Stoneham, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. ch. 20 art. XIV (eff. 2005) § 20-121
Violation(s) and Re-Inspection
Operative Text
a. If upon an inspection pursuant to Section 20-130, above, a violation(s) of the State
Sanitary Code, Article II, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation
(105 CMR 410.000 et. seq.) is found to exist by the Board of Health or its Agent,
each violation shall be corrected by the owner of the respective dwelling unit (or by
the owner’s authorized agent) and re-inspected prior to the issuance of the Housing
Fitness Certificate. All corrections of violations shall be completed within fourteen
(14) days or such other time period as deemed reasonable under the circumstances
by the Board of Health or its Agent. All corrective work shall be in accordance
with applicable federal, state and town laws and regulations, including any permit
and/or license requirements.
b. If after the first re-inspection of the dwelling unit, a violation of the State Sanitary
Code, Article II, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation (105 CMR
410.000 et. seq.) still exists, the owner of the dwelling unit shall be subject to a
Board of Health Chapter 20
penalty pursuant to Section 20-3 of these Board of Health Regulations and/or a
non-criminal disposition penalty pursuant to Section 20-4.1 of these Board of
Health Regulations.
c Any owner and/or the owner’s authorized agent for management of the subject
dwelling unit, who allows any person or persons to live, occupy, or inhabit a
dwelling unit subject to this Regulation without having received a certificate of
fitness for human habitation from the Board of Health or its Agent, shall be subject
to a penalty pursuant to Section 20.3 of these Board of Health Regulations and/or a
non-criminal disposition penalty, pursuant to Section 20-4.Section 20-121 of the Stoneham Board of Health Regulations establishes a process for correcting housing violations discovered during inspections conducted under Section 20-130. When the Board of Health or its agent finds violations of the State Sanitary Code's minimum habitability standards, the property owner must correct each violation and pass a re-inspection before a Housing Fitness Certificate can be issued, generally within 14 days or another timeframe the Board deems reasonable. If violations remain after the first re-inspection, or if a unit is occupied without a valid certificate, the owner becomes subject to penalties under Sections 20-3 and/or 20-4.1 of the Board of Health Regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-121, compliant operators typically correct all cited State Sanitary Code violations within the 14-day window — or within whatever alternative timeframe the Board of Health authorizes — and schedule a re-inspection before the Housing Fitness Certificate is issued. Operators generally ensure that all corrective work meets applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including any necessary permits or licenses. Allowing a unit to be occupied without a valid certificate, or failing to resolve violations before the first re-inspection, exposes the owner to penalties under Sections 20-3 and 20-4.1 of the Stoneham Board of Health Regulations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-121 gives tenants a basis to understand that their dwelling unit should hold a valid Housing Fitness Certificate before occupancy, and that any violations found during a Board of Health inspection must be corrected by the owner within a set timeframe. If an owner fails to correct violations after re-inspection or allows occupancy without a certificate, that owner may face penalties under the Stoneham Board of Health Regulations. Tenants who believe their unit has unresolved habitability violations may consider contacting the Stoneham Board of Health directly, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about 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 November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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