who have questions about the process or believe their request was improperly handled may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or fair housing agency for general guidance.
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.
Effective Timeline
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