Dennis, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 113 § 113-1
Registration with Board of Health; certificate of registration (Dennis Housing Space and Use)
Operative Text
A. Any owner and/or agent who shall offer for rent or lease any building or portion thereof to be used for habitation, other than a licensed premise, shall first register with the Health Department, who shall determine the number of persons said building or portion thereof can legally accommodate. Any building or portion thereof regulated by the provisions of the Space and Use Bylaw shall have conspicuously posted on the premises a certificate of registration, supplied by the Dennis Health Department, specifying the number of people assigned to occupy and/or use each dwelling. B. A certificate of registration shall be issued at the discretion of the Health Director and in accordance with regulations of the Sanitary Code of Massachusetts and the Town of Dennis Zoning Bylaws, that said building and/or premises are in compliance with said codes. The owner and/or agent shall keep a record of names and addresses of lessees and dates of occupancy, making this information available to the town's regulatory agencies, upon request.
Dennis, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 113 § 113-1 establishes a registration requirement for residential rental properties in the Town of Dennis. Before any building or portion of a building is offered for rent or lease for habitation, it must be registered with the Dennis Health Department, which determines the lawful occupancy limit. Properties subject to the Space and Use Bylaw must display a certificate of registration on the premises, and that certificate must specify the number of occupants permitted in each dwelling unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 113 § 113-1, compliant rental property operators in Dennis register with the Health Department before listing or leasing any habitable space, and they obtain a certificate of registration issued at the discretion of the Health Director in accordance with the Massachusetts Sanitary Code and Dennis Zoning Bylaws. Operators post that certificate conspicuously on the premises so that the permitted occupancy count is visible. They also maintain an ongoing record of lessees' names, addresses, and occupancy dates, and make those records available to town regulatory agencies upon request.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 113 § 113-1 gives tenants in Dennis a basis to verify that their rental unit has been properly registered with the Health Department and that a certificate of registration specifying the lawful occupancy limit is posted on the premises. If a certificate is absent or the unit appears to be operating outside its registered occupancy limits, tenants can raise that concern with the Dennis Health Department, which oversees compliance with this provision. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can help explain what options may be available when a landlord has not met the registration requirements of this bylaw.
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.
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