Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws art iii d2 § 42-85
Violations of zoning, building or other regulations to be referred to appropriate authority (Fall River Art. III Div. 2: Administration)
Operative Text
Whenever the Director of the Division of Minimum Housing Standards determines that the condition of a dwelling or dwelling premises or any part thereof is in violation of any zoning, building, fire or health or safety provision of the City Code or any other ordinance or regulation of the City, or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, which is not provided for by this article, or which is provided for by a higher standard of such other ordinance, code or regulation, he shall refer such violation to the appropriate authority.
Under Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws ART. III D2 § 42-85, when the Director of the Division of Minimum Housing Standards identifies a condition in a dwelling or its premises that violates zoning, building, fire, health, or safety rules — whether those rules fall outside this article or set a higher standard than it — the Director is required to forward that violation to whichever city authority has jurisdiction over it. This provision creates a coordination mechanism so that no code violation falls through the cracks simply because it is governed by a different regulatory body. The rule does not resolve the violation itself; it ensures the right agency receives notice of it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Fall River should be aware that under ART. III D2 § 42-85, an inspection by the Division of Minimum Housing Standards can trigger referrals to multiple city departments simultaneously if different types of code violations are found. A compliant operator generally maintains properties in conformance with zoning, building, fire, health, and safety standards so that no referral to a separate authority becomes necessary. Keeping records of inspections, permits, and corrective actions across all applicable code categories helps demonstrate ongoing compliance regardless of which city authority may become involved.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Fall River, Mass., Code of Bylaws ART. III D2 § 42-85, tenants benefit from a rule that requires the Director of the Division of Minimum Housing Standards to pass along any zoning, building, fire, health, or safety violations to the appropriate city authority rather than letting them go unaddressed. This means a single complaint or inspection can set multiple enforcement processes in motion across different city departments. Tenants who believe their dwelling has conditions that may violate city codes can contact the Division of Minimum Housing Standards or consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand which agencies might be involved and what remedies may be available.
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.