Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 235 § 235-4
Denial or revocation of license; appeals (Springfield Lodging and Rooming Houses)
Operative Text
A. Any person whose application for a rooming unit rental license is denied by the Building Commissioner shall be notified in writing by the Building Commissioner. Such person may appeal the denial to a board of appeals comprised of the City Solicitor, who shall act as chair of the board of appeals, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Public Works, or their selected representatives. A written request for an appeal hearing shall be submitted to the Building Commissioner within 10 days after receipt of the license denial notice. B. The Building Commissioner, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police, Housing Code Director, or their designees, or as a result of his own investigation, may revoke the license issued to any person for the reasons stated in § 235-2 of this chapter. Any person whose license has been revoked by the Building Commissioner shall be notified in writing of the revocation by the Building Commissioner. Such person may appeal the revocation to the Board of Appeals created in Subsection A hereof. A written request for an appeal hearing shall be submitted to the Building Commissioner within 10 days after receipt of the license revocation notice. C. The board of appeals, as herein established, shall hear any appeal pursuant to Subsections A and B hereof within 30 days from the date the request for appeal is received by the Building Commissioner. The board shall have the power to sustain, modify or reverse the decision of the Building Commissioner. The board's decision shall be in writing and sent to the applicant, or his/her legal representative, within 30 days after the hearing is concluded. The action of the board of appeals is final.
Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 235 § 235-4 establishes a formal process for challenging the denial or revocation of a rooming unit rental license. When the Building Commissioner denies or revokes a license, the affected person must receive written notice and has 10 days to submit a written appeal request. A three-member Board of Appeals—chaired by the City Solicitor and including the Director of Planning and the Director of Public Works—then has 30 days to hold a hearing and another 30 days to issue a written decision, which is final.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 235 § 235-4, operators of rooming units who receive a written denial or revocation from the Building Commissioner generally act promptly, as the window to request an appeal hearing is only 10 days from receipt of that notice. A compliant operator submits the written appeal request directly to the Building Commissioner and retains documentation of when the notice was received to establish the timeline. Because the Board of Appeals' written decision is designated as final under this provision, operators typically treat the board hearing as the last administrative opportunity to contest the Commissioner's determination.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 235 § 235-4 is relevant to tenants because a license revocation or denial can directly affect the legal status of a rooming unit and the housing it provides. Tenants who learn that a landlord's license has been denied or revoked may wish to contact the Springfield Building Commissioner's office to understand the status of the property and any implications for occupancy. Tenant-rights organizations in Springfield can help residents understand how a license action under this provision may intersect with their housing rights and what general options may be available to them.
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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