Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-71
Penalties for violation
Operative Text
Any person who violates a provision of this ordinance which is promulgated pursuant to St. 1983, c. 527, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000.00. Each violation of any provision shall constitute a separate offense. In the alternative, any person who violates this ordinance shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the provisions of section 1-11 of the Code of Ordinances. Nothing in this ordinance shall preclude a tenant from seeking civil remedies for violation of this ordinance as permitted by law. Any violation of this ordinance by an owner shall not affect the validity of a conveyance of a condominium unit or an interest in a housing cooperative to a purchaser for value who has no knowledge of the violation. The Somerville District Court, Eastern Division of the Housing Court, and the Middlesex Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over an action arising from any violation of this ordinance and shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain or remedy any such violation. The city shall be entitled to initiate such actions. ( Ord. No. 2020-12 , 5-14-2020 )
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-71 establishes the consequences for violating the city's rent regulation ordinance, which was enacted under Massachusetts St. 1983, c. 527. Each separate violation carries a minimum fine of $1,000, with every distinct violation counted as its own offense, and an alternative fine structure is available under section 1-11 of the Code. Beyond fines, the provision preserves tenants' rights to pursue civil remedies, grants jurisdiction to the Somerville District Court, the Eastern Division of the Housing Court, and Middlesex Superior Court, and authorizes the city itself to bring enforcement actions, including requests for equitable relief.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-71 should be aware that each individual act of non-compliance with the ordinance is treated as a separate offense, meaning fines of at least $1,000 can accumulate quickly across multiple violations. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough documentation of their practices to demonstrate adherence to the ordinance's requirements. Notably, the provision includes a limited protection for good-faith purchasers of condominium units or housing cooperative interests, meaning a prior owner's violation does not automatically cloud a sale to a buyer who had no knowledge of it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-71, tenants retain the right to seek civil remedies for violations of the ordinance beyond any fines the city may impose on an owner. This means a violation of the ordinance can potentially be raised in civil court proceedings, and the Somerville District Court, the Eastern Division of the Housing Court, and Middlesex Superior Court all have jurisdiction to hear such matters and grant equitable relief. Tenants who believe their rights under this ordinance have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the range of options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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