Peabody, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 18, art. II (2026) § 18-55
Incorporation of Administrative Procedure Act
Operative Text
The provisions of M.G.L.A. c. 30A shall be applicable to the Rent Board, established under Section 18-31 , as if said Rent Board were an agency of the Commonwealth, including those provisions giving agencies the power to issue, vacate, modify and enforce subpoenas, as well as those provisions relating to judicial review of an agency order. State Law reference-- State administrative procedures, M.G.L.A. c. 30A.
Section 18-55 of the Peabody Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Article II, directs that Massachusetts's Administrative Procedure Act (M.G.L.A. c. 30A) applies to the Peabody Rent Board as though it were a state agency. This means the Rent Board has formal procedural powers—including the authority to issue, vacate, and modify subpoenas—and that its decisions are subject to judicial review under the same standards used for state agency orders. The provision effectively gives the Rent Board the procedural standing and accountability mechanisms of a Commonwealth agency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-55, the Peabody Rent Board operates with the full procedural authority of a state agency under M.G.L.A. c. 30A, which means it can compel the production of documents or testimony through subpoenas. Operators who appear before the Rent Board generally maintain organized records and respond promptly to any formal process issued by the Board. Because Board orders are subject to judicial review under state administrative law standards, decisions made in proceedings carry meaningful legal weight.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-55 establishes that the Peabody Rent Board follows the procedural rules of the Massachusetts Administrative Procedure Act, M.G.L.A. c. 30A, giving it the authority of a state agency—including the power to subpoena evidence. This also means that if a tenant believes a Rent Board order was issued improperly, the same judicial review pathways available for state agency decisions are open under state law. Tenants seeking to understand their options in a Rent Board proceeding may find it helpful to consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with M.G.L.A. c. 30A procedures.
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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