Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.050
Inspection of units—Certificate of compliance
Operative Text
Whenever a rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement becomes vacant, or within ten days before the expiration date of the anticipated vacancy and prior to its being reoccupied, the owner, managing agent or person in possession thereof shall have it inspected by a code enforcement inspector of the housing and sanitary code enforcement department to determine whether or not it conforms to the general laws of the commonwealth and also this chapter, insofar as they apply to the above-mentioned persons in possession thereof, and shall secure from the code enforcement inspector of the housing and sanitary code enforcement department a certificate of compliance therewith, namely, a certificate of occupancy.
Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.050, every time a rental dwelling unit, apartment, or tenement becomes vacant, an inspection by a city code enforcement inspector from the housing and sanitary code enforcement department is required before the unit can be reoccupied. The inspection must occur either at the time of vacancy or within ten days before the anticipated vacancy ends. Only after the unit passes inspection and a certificate of compliance—also called a certificate of occupancy—is issued may the unit be rented again.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.050 places the responsibility for scheduling the required inspection on the owner, managing agent, or person in possession of the property. Compliant operators generally coordinate with the city's housing and sanitary code enforcement department to arrange an inspection at or near each vacancy, ensuring the unit meets both state general laws and local chapter requirements before a new tenant moves in. Maintaining records of each issued certificate of occupancy is a common practice among operators who manage multiple units subject to this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 15.12 § 15.12.050, tenants have an interest in knowing that a valid certificate of compliance—a certificate of occupancy—should have been obtained by the landlord before they moved into a vacant unit. If a tenant has reason to believe this inspection and certification did not occur, that fact may be relevant to housing code complaints or other proceedings, and tenant-rights organizations in Lawrence can help explain available options. Tenants can also contact the city's housing and sanitary code enforcement department directly to inquire about the inspection and certification status of their unit.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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