Newton, Mass., City Ordinances §§ 20-160–20-168 (2020) § 20-167
Severability
Operative Text
The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision, paragraph, sentence, or clause, of this article or the application thereof to any person, establishment, or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of this article.
Section 20-167 of Newton's City Ordinances ch. 20 arts. VIII–IX establishes a severability rule, meaning that if any individual part of the article—whether a single clause, sentence, paragraph, or provision—is found legally invalid, that finding does not bring down the rest of the article. Each part of the ordinance is treated as independently operative, so the remaining provisions continue to carry full legal effect. This is a standard structural safeguard built into many local ordinances to preserve the overall regulatory framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As a property owner or manager subject to Newton's rental regulations, § 20-167 means that even if a court or authority were to invalidate one specific requirement within the article, the remaining obligations under the ordinance would still apply. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all other provisions of ch. 20 arts. VIII–IX without interruption, regardless of any legal challenge to a discrete part. Staying current with the full ordinance remains the standard practice, since severability clauses are designed to keep the broader regulatory scheme intact.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-167 protects tenants by ensuring that a successful legal challenge to one part of Newton's ch. 20 arts. VIII–IX does not erase the protections provided by the rest of the article. Rights and remedies established elsewhere in the ordinance remain available even if a specific clause is struck down. Tenants who have questions about which provisions remain in effect may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review official city communications for updates.
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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