Weed abatement in Suffolk County is enforced by each municipality's Board of Health and code enforcement. Boston aggressively pursues vacant lot violations under Boston Municipal Code §16-12 and the Problem Properties Ordinance.
Suffolk County does not regulate weeds. Boston Municipal Code §16-12 authorizes Inspectional Services to issue abatement notices for weedy, overgrown, or blighted lots. Boston's Problem Properties Task Force (established 2009) targets chronic-offender vacant lots across Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and East Boston — combining Board of Health, ISD, and Police enforcement. Invasive species of concern in Suffolk County include Japanese knotweed (persistent along waterways like the Neponset and Chelsea Creek), phragmites (salt marshes in East Boston, Winthrop, Revere Beach), oriental bittersweet, and multiflora rose. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop each enforce through their Boards of Health under MGL c. 111 §§122-127. The State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410.750) applies to rental-property grounds. Under Boston's Vacant Property Registration Ordinance (Boston Municipal Code §9-1.3), owners of vacant lots must register and maintain them or face escalating fines. Municipal abatement costs become a lien on the property under MGL c. 111 §125.
Boston abatement notice with ~10-day compliance. Municipal cutting: $200-$1,000+ charged to owner plus administrative fee. Unregistered vacant lot: $300/day under §9-1.3. Problem Property designation: enhanced penalties and court action.
Suffolk County, MA
Amplified music in Suffolk County is regulated at the city level. Boston requires Entertainment Licenses from the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs & Licens...
Suffolk County, MA
Driveway rules in Suffolk County are set by each city. Boston requires a curb-cut permit from the Public Improvement Commission, and blocking a Boston sidewa...
Suffolk County, MA
Massachusetts has a spite fence statute (MGL c.49 §21) but no shared fence cost law. Each owner is responsible for their own fence.
Suffolk County, MA
Massachusetts does not ban specific dog breeds statewide. Some municipalities have attempted BSL with mixed results. Dangerous dog provisions are behavior-ba...
Suffolk County, MA
Suffolk County requires dogs under control at all times (MGL c.140 §157). Dog licensing required through city/town clerk (MGL c.140 §155). Rabies vaccination...
Suffolk County, MA
MA prohibits intentional feeding of black bears (MGL c. 131, §75A) and regulates feeding of white-tailed deer. Boston Health Code §2-2.8 prohibits feeding of...
See how Suffolk County's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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