Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 310 § 310-4
Registers and card files (Westwood Lodging Facilities)
Operative Text
A. The licensee of every lodging facility shall keep or cause to be kept, in a permanent form, a register. Such register shall contain the name and residence (or last residence for a person with no current residence) of every person engaging or occupying a private room together with a true and accurate record of the room assigned to such person and the day and hour of check-in and checkout. The entry of the name(s) of the person(s) engaging a room shall be made by said person(s). Until the entry of such name(s) and the record of the room have been made, no one shall be allowed to occupy any room. B. In addition, each licensee shall keep or cause to be kept a card file or database containing current information on each lodger, including full name, date and time of registration, room number, address, registration number, state of registration and make of automobile. To ensure compliance with this section, the licensee or agent will require proof of identification of the lodger. Acceptable identification will include a government-issued photo identification showing the true name and date of birth of the holder. A photocopy of the identification will be maintained with the register card. These cards should be kept for a minimum of one year after departure of the lodger. The register and card file required by this section shall be available for inspection at all times by the Board of Selectmen, the Building Commissioner, the Health Director or any of their agents or any officer of the Westwood Police Department.
Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws CH. 310 § 310-4 requires every licensed lodging facility to maintain two parallel records: a permanent register capturing each guest's name, residence, assigned room, and check-in/checkout times, and a card file or database with expanded details including vehicle information and a photocopy of government-issued photo ID. Guests themselves must enter their own names in the register before they are permitted to occupy any room. Both records must be retained for at least one year after a lodger's departure and must be available for inspection at any time by designated town officials and Westwood Police.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to CH. 310 § 310-4 generally maintain both a permanent register and a supplemental card file or database, ensuring that no guest occupies a room until they have personally signed in and a room assignment has been recorded. Compliant operators collect and photocopy a government-issued photo ID for every lodger and store that copy alongside the corresponding registration card. Because the records must be open to inspection at all times by the Board of Selectmen, the Building Commissioner, the Health Director, and Westwood Police, operators typically keep these materials organized and immediately accessible on-site for a minimum of one year after each lodger's departure.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under CH. 310 § 310-4, lodgers at Westwood facilities have a role in the check-in process: the provision requires that guests personally enter their own names in the register before a room may be occupied, which creates a documented record of their stay. Guests should be aware that the facility is required to collect and retain a photocopy of their government-issued photo ID as part of the registration card file. If a lodger believes a facility is not following the recordkeeping requirements of this section, they may raise the matter with the Board of Selectmen, the Building Commissioner, or the Health Director, or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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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