W. Newbury, Mass., Gen. Bylaws art. XXXVIII (2017) § Art. XXXVIII
Lodging House License
Operative Text
XXXVIII. LODGING HOUSE LICENSE [Adopted at the October 24, 2016, Special Town Meeting, approved by the Attorney General on October 6, 2017, Posted According to Law on November 1, 2017] All lodging houses, as defined in Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 140, as amended, located in the Town of West Newbury, shall be licensed by the Board of Selectmen. Any person desiring to conduct or conducting a lodging house shall be subject to all regulations promulgated by the Board of Selectmen. Said regulations shall not be inconsistent with MGL Chapter 140, as amended.
Article XXXVIII of West Newbury's General Bylaws requires that all lodging houses within the town — as that term is defined under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140 — obtain a license from the Board of Selectmen. Anyone operating or seeking to operate a lodging house is also subject to any additional regulations the Board of Selectmen may issue, provided those regulations do not conflict with state law. This bylaw was adopted at the October 24, 2016 Special Town Meeting and took effect in November 2017.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Art. XXXVIII of West Newbury's General Bylaws, operators of lodging houses — as defined by MGL Chapter 140 — are expected to secure a license from the Board of Selectmen before conducting business and to remain in compliance with any regulations the Board promulgates. Compliant operators typically monitor for updates to Board of Selectmen regulations, since those rules can evolve over time while remaining bound by state law. Operators who are uncertain whether their property qualifies as a lodging house under MGL Chapter 140 generally consult the statutory definition or seek guidance from the relevant town authority.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Art. XXXVIII of West Newbury's General Bylaws establishes that lodging houses in town must be licensed by the Board of Selectmen, which means tenants residing in such facilities have a basis to inquire whether their lodging house holds a valid license. If a lodging house appears to be operating without the required license, residents may consider contacting the West Newbury Board of Selectmen or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options. Because this bylaw ties into MGL Chapter 140, state-level protections and definitions may also be relevant to a tenant's situation.
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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