Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. IV § 7-68
Effective date
Operative Text
This ordinance shall take effect on July 31, 2019. The amendments to Section 7-64(a)(1), 7-64(e), and Section 7-65(d)(3)(A), increasing notice periods and relocation payment amounts, shall be effective as of October 1, 2025.
Section 7-68 of Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV establishes two key effective dates for the ordinance. The original ordinance took effect on July 31, 2019, while specific amendments to Sections 7-64(a)(1), 7-64(e), and 7-65(d)(3)(A)—those that increase required notice periods and relocation payment amounts—became operative on October 1, 2025. This means the expanded tenant protections tied to those amendments apply only to situations arising on or after that later date.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 7-68, property owners and managers in Somerville should be aware that the baseline ordinance has been in effect since July 31, 2019, and that the updated notice period and relocation payment requirements under Sections 7-64(a)(1), 7-64(e), and 7-65(d)(3)(A) became binding as of October 1, 2025. Compliant operators generally track which version of the rules applies based on when a relevant action—such as issuing a notice or calculating a relocation payment—occurs relative to these dates. Reviewing internal policies and procedures against the October 1, 2025 amendments helps ensure ongoing compliance with the updated standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7-68 establishes that tenants in Somerville have been covered by the core ordinance since July 31, 2019, and that the strengthened notice and relocation payment protections in Sections 7-64(a)(1), 7-64(e), and 7-65(d)(3)(A) apply to circumstances arising on or after October 1, 2025. Tenants who believe a landlord has not complied with the updated notice periods or relocation amounts may have grounds to raise a violation, file a complaint with the appropriate local authority, or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance. Understanding which effective date governs a particular situation is an important first step in evaluating available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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