Chelsea, MA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Abandonment trigger
- Open to weather 90+ days
- Reviewing board
- Building inspector, health agent, engineer, fire chief
- Owner notice period
- Abate within 48 hours
- Unpaid abatement costs
- Become a property lien
- Payment deadline
- 30 days after billing
Summary
Chelsea treats a building, structure or vacant lot as a nuisance if it sits abandoned or open to the weather for 90 days or more, or is overgrown with vegetation dangerous to life or limb. Sec. 18-2 lets a city board order the owner to abate within 48 hours or the city abates it and bills the owner.
(c)Definitions. Without limiting the foregoing definition, the term "buildings," "structures" or "vacant land" shall be considered a nuisance, within the meaning of this section, under the following conditions:(1)Buildings or structures that are abandoned, unused or open to the weather for a period of 90 days or more;(2)Buildings, structures or vacant land overgrown with vegetation which are dangerous to life or limb, especially unsafe in case of fire, or violate the provisions of M.G.L. c. 139.(d)Procedure. Wherever a nuisance is found to exist, a careful survey of the premises shall be made by a board consisting of the building inspector, health agent, city engineer and fire chief or their respective designees. ... shall order the owner to abate the same in not less than 48 hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
Sec. c. 139," the state common-nuisance statute. When either condition is found, subsection (d) requires "a careful survey of the premises" by a multi-department board consisting of "the building inspector, health agent, city engineer and fire chief or their respective designees," acting under the building inspector's direction. " If the owner fails to comply, the city may abate the nuisance itself, and the owner must pay the resulting "costs, charges and fees" within 30 days of being billed. c. 139, § 3A," giving the city a real-property remedy beyond a personal fine.
Violations & Fines
An owner who fails or neglects to comply with the board's abatement order is liable for a fine under Sec. 1-8(b), with each day of such failure or neglect constituting a separate violation. Beyond the fine, unpaid city abatement costs, charges, fees and collection costs attach as a lien on the property itself under M.G.L. c. 139, § 3A.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a building sit vacant before it's a nuisance in Chelsea?
Who decides whether a property is a nuisance?
What happens if the owner ignores the abatement order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelsea
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle property blight.