Williamstown, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 154 § 154-8
Exclusion of certain dwelling and rooming units (Williamstown Rental Property)
Operative Text
A. Recently certified units. No dwelling unit need be certified for occupancy more than once in any consecutive twelve-month period. B. Exclusion of certain rooming units. The certification required herein does not apply to hotels, bed and breakfasts or motels. Dormitory rooms operated exclusively by an educational institution are also excluded, except that such institutional housing in a facility containing not more than 12 beds where rooms are let and occupants have free access to complete kitchen facilities shall be inspected annually using the same criteria that apply to dwelling units. Nothing in this exclusion shall exempt these rooming units from complying with all applicable regulations and standards set forth in Chapter II.
Section 154-8 of Williamstown's Code of Bylaws limits how often occupancy certifications are required and carves out certain property types from the certification process entirely. A dwelling unit cannot be required to obtain occupancy certification more than once within any rolling twelve-month period. Hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels, and most educational dormitories are exempt from the certification requirement, though small institutional housing facilities of 12 beds or fewer that offer kitchen access and let rooms on an individual basis must still undergo annual inspections under the same standards applied to ordinary dwelling units. Regardless of any exemption, all rooming units remain subject to the health and safety standards established in Chapter II.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwelling units in Williamstown should be aware that under CH. 154 § 154-8, they cannot be compelled to seek a new occupancy certification for the same unit more than once within a twelve-month window, which can help limit redundant inspection burdens. Owners of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts are generally exempt from the certification requirement, as are operators of educational dormitories—unless the facility has 12 or fewer beds, lets rooms individually, and provides tenants with full kitchen access, in which case annual inspections apply. Even where a certification exemption applies, compliant operators ensure their properties continue to meet all applicable standards under Chapter II of the Code.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of Williamstown rental housing are protected under CH. 154 § 154-8, which establishes that most dwelling units must be certified for occupancy and that small institutional housing facilities meeting certain criteria—12 or fewer beds with kitchen access—must be inspected annually using the same standards as regular dwelling units. Tenants in any type of rooming unit, even those otherwise exempt from certification, retain the right to have their housing comply with the health and safety regulations set out in Chapter II. Those who believe their unit falls short of applicable standards may consider raising a potential violation with local housing authorities, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or reviewing the full text of Chapter II to understand what protections apply.
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
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation