Worcester, Mass., Ord. ch. 9 §§18–19 § 9-19
Rental Dwelling Unit Periodic Inspections
Operative Text
(a) Inspections of residential rental units are required under this section to ensure
compliance with State Sanitary Code (105 CMR §400.00 et. seq.). Buildings with more than
two (2) residential rental units are also required to have a Certificate of Inspection under the
State Building Code (780 CMR §110.7). This section establishes guidelines and frequency for
all such inspections. This section does not limit the ability of any inspector to make other
inspections of residential rental units as needed in accordance with State Statutes and Codes.
(b) As used in this section, the following terms are defined:
State Sanitary Code – shall refer to Chapters I and II of the State Sanitary Code,
105 CMR §400.00 et. seq., and Massachusetts General Law c. 111.
Massachusetts State Building Code – shall refer to 780 CMR.
Table 110 : Schedule for Periodic Inspections of Existing Buildings – shall refer to
780 CMR 110.7, Table 110 which provides the required frequency for inspections
of existing buildings and structures and parts thereof.
(c) All non-owner occupied residential rental units within the city of Worcester will be
inspected under the State Sanitary Code at least every 5 years, and more frequently if
necessary, and such inspections will be coordinated with periodic inspections under the State
Building Code, 780 CMR 110.7 to the greatest extent practicable.
(d) Owner occupied two and three family dwellings exempt from registration pursuant to
§ 18(d)(1) shall also be exempted from State Sanitary Code inspections pursuant to this section.
(e) Newly developed residential rental units exempt from registration pursuant to §
18(d)(2), shall also be exempted from State Sanitary Code inspections pursuant to § 19(c) for
the corresponding five-year period, provided there is no change in ownership.
(f) A comprehensive list of residential rental units that are exempted from this list by other
laws, rules or regulations shall be maintained and kept on file in the offices of the Inspectional
Services Department and featured on the Department’s web page.
(g) The Inspectional Services Department will maintain a database of Residential Rental
Unit Inspections. The inspection fees shall be as follows:
(i) Inspection: $50.00 per unit.
(ii) First re-inspection after a failed inspection: no fee.
(iii) Second re-inspection: $100.00 per unit.
(iv) First missed inspection: no fee.
(v) Second missed inspection: $100.00 per unit. After two missed inspections the
building owner may be subject to orders issued under the State Sanitary
Code.
(vi) Second failed inspection: $100.00 per unit. After two failed inspections the
building owner may be subject to orders issued under the State Sanitary
Code.
(h) Building owners are responsible for obtaining consent from tenants/occupants for any
inspections and for scheduling the inspection by requesting an inspection through the
Inspectional Services Department’s online portal, in person or by phone. The owner or
owners’ representative must be present during inspections.
(i) Enforcement – Failure to comply with any provision of this section may be subject to
a fine of two hundred ($200.00) dollars for each month of noncompliance. This section may
be enforced by civil process, criminal process or non-criminal process, including injunctive
relief. Noncompliant properties will be available on a public database list as non-certified
rental units, and subject to additional penalties including loss of certificate of occupancy for
any un-inspected units.Worcester Rev. Ordinances ch. 9 § 9-19 establishes a mandatory periodic inspection program for non-owner-occupied residential rental units in Worcester, requiring State Sanitary Code inspections at least once every five years and coordinating those inspections with State Building Code requirements. Buildings with more than two rental units must also maintain a Certificate of Inspection. Certain categories of units — such as owner-occupied two- and three-family dwellings and newly developed units meeting specific criteria — are exempt from these inspection requirements under defined conditions. The ordinance sets a fee schedule for inspections and re-inspections, and authorizes fines and other enforcement actions for noncompliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Worcester Rev. Ordinances ch. 9 § 9-19, compliant rental property owners proactively schedule periodic State Sanitary Code inspections through the Inspectional Services Department's online portal, by phone, or in person, and ensure that either they or their authorized representative are present during each inspection. Owners are responsible for obtaining tenant or occupant consent before any inspection takes place. Staying current with the inspection schedule helps owners avoid the fee escalations — such as the $100-per-unit charge for a second missed or failed inspection — and the more serious consequences of noncompliance, which can include a $200-per-month fine, placement on a public non-certified rental unit database, and potential loss of a certificate of occupancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Worcester Rev. Ordinances ch. 9 § 9-19 gives tenants a role in the inspection process: landlords are required to obtain tenant or occupant consent before an inspection can proceed, meaning tenants have a say in scheduling. If a rental unit has not been inspected as required, or if a landlord is listed on the city's public database of non-certified rental units, tenants may wish to contact the Worcester Inspectional Services Department to understand the status of their unit. Tenants who believe their unit has code violations or that inspections are being improperly handled can also reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to learn about available options, including whether a landlord's noncompliance with § 9-19 could be relevant to other housing proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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