5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Boston requires trash be stored in covered containers and placed at the curb after 5 PM the day before collection per Boston Code §7-1.3 and the Rodent Control Ordinance §16-26. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have similar collection rules. Containers must be retrieved by the end of collection day. Overflowing containers or loose bags attract rats — Boston fines up to $300 per occurrence.
Suffolk County municipalities enforce property maintenance under 780 CMR 34 (MA State Building Code, existing structures chapter) and the MA State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410 for housing). Boston Problem Property Ordinance (§16-18.1) targets chronically non-compliant properties. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have vacant and abandoned property registries requiring annual registration.
Suffolk County municipalities require vacant lot owners to mow, remove trash, and secure their properties under local property maintenance codes. Boston Code §16-12 prohibits nuisance conditions including overgrown vegetation (typically 10+ inches). Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have similar weed ordinances. Municipal abatement plus a lien on the lot covers non-compliance.
MGL c. 111, § 127B (Dwellings unfit for human habitation; order to vacate or to abate nuisance)
Section 127B. Upon a determination by the board of health, or, in the cities of Boston, Worcester and Cambridge, by the commissioner of housing inspection, after examination as provided in said code, that a building, tenement, room, cellar, mobile dwelling place or any other structure (a) is unfit for human habitation, (b) is or may become a nuisance, or (c) is or may be a cause of sickness or ...
Boston requires snow removal from sidewalks within 3 hours of snowfall end (or by 10 AM if overnight). Boston Municipal Code §16-12.16 imposes $50-$200 fines. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have similar 24-hour rules.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 85, sec. 5 (Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks by abutting landowners)
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 ...
Suffolk County yard-sale maintenance rules are municipal. Boston Municipal Code §16-12 applies general property maintenance and blight standards — items must be cleaned up daily, signs removed within 24 hours, no commercial-scale displays.
1 cities in Suffolk County have their own property maintenance rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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