Boston Public Works and BPHC operate scheduled cleaning and storage protocols at encampment sites, including the former Mass and Cass area. Personal property must be tagged, stored 90 days, and reclaimed via the Long Island Bridge Storage program before disposal.
Following the August 2023 Boston Public Health Commission emergency declaration on Mass and Cass and a subsequent ordinance authorizing tent removal paired with shelter expansion, the City established formal sanitation protocols for encampment sites. Public Works conducts scheduled cleanings with notice posted 24 hours in advance. Personal property is bagged, photographed, tagged, and stored at a city facility for 90 days, with retrieval information posted onsite and through outreach workers. Hazardous materials, drug paraphernalia, and abandoned tents may be disposed immediately. The 2023 Mass and Cass tent ordinance (Boston Code Ch. 16-12.18) authorizes BPD-led clearings only after BPHC certifies shelter availability and outreach contact.
Disposing of tagged personal property before the 90-day storage period, or clearing without prior notice and outreach, exposes the City to claims and triggers internal review.
See how Boston's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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