Several Middlesex County cities require rental unit registration and inspection. Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, and Lowell operate active rental inspection programs.
While Massachusetts has no statewide rental registration requirement, many Middlesex County cities have adopted local ordinances to track rental housing and enforce the State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410. Cambridge Rental Housing Registration under Municipal Code Chapter 8.68 requires owners of rental units to register annually with Inspectional Services and pay a per-unit fee. Somerville has a similar rental registration and inspection program. Everett, Malden, and Lowell require inspection at each change of tenancy with certificates of fitness issued before re-rental. Annual fees range from 25 to 100 dollars per unit. Short-term rentals under 31 days are separately regulated under the Massachusetts Room Occupancy Tax (MGL c.64G) requiring state registration with DOR. Failure to register can result in fines starting at 100 dollars and barring the use of summary process eviction until registration is complete.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle rental registration.
See how Wakefield's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.