Somerville, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI (2026) § 7-138
Written decision on the request for reasonable accommodation
Operative Text
(a) The written decision on the request for reasonable accommodation shall explain in detail the basis of the decision, including the office of strategic planning and community development’s findings on the criteria set forth in section 7-137 . All written decisions shall give notice of the applicant’s right to appeal and to request reasonable accommodation in the appeals process as set forth below. The notice of decision shall be sent to the applicant by certified mail. (b) The written decision of the office of strategic planning and community development shall be final unless an applicant appeals it to the zoning board of appeals. (c) While a request for reasonable accommodation is pending, all laws and regulations otherwise applicable to the property that is the subject of the request shall remain in full force and effect. ( Ord. No. 2011-09 , 10-13-2011 )
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-138, when the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development issues a written decision on a reasonable accommodation request, that decision must thoroughly explain its reasoning based on the criteria in § 7-137, notify the applicant of their right to appeal, and be delivered by certified mail. The decision becomes final unless the applicant chooses to appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Importantly, all existing laws and regulations affecting the property continue to apply in full while any accommodation request is still pending.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. VI § 7-138 should be aware that a pending reasonable accommodation request does not suspend any existing legal obligations tied to the property. Compliant operators generally continue to observe all applicable codes and regulations during the review period, without treating a pending request as a pause on compliance. Familiarity with the appeals pathway to the Zoning Board of Appeals is also part of understanding how the process under § 7-138 works end to end.
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. VI § 7-138, applicants who receive a written decision on a reasonable accommodation request are entitled to a detailed explanation of the findings and must be notified of their right to appeal that decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The decision is delivered by certified mail, which establishes a clear record of receipt and starts any applicable appeal window. Tenants who believe a decision was made in error may explore the appeals process described in § 7-138, and tenant-rights organizations in Somerville can help explain what that process generally involves.
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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