Newton, Mass., City Ordinances §§ 20-148–20-159 § 20-149
Requirements for all Lodging Houses
Operative Text
(a) Common facilities. At minimum the following common facilities are required:
(1) Kitchen for use by all residents that includes food storage and cooking facilities in compliance with the
State Sanitary Code.
(2) Bathrooms shall be provided in compliance of all applicable codes. Bathrooms shall be provided on the
same floor as the associated rooming unit.
(b) Facilities in Rooming Units.
(1) Rooming Units, unless considered E-SROs, shall not include cooking facilities (convection microwaves,
stoves, ranges, toasters, etc.) but may include food storage and non-cooking appliances (e.g. mini-fridge,
coffee maker, blender, non-convection microwave) in compliance with the licensee’s approved electrical
policy (see Sec. 17-144).
(2) Rooming units shall have individual keyed locks. Resident supervising agent shall keep the master key
(Resident Supervising Agent defined in Sec. 17-144).
(3) Rooming Units may include private bathrooms.
(c) Number of Residents. The maximum number of residents in any rooming unit shall be determined by the
State Sanitary Code. The maximum number of adult residents at any Lodging House shall be in accordance with
requirements in the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 30 of the Revised Ordinances of the City.Section 20-149 of Newton's City Ordinances establishes baseline facility standards for all lodging houses. Every lodging house must provide a shared kitchen with food storage and cooking facilities, and bathrooms on the same floor as each rooming unit, both meeting applicable codes. Individual rooming units must have keyed locks, and—unless classified as E-SROs—may not contain cooking appliances, though non-cooking items like mini-fridges are permitted. Occupancy limits are set by the State Sanitary Code and the City's Zoning Ordinance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of lodging houses subject to § 20-149 generally ensure that shared kitchens and same-floor bathrooms meet State Sanitary Code requirements before residents move in. Compliant operators also equip each rooming unit with an individual keyed lock, maintain a master key with the designated Resident Supervising Agent as defined in Sec. 17-144, and remove or prohibit cooking appliances (such as convection microwaves, stoves, and toasters) from non-E-SRO units. Operators also track occupancy against both State Sanitary Code limits and the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 30, to stay within the maximum number of permitted residents.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of Newton lodging houses are entitled under § 20-149 to a shared kitchen with cooking facilities, a bathroom on the same floor as their rooming unit, and an individually keyed lock on their unit's door. If any of these baseline conditions are absent or not maintained, tenants may have grounds to raise a code violation with the City of Newton's relevant inspectional or licensing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Newton's lodging house regulations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what complaint pathways 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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