Rental Property Rules in Worcester, MA (2026)
2 verified rental property rules for Worcester, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rental Registration
Every non-owner-occupied rental property in Worcester, from single-family homes to commercial units and rented lots, must be registered with the Inspectional Services Department under Chapter 9, Section 18 of the Revised Ordinances. Registration starts at $15 per unit with a $5 annual renewal, and owners who skip it face a fine equal to double the unpaid fee for every month of noncompliance.
Worcester Rental Property Registration Rule
Significant RestrictionsWorcester Revised Ordinances, Chapter 9, § 18(a),(f),(j)
(a) A Rental Property Registration Program is hereby established to promote public health and safety; to maintain an inventory of the City's rented buildings and lots... (f) Fees for Rental Property Registration shall be as follows: (1) First-time or new registration for dwellings, commercial, retail, office: $15.00 per unit. (2) Annual renewal for dwellings, commercial, retail, office: $5.00 p...
Repairs & Habitability
Worcester's Certificate of Fitness program, Chapter 9, Section 9 of the Revised Ordinances, lets a landlord ask the Department of Inspectional Services to certify that a dwelling unit meets the state sanitary code's minimum habitability standards. The director of housing issues the certificate only after an inspection turns up no sanitary code violations, and an occupied unit's certificate stays tied to that tenant for up to 24 months.
Worcester Rental Certificate of Fitness
Some RestrictionsWorcester Revised Ordinances, Chapter 9, § 9(a)-(b)
Certificate of fitness or certificate - shall mean a certification issued following an inspection by the department of inspectional services ("department") attesting to the conformance of the dwelling unit with minimum standards of fitness for human habitation as prescribed under the state sanitary code. (b) Any owner of a dwelling unit or authorized agent of the owner may request the commissio...