Lowell requires rental housing to be registered and periodically inspected through the city's Development Services Department to ensure code compliance.
The City of Lowell administers a rental registration and inspection program under its housing code authority and the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410). Owners of rental dwelling units must register their properties with Development Services, pay the applicable annual fee, identify a local agent for service of process if the owner resides out of state (MGL c.186 s.15B), and permit routine inspections. Units must meet minimum standards for heat, hot water, egress, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and sanitary conditions. Failure to register or correct violations can result in tickets, orders to vacate, or withholding of rent through state receivership procedures.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Lowell, MA
Lowell applies the Massachusetts DEP 10-dB-above-ambient standard for objective measurement and uses a plainly-audible test for subjective enforcement.
Lowell, MA
Lowell restricts gas-powered leaf blower use to daytime hours; no outright ban exists, but decibel and hour limits apply under the general noise ordinance.
Lowell, MA
Outdoor music at restaurants, breweries, and event venues in Lowell requires an entertainment license and must end by 10 p.m. in residential zones.
Lowell, MA
Lowell enforces nighttime quiet hours that restrict unreasonable noise in residential areas, authorized under MGL c.40 s.21 and enforced by Lowell Police and...
Lowell, MA
Amplified music from homes, vehicles, or outdoor events in Lowell must not be plainly audible beyond 50 feet and is subject to permit rules for public venues.
Lowell, MA
Industrial operations in Lowell must keep noise within Massachusetts DEP guidelines and the local ordinance, with stricter limits at residential property lines.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle rental registration.
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