Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 235 § 235-3
License application; standards for issuance (Springfield Lodging and Rooming Houses)
Operative Text
A. No license shall be granted for rental of a rooming unit unless said unit shall be occupied by the registered owner or the lessee with the written consent of the registered owner, which is filed with the Building Commissioner's office of said property; each rental rooming unit shall be not less than 80 square feet and shall house one rental occupant only. Smoke detectors and fire alarms must be installed according to the provisions of the Building Code and § 178-14 of this Code; and full compliance with the applicable wiring, plumbing and sanitary codes. In multifamily dwelling units, no license for rental of a rooming unit shall be issued without the consent of the owner of record, to the lessee in writing, filed with the Building Commissioner's office, and said lessee shall be considered said owner of record for all intent and purposes of this article. B. In any district, the taking of a roomer or boarders or tourists shall be considered accessory to the use of a dwelling unit, provided that: (1) In addition to parking spaces set forth in the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Springfield, for the resident family there shall be one separate off-street paved parking space available upon the premises for each lodger, roomer or tourist. (2) In any rooming house as described above, there shall be two means of egress approved by the Building Commissioner or his designee. (3) For the purpose of this article, basements and cellars are not considered to be approved living space. C. No rooming unit for which a license shall be issued under this article shall provide cooking facilities or be equipped to provide for the preparation of food. D. This article shall not apply to licensed hotels, motels, nursing homes or to those agencies of the commonwealth or its subdivisions which have been commissioned specially licensed to perform charitable services or institutional services for the general health and welfare of its citizens. E. Said licenses shall be renewed annually upon the same conditions as set forth in all of the preceding sections, but no license shall be renewed or issued if the applicant has been found to have violated a previous license granted under this article, except with the combined approval of the Building Department and Housing Code Enforcement Department. F. No dwelling, apartment or other building shall be excluded from the requirement of obtaining a license as a result of its present or preexisting use. No other City agency shall issue a license, special permit or variance for the rental of a rooming unit without said renter having first obtained a license as prescribed by this article.
Springfield, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 235 § 235-3 establishes the conditions under which a rooming-unit rental license may be issued or renewed in Springfield. Each rooming unit must be at least 80 square feet, house only one occupant, have no cooking facilities, meet applicable building and safety codes, and be occupied by the registered owner or an owner-approved lessee whose written consent is on file with the Building Commissioner. Licenses must be renewed annually, and renewal can be denied if the applicant has previously violated a license granted under this article, unless both the Building Department and Housing Code Enforcement Department jointly approve an exception.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 235 § 235-3, operators of rooming units in Springfield generally ensure that each unit meets the 80-square-foot minimum, houses only one occupant, and contains no cooking facilities or food-preparation equipment. Compliant operators keep written owner-consent documentation on file with the Building Commissioner's office, maintain smoke detectors and fire alarms per the Building Code and § 178-14, and satisfy all applicable wiring, plumbing, and sanitary code requirements. Because licenses must be renewed annually and prior violations can block renewal, operators typically maintain continuous compliance records and ensure that required off-street parking and two approved means of egress are in place for rooming-house settings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 235 § 235-3 requires that any rooming unit you rent in Springfield be properly licensed, meet minimum size and safety standards, and have the owner's written consent on file with the Building Commissioner if you are subletting as a lessee. If a unit lacks a valid license, fails to meet the 80-square-foot minimum, lacks required smoke detectors or fire alarms, or otherwise does not comply with the applicable codes, those conditions may constitute violations that can be reported to Springfield's Building Department or Housing Code Enforcement Department. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet the standards set out in this article may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office 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 November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.