Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Middlesex County. Massachusetts has no statewide prohibition, and many towns offer rain barrel rebate programs through DPW and MWRA.
Rainwater harvesting for outdoor non-potable use is fully legal in Middlesex County and throughout Massachusetts. There is no statewide restriction on residential rain barrels or cisterns collecting roof runoff for garden and landscape use. The MA Department of Environmental Protection and MWRA actively promote rainwater capture as a stormwater management and water conservation strategy. Many Middlesex communities participate in rain barrel sale or rebate programs, including Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown, often offering 55-gallon barrels at subsidized prices. Larger cisterns over 1,000 gallons may require Building Department permits and structural review. Potable indoor use (drinking, cooking, bathing) requires state plumbing code compliance under 248 CMR including treatment and backflow prevention, and is rarely approved for residential applications. Gutter diverters and overflow must be designed to prevent foundation damage and comply with local stormwater bylaws.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle rainwater harvesting.
See how Arlington's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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