Westfield, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. V (2025) § 6-92
Conditions for issuance of permit
Operative Text
No permit shall be granted under this article for rental of rooms in a dwelling unit unless the unit shall be occupied by the registered owner of the property. Each rental room 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 state building code (article 12, section 1216) and full compliance with the applicable wiring, plumbing and health code. In multiple dwelling units no permit for rental of rooms shall be issued without the consent of the owner of record, in writing, to the lessee and the lessee shall be considered such owner of record for all intent and purposes of this article.
Section 6-92 of Westfield Code of Ordinances ch. 6, art. V establishes the conditions under which a room-rental permit may be issued within a dwelling unit. The unit must be owner-occupied, each rental room must be at least 80 square feet and limited to one occupant, and the property must comply with state building code smoke detector and fire alarm requirements as well as applicable wiring, plumbing, and health codes. In multi-unit buildings, a written consent from the owner of record to the lessee is required before any permit can be issued, and once that consent is given, the lessee is treated as the owner of record for purposes of this article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Westfield Code § 6-92, a compliant owner-occupant who rents rooms generally ensures that each rental room meets the 80-square-foot minimum and houses no more than one occupant at a time. Operators also maintain up-to-date smoke detectors and fire alarms in accordance with state building code article 12, section 1216, and keep wiring, plumbing, and health code compliance current before applying for a permit. In multi-unit settings, property owners of record typically provide written consent to any lessee who will be renting rooms, since that written consent is a prerequisite for permit issuance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6-92 of Westfield Code ch. 6, art. V gives tenants a basis to understand the legal conditions attached to any room-rental arrangement in Westfield. If you are renting a room, the permit authorizing that rental should only have been issued if the unit is owner-occupied, your room is at least 80 square feet, and the property meets applicable safety and building codes. Tenants who believe these conditions were not met when a permit was issued may wish to contact the relevant local code enforcement or housing office, or consult a tenant-rights organization, to understand what options may be available.
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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