Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 8.20 § 8.20.090
Unfit building or property
Operative Text
A. It is declared that violations of this chapter shall constitute a nuisance to the persons and property abutting an unfit building or property. B. The commissioners upon written complaint filed by an abutter or city councilor may cause to be made a code review of a property thought to violate this chapter. C. If the commissioner upon investigation determines that a violation of this chapter exists, he/she shall cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such building or property a notice of order. Such order shall list the violations, the general activities to correct the violations, the timeframe within which the violations shall be corrected, and shall further direct that the owner should submit a proposed remedial plan to be approved by the commissioner of inspectional services, the notice shall also state that a hearing on this matter may be held before the board of health on a determination of whether or not a violation exists, and, if so, what cures are necessary regarding the violations. D. The owner or parties in interest shall possess the right to file a request for hearing with the board of health on or before seven days of receipt of notice of the order, and, at a hearing thereon, shall have the right to file and answer to the order, to appear in person, to have an attorney present, and to give testimony on the order and any violations thereon.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 8.20 § 8.20.090 establishes that a building or property found to violate the city's unfit-building standards is legally considered a nuisance to neighboring owners and residents. When an abutter or city councilor files a written complaint, the commissioner may initiate a code review, and if a violation is confirmed, the property owner receives a formal notice of order detailing the violations, required corrective actions, and a compliance timeframe. The owner must also submit a remedial plan for the commissioner's approval, and the process includes a potential hearing before the Board of Health to determine whether violations exist and what remedies are required.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 8.20 § 8.20.090, a compliant property owner who receives a notice of order generally reviews the listed violations and the specified timeframe carefully, then prepares and submits a proposed remedial plan to the commissioner of inspectional services for approval. Operators who wish to contest the findings typically file a request for a hearing with the Board of Health within seven days of receiving the notice, as that is the window established by the provision. At any such hearing, the owner has the right to appear in person, bring legal counsel, and present testimony regarding the order and the alleged violations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Lawrence Code of Ordinances ch. 8.20 § 8.20.090 gives abutting residents and neighbors a formal mechanism to trigger a code review by filing a written complaint with the commissioner through their city councilor or directly as an abutter. If a violation is confirmed, the resulting notice of order and any Board of Health hearing create an official record that neighboring tenants or affected parties may reference when documenting conditions. Tenants or abutters who believe a nearby property is unfit may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or the Lawrence Inspectional Services department to better understand how this complaint and review process applies to their circumstances.
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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