Cal. Civ. Code § 410.230
Owner's Laundering Responsibilities
Operative Text
If an owner of a residence, including a rooming house and homeless shelter, provides bed
linens, towels, pillows or mattresses to occupants:
(A) Bed linens and towels shall be laundered between use by different individuals. If
continuously used by one individual, linens shall be cleaned at least weekly. Shared towels are
prohibited.
(B) Blankets shall be replaced when worn. Each blanket shall be laundered between use by
different individuals. If used continuously by one individual, each blanket shall be cleaned at
least every three months, and more often if needed.
(C) Pillow covers and mattress covers shall be cleaned when soiled and at least every three
months.
(D) Mattresses shall be clean and in good condition. Each mattress shall be cleaned or replaced
when soiled or when not in good condition.Under 105 Mass. Code Regs. 410.230, when an owner of a residence—including a rooming house or homeless shelter—supplies bedding items such as linens, towels, blankets, pillows, or mattresses, those items must meet specific cleanliness and maintenance standards. Bed linens and towels must be laundered between different users, and shared towels are expressly prohibited. Blankets, pillow covers, and mattress covers must be cleaned on defined schedules, and mattresses must be kept clean and in good condition or replaced when they are not.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators who provide bedding under 105 Mass. Code Regs. 410.230 generally maintain a documented laundering schedule that ensures linens and towels are washed between occupants, and that blankets are cleaned at least every three months for continuous single-occupant use. Compliant operators do not offer shared towels under any circumstances, and they inspect mattresses and covers regularly, replacing or cleaning them whenever soiling or deterioration is observed. Keeping written records of laundering cycles and mattress condition assessments is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating compliance during inspections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 410.230 of 105 Mass. Code Regs. gives occupants who receive bedding from their housing provider the right to expect those items to be laundered according to specific schedules and to be free of shared towels entirely. If bedding appears unclean, worn, or not maintained in accordance with these standards, tenants may document the conditions and report concerns to their local board of health, which is the body typically responsible for enforcing the Massachusetts Sanitary Code. Tenant-rights organizations can help occupants understand the range of options available, including raising a violation of § 410.230 in relevant housing proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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