South Hadley, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 136 § 136-11
Occupancy limits (South Hadley Residential Short-Term Rental Units)
Operative Text
The maximum number of adult persons who may occupy a dwelling unit shall be determined by state standards for fitness for habitation, the State Building Code and fire regulations.
Under South Hadley, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 136 § 136-11, the maximum number of adult occupants permitted in any dwelling unit is not set by a single fixed number but is instead determined by a combination of state habitation fitness standards, the State Building Code, and applicable fire regulations. These overlapping frameworks collectively establish the ceiling on how many people may lawfully reside in a given unit. The rule defers to state-level standards rather than imposing a separate local numeric cap.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 136 § 136-11, compliant operators generally ensure that the number of adult occupants in each unit does not exceed the limits derived from Massachusetts habitation fitness standards, the State Building Code, and fire regulations. Property managers typically review the applicable square footage, room dimensions, and fire-code requirements to understand the effective occupancy ceiling for each unit before leasing. Keeping documentation of how each unit's occupancy limit was calculated under these state frameworks is a practice commonly associated with compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 136 § 136-11 establishes that your dwelling unit's occupancy limit is governed by Massachusetts state habitation fitness standards, the State Building Code, and fire regulations — not an arbitrary local number. If you believe an occupancy limit has been applied incorrectly or used as a pretext for displacement, tenant-rights organizations in Massachusetts can help explain how these state standards are calculated and what options may be available. Tenants may also contact local code enforcement or the South Hadley building department to request information about the specific standards that apply to their unit.
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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