Property Maintenance in Somerville, MA (2026)
3 verified property maintenance rules for Somerville, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Owners of vacant buildings or ground-floor commercial space in Somerville must register the vacancy with inspectional services within 90 days and pay an annual fee, per Code of Ordinances § 11-111. The ordinance requires boarded windows to be temporary, prompt repair of broken openings, and rodent-free conditions, backed by fines and liens.
Somerville Vacant Property Maintenance Rules
Significant RestrictionsSomerville, MA Code of Ordinances § 11-111(a)-(b)
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the welfare and economic vitality of the residents of the City of Somerville by protecting property values, maintaining neighborhood integrity and accessibility, safeguarding against economic property blight, protecting city resources, and ensuring the safe and sanitary maintenance of vacant properties. (b) Registration. (1) In the absence ...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
City ordinance requires every private property owner or occupant in Somerville to cut and dispose of weeds in yard areas and vacant lots, and to keep adjoining sidewalks and gutters free of litter. The Department of Public Works enforces Code of Ordinances § 11-31(d) with fines for noncompliance.
Somerville Vacant Lot Weed Cutting Rules
Some RestrictionsSomerville, MA Code of Ordinances § 11-31(d)(3)
(d) Private property owners and occupants--Keeping premises and adjacent areas free of litter. (1) Maintenance of private property. Every owner or occupant of private property shall maintain his property free of any accumulation of litter, and shall prevent any litter from escaping to any other public or private property. (2) Maintenance of sidewalks. Every owner or occupant of private property...
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Somerville requires abutters to clear sidewalks within 6 hours of daytime snowfall ending or by 10 am if the storm ended overnight. Fines escalate and the city can clear and bill the owner.
Somerville Snow Sidewalk Clearing
Heavy RestrictionsM.G.L. c. 85, Section 5
Section 5. Cities by ordinance and towns by by-laws may provide for the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks within such portions of the city or town as they consider expedient by the owner or occupant of land abutting upon such sidewalks. Such ordinances and by-laws shall determine the time and manner of removal and shall affix penalties, not exceeding fifty dollars in the case of a city or ...