Under the Boston Sanitary Code (BPHC Ch. II) and 105 CMR 410, every property owner must keep premises free of rodents, insects, and other pests through extermination, exclusion, and removal of food sources.
Boston pest control duties flow from the State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410 (Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation) and the Boston Public Health Commission Sanitary Code. Owners of single-family homes and any multi-family or commercial property must maintain pest-free premises, eliminate harborage, and respond to complaints. ISD and BPHC jointly inspect after 311 reports, frequently ordering integrated pest management plans focusing on exclusion, sanitation, and licensed-applicator treatment. Construction projects over a threshold size must file a Boston Rodent Control Plan as part of the building permit, and large demolitions require pre-baiting through a licensed pest control operator at least 14 days before work.
Failure to maintain pest-free premises is a Sanitary Code violation enforceable by BPHC and ISD with fines up to $500 per offense, and may result in a unit being declared unfit for habitation.
Boston, MA
Owners of Boston rental units built before 1978 must comply with the Massachusetts Lead Law (MGL Ch. 111 §§189A-199B) and 105 CMR 460, deleading or interim-c...
Boston, MA
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