Taunton, MA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Article I of Chapter 350, Property Maintenance, opens by naming exactly what Taunton treats as a nuisance: dilapidated buildings, overgrowth, debris, trash, stagnant pools of water, defective weather protection, and vacant or abandoned buildings. Section 350-1 states these conditions blight neighborhoods and commercial areas, drag down surrounding property values, and impair public health and safety. Section 350-4 turns that intent into an enforceable standard, requiring every property in the city, whether occupied or vacant, to be maintained in good repair and in a safe and sanitary condition; structures, including buildings, fences and storage sheds, must stay structurally sound, weatherproofed and free of fire hazards, and property must be kept clear of accumulated litter, rubbish, trash or debris.

When a property fails one of these standards, § 350-5 lets the Trash Enforcement Officer, the Building Commissioner, the Board of Health, the Building Inspector, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, the Fire Chief or the Police Chief declare it a public nuisance. The declaring official must serve written notice under MGL c. 111, § 124 describing the property, the nuisance conditions found, and the fact that the owner has 10 days from service to remove the nuisance or face violation of the article. If the owner still hasn't acted after 10 days, § 350-6 lets city officials, with lawful authorization and any needed assistance, enter the property, remove the nuisance themselves, and bill the owner for the cost, which the city can recover under MGL c. 111, § 125.