Framingham, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 496 § 496-2
Rental unit inspection certificate required; exemptions (Framingham Rental Units)
Operative Text
A. Except as provided in this section, no owner, lessor or person in control or in charge of a rental unit shall commence any new tenancy or occupancy in an existing rental unit without having obtained a rental unit inspection certificate from the Board of Health, provided that any unit may be occupied prior to inspection after five business days have elapsed from the submission of a completed application for inspection, and provided further that any unit occupied under this exception shall be subject to inspection subsequent to the commencement of a tenancy or occupancy. B. The following properties shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: (1) Property or units owned or managed by the Framingham Housing Authority. (2) Hotels, motels and mobile homes that have been otherwise permitted by the Board of Health or Board of License Commissioners. [Amended 2-13-2024 ] (3) Owner-occupied premises containing two or fewer units, provided that a homeowner may elect to participate in the program. (4) Property which contains 20 or more units and is providing housing exclusively for elderly or low- and moderate-income persons under federal or state subsidy programs. (5) Lodging house units, which are subject to annual inspection requirements pursuant to 780 CMR (State Building Code). For purposes of this regulation, the phrase "lodging house" shall have the same definition as that set forth in MGL c. 140, § 22 . [Amended 2-13-2024 ]
Under Framingham, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 496 § 496-2, landlords generally must obtain a rental unit inspection certificate from the Board of Health before starting any new tenancy in an existing rental unit. A unit may be occupied before the inspection is completed if at least five business days have passed since a completed application was submitted, but that unit remains subject to a follow-up inspection after the tenancy begins. Several categories of properties are exempt from this requirement, including Framingham Housing Authority units, hotels and motels, owner-occupied buildings with two or fewer units, certain federally or state-subsidized elderly or low- and moderate-income housing with 20 or more units, and lodging houses already subject to annual inspections under the State Building Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 496 § 496-2, compliant rental property operators in Framingham generally submit a completed inspection application to the Board of Health before a new tenancy begins and secure the required rental unit inspection certificate. If a unit needs to be occupied before the inspection is conducted, operators typically confirm that at least five business days have elapsed since the completed application was filed and remain prepared for a subsequent inspection after the tenancy commences. Operators also verify whether their property falls within one of the enumerated exemptions—such as owner-occupied two-unit buildings or qualifying subsidized housing—before determining whether the certificate requirement applies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 496 § 496-2 establishes that most rental units in Framingham must hold a valid rental unit inspection certificate from the Board of Health before a new tenancy begins, which is a protection tied to habitability oversight. Tenants who believe their unit was occupied without the required certificate or proper application process may raise this as a concern with the Framingham Board of Health, which administers the program. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Framingham housing regulations can help residents understand what remedies or defenses may be available under this provision.
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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