Marlborough, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 420 § 420-2
Required certification from Building Commissioner (Marlborough Multifamily Dwellings)
Operative Text
No person owning a qualified multifamily dwelling in the City of Marlborough shall, with respect to a subject property on which the qualified multifamily dwelling is located, enter into a purchase-and-sale agreement or sale agreement, seek to transfer the subject property, or list the subject property for sale with a licensed real estate broker, unless and until such person has first obtained from the Building Commissioner or his/her designee a certificate regarding legal multifamily dwelling units, and has subsequently supplied that certificate to the Marlborough Fire Department prior to the Marlborough Fire Department conducting an inspection of the subject property pursuant to MGL c. 148, § 26F .
Under Marlborough, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 420 § 420-2, owners of qualifying multifamily properties in Marlborough must obtain a certificate about legal multifamily dwelling units from the Building Commissioner (or a designee) before they can list the property for sale, enter into a purchase-and-sale agreement, or initiate a transfer. That certificate must then be provided to the Marlborough Fire Department before the Fire Department conducts its inspection under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148, § 26F. The rule creates a sequenced pre-sale compliance step that applies specifically to qualified multifamily dwellings within the city.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and owners of qualified multifamily dwellings in Marlborough should be aware that CH. 420 § 420-2 establishes a mandatory pre-sale certification process. A compliant owner typically contacts the Building Commissioner's office well in advance of any listing or sale activity to request the required certificate regarding legal multifamily dwelling units, and then delivers that certificate to the Marlborough Fire Department before the Fire Department's inspection takes place. Building this step into the transaction timeline early helps avoid delays in listing, contracting, or closing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 420 § 420-2 creates a pre-sale requirement that can be relevant to tenants living in qualifying multifamily buildings that are being sold. The rule means that before a sale process formally begins, the property should have passed through a Building Commissioner certification step and a subsequent Marlborough Fire Department inspection, which can surface information about the legal status of dwelling units. Tenants who believe a sale is proceeding without this certification in place may wish to contact the Marlborough Building Commissioner's office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options are 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.
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