Cambridge enforces state and local property maintenance codes that prohibit blighted conditions including overgrown vegetation, accumulated debris, peeling paint, and unsecured structures.
Property blight in Cambridge is addressed under the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), the State Building Code, and the Cambridge Municipal Code provisions enforced by the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Conditions considered blight include accumulated trash and debris, overgrown weeds or grass taller than 10 inches, peeling or deteriorated exterior paint on residential buildings built before 1978 (lead paint concern), broken windows, open foundations, and structures left unsecured or vacant. ISD inspectors respond to complaints submitted via the Cambridge iReport system and issue correction orders with deadlines of 7 to 30 days depending on severity. Failure to comply may result in daily fines and, in extreme cases, abatement by the city with costs placed as a lien on the property.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces numerical decibel limits: 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night at residential receptors, with a 5 dBA penalty for tonal or impulsive sounds.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge treats persistent barking as a noise violation under Chapter 8.16 and an animal nuisance under Chapter 6.04; owners of chronically barking dogs fac...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge banned gas-powered leaf blowers in 2024, requiring all landscapers and residents to switch to electric models, with time and decibel restrictions r...
Cambridge, MA
Outdoor music events in Cambridge require a one-day entertainment license from the License Commission, with end times typically capped at 10 PM on weeknights...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces strict industrial and commercial noise limits: 60 dB days and 50 dB nights at residential property lines, aligned with MassDEP Policy 90-001.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge reserves designated EV charging station spaces for actively charging electric vehicles only, and new large developments must provide EV-ready parki...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle property blight.
See how Cambridge's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
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