Everett, Mass., Code of Bylaws art iii habitation § 10-29
Certification Before Occupancy - Standards (Everett Art. III Certificate of Habitability)
Operative Text
(a) The unit described in the application must be certified by the Health Department of the City of Everett meeting the standards set forth in the Sanitary Codes, Article II , “Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation,” prior to being occupied. (b) The Health Inspector shall forward any suspected violations out of the scope of the Health Department to the appropriate department in the City of Everett for further inspection. (c) A certificate of habitability shall not be given until all violations are corrected within the appropriate time.
Under Everett, Mass., Code of Bylaws ART. III HABITATION § 10-29, a residential unit must be inspected and certified by the Everett Health Department as meeting the Sanitary Code's minimum habitability standards before anyone may move in. If an inspector identifies potential violations that fall outside the Health Department's jurisdiction, those concerns are referred to the relevant city department for follow-up. A certificate of habitability is withheld until every identified violation has been fully corrected within the required timeframe.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10-29, compliant operators ensure that a rental unit is inspected and certified by the Everett Health Department before any new occupant takes possession. Landlords generally coordinate with the Health Department to schedule inspections, address any cited violations promptly, and obtain the certificate of habitability before allowing move-in. Because violations flagged under this section may be referred to other city departments, operators typically resolve all outstanding issues across departments before expecting certification to be issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10-29 establishes that a tenant should not be placed in a unit that has not received a certificate of habitability from the Everett Health Department, meaning the unit must have passed inspection against the Sanitary Code's minimum standards before occupancy begins. If a tenant believes a unit was occupied without this certification, or that violations were never corrected, they may contact the Everett Health Department to inquire about the unit's certification status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts housing law can help residents understand what options may be available when a unit's habitability certification is in question.
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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