Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.030
Administrative citations— Issuance
Operative Text
A. Whenever the Inspectional Services Department finds any violation of any provision of the State Sanitary Code it shall issue, in addition to its order to make repairs, an administrative citation against the owner according to the procedures set out in this chapter. B. The administrative citation shall incorporate by reference the order to make repairs and shall contain the following information: 1. The date of the inspection; 2. The amount of fine which shall be assessed against the owner if the violation or violations are not remedied within the time set out in the order to make repairs as well as the rate at which the fine shall escalate pursuant to subsection B of Section 8.60.080 of this chapter; 3. The manner in which the owner may pay any fine assessed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter; and 4. A description of the owner's appeal rights with respect to the issuance of the administrative citation and of any fine. C. The administrative citation shall be served on the owner, along with any orders to make repairs, in accordance with the provisions of the State Sanitary Code. D. A copy of the administrative citation shall also be served on the occupants of the dwelling or dwelling unit in which violations have been found and shall be posted in the common areas of the dwelling. If violations of the State Sanitary Code are found in the common areas of any dwelling, a copy of the administrative citation shall be served on each and every tenant of the dwelling. E. The Inspectional Services Department shall send a copy of the administrative citation to the mortgagee of the property. The City shall request that the mortgagee seek to cure, through all applicable provisions of its mortgage, except through foreclosure or increase in interest rates, any and all violations of Article II of the State Sanitary Code of which it has been so notified. F. A copy of the administrative citation shall be retained by the Inspectional Services Department and be available for public inspection and copying.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.030 establishes the process by which the Inspectional Services Department issues administrative citations when it finds State Sanitary Code violations. When a violation is found, the department must issue a citation alongside any repair order, and that citation must spell out the inspection date, the fine amount and escalation schedule, payment instructions, and the owner's appeal rights. Copies of the citation must be distributed to the property owner, the occupants of the affected unit, any tenants in the building if common areas are involved, the property's mortgagee, and the department's own public records.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.030, a compliant property owner generally acknowledges receipt of both the repair order and the accompanying administrative citation, reviews the fine schedule and escalation terms described in the citation, and addresses the identified violations within the timeframe specified in the repair order to avoid accruing fines. Operators familiar with this provision also take note of the appeal rights described in the citation, since the citation itself is required to explain how and when an appeal may be pursued. Because the mortgagee is also notified and may be asked to act under the terms of the mortgage, owners with mortgaged properties should be aware that their lender may become involved in the remediation process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.60 § 8.60.030 entitles occupants of an affected unit—and all tenants in a building where common-area violations are found—to receive a copy of the administrative citation issued against the owner. This means tenants have access to documented information about the violation, the fine schedule, and the owner's repair timeline, which can be useful when tracking whether repairs are made. Tenants who believe this notification process was not followed, or who want to understand their broader rights in connection with a cited violation, may consider contacting the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department directly, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether the citation record—which is available for public inspection—supports any action available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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