Westford, Mass., Bd. of Health Transient Lodging Regs (2026) § 15
Variances
Operative Text
15.1 The Board of Health may grant a variance if: a) Enforcement would impose substantial hardship; and b) The same degree of health or environmental protection can be achieved without strict compliance. 15.2 Requests for variances must be made in writing stating the specific variance sought and reasons and include all required documentation. 15.3 The applicant at their own expense must: a) Notify all abutters, owners of land directly opposite, and abutters to abutters within 100 feet at least ten (10) days before the Board hearing; and b) Publish notification once in a newspaper of general circulation at least ten (10) days before the Board hearing.
Section 15 of the Westford Board of Health Transient Lodging Regulations establishes a formal process by which the Board of Health may waive strict compliance with its rules when two conditions are met: enforcement would create a substantial hardship, and the same level of health or environmental protection can still be achieved. Any variance request must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation, and the applicant bears the cost of notifying nearby property owners and publishing a public notice in a local newspaper at least ten days before the Board hearing. This process ensures that flexibility is available without compromising public health or environmental standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to the Westford Board of Health Transient Lodging Regulations who face genuine difficulty complying with a specific requirement may pursue a variance under § 15. A compliant applicant generally submits a written request that clearly identifies the variance sought, explains the hardship, and includes all required supporting documents. That applicant also arranges and pays for written notice to abutters and abutters-to-abutters within 100 feet, as well as a newspaper publication, both delivered at least ten days before the scheduled Board of Health hearing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 15 of the Westford Board of Health Transient Lodging Regulations gives the Board of Health discretion to grant variances from its rules, but only when hardship is demonstrated and equivalent health and environmental protections are maintained. Guests or neighbors who receive abutter notification under § 15.3 have the opportunity to learn about a pending variance hearing and may attend or submit comments to the Board of Health before a decision is made. Those with concerns about a variance request can contact the Westford Board of Health directly or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on how to participate in the process.
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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