Somerville, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VII (2026) § 7-151
Definitions
Operative Text
Unless specifically indicated otherwise, these definitions shall apply and control in this article. Campus means any real property owned by a school. City means the City of Somerville. Directory means the compilation of names, addresses, telephone numbers, statuses, and expected graduation dates gathered by a school in compliance with these sections. School means any post-secondary educational institution that provides individuals with a degree or certification upon completion of a curriculum and owns or leases property within the city that houses students at that school. Student means any person who is enrolled in the school, whether full-time or part-time.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VII § 7-151 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Article VII of Somerville's housing regulations. Key terms—including 'campus,' 'school,' 'student,' and 'directory'—are given specific meanings that govern how the rest of the article is interpreted and applied. For example, 'school' is limited to post-secondary institutions that both grant degrees or certifications and own or lease student housing within Somerville, while 'student' covers both full-time and part-time enrollees. These definitions set the boundaries of who and what falls under the article's requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating near or in connection with post-secondary institutions in Somerville should be aware that ch. 7, art. VII § 7-151 defines the scope of Article VII's obligations. Because 'school' is defined to include only institutions that own or lease student housing within the city, operators should understand whether the schools associated with their tenants meet that definition before determining whether Article VII's requirements apply to their properties. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with these defined terms so they can accurately assess their responsibilities under the rest of the article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you are a student renting in Somerville, ch. 7, art. VII § 7-151 defines the terms that determine whether Article VII's protections and requirements apply to your situation—including whether your school qualifies under the ordinance's definition and whether you qualify as a 'student' under it. Both full-time and part-time enrollees are included in the definition of 'student,' which may broaden the article's reach. Tenants who believe these definitions are relevant to a housing concern can consult a tenant-rights organization or the City of Somerville for guidance on how Article VII applies.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.