Weymouth, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. No. 1 — Certification of Rental Property (eff. Oct. 14, 1974) § Reg. 1
Certification of Rental Property
Operative Text
Town of Weymouth
Massachusetts
Weymouth Health Department Tel. (781) 340-5008
75 Middle Street Fax. (781) 682-6112
Weymouth, MA 02189 www.weymouth.ma.us/health
Regulation #1
Certification of Rental Property
The Board of Health of the Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, acting under the authority of General
Laws, Chapter 111, Section 31, and the provisions of the Sanitary Code, Article 1, and in accordance
therewith and in the interest of and for the preservation of pubic health, hereby adopts the following
regulation #1 governing certificate of occupancy.
Whenever a rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement other than a hotel, motel, or rooming house is
vacated by occupant or occupants thereof, or within ten (10) days before the expiration date of the antici-
pated vacancy, it must be certified by the Board of Health or its agents, prior to being re-occupied by a
new occupant as meeting the standards set forth in “The Sanitary Code, Article II, Minimum Standards
of Fitness for Human Habitation” as promulgated and from time to time amended by the Department of
Public Health of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the authority of General Laws, Chapter
111, Section 127 A. However, regardless of the number of occupancy changes during any 12 month
period, one such certification shall be sufficient for such 12 month period.
No public utilities shall be restored nor billing transferred, except those deemed necessary by the Board
of Health or its agents to prevent damage to the dwelling unit, apartment or tenement, until such time
that the Public Utilities Company is notified by the Board of Health or its agents, and after an inspection
of the dwelling unit, apartment or tenement is certified as being fit for human habitation. If within
seventy-two (72) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, after receipt of written notification
of a vacancy from the owner, managing agent or person in possession, the Board of Health or its agents
fail to make an inspection, then the rented dwelling unit, apartment or tenement may be reoccupied
without such certification.
This regulation shall not apply to new construction which is in compliance with the General Laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and local by-laws pertaining thereto; nor shall it apply to new
construction which was completed less than five (5) years prior to the date of which the rented dwelling
unit, apartment or tenement becomes vacant.
Any owner of such property used for dwelling purposes failing to comply with this regulation shall pay a
fine of twenty dollars ($20.00) each and every day he allows any person or persons to live, occupy or in-
habit the said premises without having received an occupancy permit from the Board of Health.
This regulation was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board of Health at a regular meeting held October
7, 1974, to be effective October 14, 1974.Under Weymouth, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. No. 1 — Certification of Rental Property (eff. Oct. 14, 1974) § Reg. 1, rental dwelling units (excluding hotels, motels, and rooming houses) must be inspected and certified as meeting Massachusetts Sanitary Code minimum habitability standards before a new occupant moves in after a vacancy. The certification requirement applies once per 12-month period regardless of how many tenant turnovers occur, and public utilities may not be restored or billing transferred until the Board of Health issues that certification. If the Board of Health fails to conduct an inspection within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of receiving written vacancy notice from the owner or agent, the unit may be reoccupied without certification. New construction completed within the past five years is exempt from this requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managing agents operating rental property in Weymouth should be familiar with Weymouth, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. No. 1 — Certification of Rental Property (eff. Oct. 14, 1974) § Reg. 1, which requires written notification of a vacancy to the Weymouth Board of Health and a subsequent inspection before a new tenant takes occupancy. Compliant operators typically submit vacancy notices promptly so the Board has the full 72-hour window (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to schedule an inspection, and they refrain from allowing reoccupancy or requesting utility restoration until certification is received. Owners who allow occupancy without a required Board of Health occupancy permit face a fine of $20.00 for each day of non-compliant occupancy under this regulation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants moving into a rental dwelling in Weymouth have an interest in knowing that Weymouth, Mass., Bd. of Health Reg. No. 1 — Certification of Rental Property (eff. Oct. 14, 1974) § Reg. 1 requires the unit to be certified as meeting Massachusetts Sanitary Code habitability standards before they take occupancy. If a tenant believes a unit was not properly inspected or certified prior to move-in, they may contact the Weymouth Health Department directly to inquire about the certification status of the property. Tenants can also reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this regulation may be relevant to their housing 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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