Chelmsford, Mass., Code of Bylaws art iv emerg lodging § 201-15
Definitions (Chelmsford BoH Art. IV Emergency Lodging Programs)
Operative Text
FULL KITCHEN Must have the following located in unit/room: A. Refrigerator/freezer unit (minimum nine cu. ft.). B. Kitchen sink/dishwasher combination of sufficient size (12" x 10' x 5" minimum) and adequate space to store, prepare and serve food in a sanitary manner. (2' x 9 countertop and 20 sq. ft. of cabinets, minimum). C. Electric stove and microwave. D. A kitchen area of a minimum of 75 square feet. E. Landlord to provide reasonably necessary cookware and amenities, including without exception, flatware, plates, bowls, cups, glasses and table settings. HABITABLE ROOM/UNIT Means every room/unit or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding rooms/units containing toilets, bathtubs or showers. HOTEL A place that has rooms in which people can stay especially when they are traveling: a place that provides food, lodging, and other services for paying guests for usually less than seven days. KITCHENETTE Must have the following located in unit: A. Refrigerator/freezer unit (minimum three cu. ft.). B. Kitchen sink of minimum size (12" x 10" x 5" minimum) and adequate space to store, prepare and serve food in a sanitary manner (2' x 6' countertop and nine sq. ft. of cabinets minimum). C. A permanently installed electric cooktop (two heating elements) and microwave. D. A kitchen area of a minimum of 40 square feet. E. Landlord to provide reasonably necessary cookware and amenities, including without exception, flatware, plates, bowls, cups, glasses and table settings. LODGING ESTABLISHMENT A place where a person can rent a room(s)/unit(s) to stay for a short period of time: a place to sleep. Other services may be supplied. This definition includes hotels, motels, long term/extended stay establishments, bed-and-breakfasts, inns, resorts and the like. LONG TERM/EXTENDED STAY ESTABLISHMENT A lodging establishment with additional amenities that people stay for a period usually longer than seven days. MONTHLY REPORT Means a report that consists of Room/Unit Size, Room/Unit Type, Number of People occupying the room/unit, Start Date, Departure Date Required, and Actual Departure Date. Addendum A. [1] MOTEL A small-sized low-rise lodging establishment which provides sleeping accommodation with limited services for usually less than seven days. They have direct access to individual rooms from the parking area. SINGLE ROOM/UNIT A habitable room/unit with one or two beds without any kitchen facility. SINGLE ROOM/UNIT WITH FULL KITCHEN A habitable room/unit with one or two beds with full kitchen facilities. SINGLE ROOM/UNIT WITH FULL KITCHEN AND SEPARATE BEDROOM A habitable room/unit with one bed/bedroom and one couch/bed unit with full kitchen facilities. SINGLE ROOM/UNIT WITH KITCHENETTE A habitable room/unit with one or two beds and kitchenette facility [1] Editor's Note: Said addendum is on file in the Town offices.
Section 201-15 of Chelmsford's Code of Bylaws, Article IV, establishes standardized definitions for key terms used throughout the emergency lodging regulations. It sets out precise physical requirements for a 'Full Kitchen' and a 'Kitchenette'—including minimum appliance sizes, counter space, cabinet area, and kitchen square footage—and distinguishes between room and unit types such as hotels, motels, long-term stay establishments, and various single-room configurations. The definitions also clarify what constitutes a 'Habitable Room/Unit' and specify that landlords must supply cookware and table settings in any unit containing kitchen facilities. These definitions govern how all other provisions in Article IV are interpreted and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of lodging establishments in Chelmsford should ensure that each unit or room type they offer meets the exact physical specifications laid out in § 201-15, since these definitions determine compliance across the entire Article IV framework. For example, a unit marketed as having a 'Full Kitchen' must include a refrigerator/freezer of at least nine cubic feet, a minimum 75-square-foot kitchen area, and a full complement of cookware, flatware, plates, bowls, cups, glasses, and table settings supplied by the landlord. Operators of units with a 'Kitchenette' face similar but distinct minimum standards, including a three-cubic-foot refrigerator and a 40-square-foot kitchen area. Maintaining documentation that each room or unit type meets the applicable § 201-15 definition is a standard practice for demonstrating ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants staying at lodging establishments in Chelmsford are protected by the minimum standards defined in § 201-15, which specify exactly what equipment, space, and amenities must be present depending on how a unit is classified. If a unit is represented as having a 'Full Kitchen' or 'Kitchenette,' the landlord is required under § 201-15 to provide not only the appliances and counter space but also cookware and table settings. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet the applicable definition may consider documenting the deficiencies and reaching out to the relevant Chelmsford municipal authority or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.