Westwood, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 330 § 330-11
Inspections (Westwood Short-Term Rental)
Operative Text
Prior to the issuance of an initial STR Certificate of Registration, and prior to the issuance of any annual renewal thereof, the Health Division, Building Division, and Fire Department shall conduct individual or joint health and safety inspections. Said inspections, which shall be conducted on a schedule determined by each division or department, and shall be conducted on weekdays during normal Town business hours, are intended to verify that the proposed STR Unit i) meets all Building Code, Health Code, Fire Code and applicable regulatory requirements, and ii) meets all requirements of this chapter and of the Town of Westwood Zoning Bylaw, and all regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter. When deemed necessary, additional inspections shall be made to investigate complaints and/or concerns regarding non-compliance issues or health and safety concerns. Said additional inspections shall be conducted in conformity with applicable federal, state and local law, but may be performed during weekend and/or evening hours.
Westwood's CH. 330 § 330-11 requires that before a short-term rental (STR) unit receives its initial Certificate of Registration—and before each annual renewal—the Health Division, Building Division, and Fire Department must each inspect the property to confirm it meets building, health, and fire codes as well as local zoning and STR chapter requirements. These inspections are scheduled by each division or department and take place on weekdays during normal Town business hours. Beyond the routine registration inspections, additional inspections may be triggered by complaints or suspected non-compliance and can occur on weekends or evenings, provided they follow applicable federal, state, and local law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under CH. 330 § 330-11, operators of short-term rental units in Westwood generally ensure their property is ready for inspection by the Health Division, Building Division, and Fire Department before submitting an initial registration application and again before each annual renewal. Compliant operators typically maintain the unit in continuous conformance with Building, Health, and Fire Codes, as well as the Town's Zoning Bylaw and STR chapter requirements, so that scheduled weekday inspections can proceed without delay. Because § 330-11 also authorizes unscheduled inspections in response to complaints, operators commonly keep records of maintenance, safety equipment checks, and any corrective actions taken.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
CH. 330 § 330-11 establishes that every STR unit in Westwood must pass health and safety inspections by multiple Town divisions before it can legally operate or renew its registration, which means tenants staying in a registered STR have some assurance the unit has been reviewed for code compliance. If a tenant has concerns about health, safety, or non-compliance at an STR unit, § 330-11 expressly authorizes additional inspections in response to complaints, and those complaints can be directed to the Health Division, Building Division, or Fire Department. Tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options are available when a unit may not meet the standards required under this provision.
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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