WILLIAMSTOWN BOARD OF HEALTH REGULATIONS
GOVERNING CERTIFICATION OF RENTAL DWELLING AND ROOMING UNITS IN WILLIAMSTOWN
Adopted: October 7, 1996
Amended: September 15,11997
Section 1: Purpose: The purpose of these regulations is to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the occupants of rental housing.
Section 2: Authority: These regulations are enacted by the Town of Williamstown Board of Health under the authority of Sections 31 and 127A of Chapter I 1 1 of the General Laws of Massachusetts and any other power thereto enabling.
Section 3 Scope :These regulations apply to all owners, managers, or persons in charge of rental dwelling units or rooming units in Williamstown whether or not a written rental or lease agreement is signed.
Section 4:Definition: In these regulations the following terms have the meanings indicated:
a. Board- The Williamstown Board of Health or its designated agent.
b. Dwelling Unit- A unit defined in 105 CMR 410.025 as it now exists or may hereafter be amended,that is rented or intended for rental.
c Chapter II: Chapter 11 of the State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410.00.
d. Rooming Unit: A unit defined in 1 05 CMR 410.040, as it now exist or hereafter be amended, that is rented or intended for rental.
Section 5:Certification of Dwelling or Rooming Units : No dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be occupied without a valid Certificate of Compliance, except as provided by Section 7 or Section 8.b. herein.
a. Dwelling Units:
(1) Whenever a dwelling unit is vacated by the occupant or occupants thereof, the Board shall certify, prior to re-occupation, that the unit meets the applicable standards set forth in Chapter II.
(2) (a) The owner, manager, or person in charge of a dwelling unit shall apply to the Board for the Certificate of Compliance as soon as the unit is vacated. Notice must be given so as to provide adequate time for the unit’s inspection and repair, if required, and to reasonably assure compliance with the standards of Chapter 11 prior to its reoccupancy.
(b) The owner, manager, or person in charge of a new unit or a previously uncertified unit shall apply for certification not more than thirty (30) days after the completion of the unit or from the effective date of these regulations.
b. Rooming Units
(1) The Board shall inspect and certify annually each rooming unit to insure that it meets the applicable standards of Chapter II.
(2) (a) The owner, manager, or person in charge of a rooming unit shall apply to the Board for the Certificate of Compliance at least thirty (30) days in advance of the expiration date of the previous Certificate of Compliance
(b) The owner, manager, or person in charge of a new unit or a previously uncertified unit shall apply for certification not more than thirty (30) days after completion of the unit or from the effective date of these regulations.
(3) If the rooming unit meets the applicable standards, the Board shall issue a Certificate of Compliance, certifying that it meets those standards.
Section 6: Inspection of Dwelling and Rooming Units: The Board shall conduct all inspections of dwelling and rooming units within seven (7) working days after the receipt of the application and required fee for the Certificate of Compliance.
a. Failure of the Board to Perform Inspections. If the Board fails to perform the inspection within the required time period, a dwelling unit or rooming unit may be reoccupied without the certification required by this regulation.
b. Subsequent Inspection not Precluded, Failure by the Board to inspect in a timely manner does not preclude the inspection of the dwelling unit or rooming unit at a later date for compliance and enforcement of these regulations and the standards in Chapter 11.
Section 7: Temporary Certificate of Compliance If after inspection of the dwelling unit or rooming units, the Board determines that: (a) a period of time should be granted in which to make repairs necessary for compliance with the regulations to qualify the unit for certification and (b) delay will not produce a condition which may endanger, as defined in 105 CMR 410.023 the Board may issue a temporary Certificate of Compliance whose term shall not exceed sixty (60)1 days.
Section 8: Exclusion of Certain Dwelling and Rooming Units,
a. No dwelling unit need be certified for occupancy more than once in any consecutive 12 month period.
b. The certification required herein does not apply to hotels, bed & breakfasts, or motels. Dormitory rooms operated exclusively by an educational institution are also excluded, except that such institutional housing in a facility containing not more than twelve (12) beds where rooms are let and occupants have free access to complete kitchen facilities shall be inspected annually using the same criteria that apply to dwelling units. Nothing in this exclusion shall exempt these rooming units from complying with all applicable regulations and standards set forth in Chapter 11.
c- Dwelling units which are the primary resident of the owner, and rental dwelling units which have been certified within the previous 12 consecutive months, need not be inspected if used for a summer season rental of a period not to exceed 3 consecutive months.
Amended 9/15/97
Inserted 9/15/97
Section 9: Variances
a. Applicant- The owner, manager, or person in charge of a dwelling or rooming unit may make
written application to the Board of Health for a variance from these regulations. Each request for
a variance shall state the specific variance sought and the reasons therefor.
b. Public hearing: Every variance is subject to a public hearing. Notice of a hearing upon an
original application for a variance shall be posted as part of the public notice of the Board of
Health meeting at which the Board of Health will consider the application. The notice shall be
posted not less than one week before the meeting. Notice also shall be given to all affected
occupants.
c. procedure- By vote of a majority of its full authorized membership, the Board of Health may vary
the application of any provision of these regulations with respect to any particular case in which, in
the Board of Health’s opinion, all of the following requirements are fulfilled:
(1) The enforcement of the regulation would do manifest injustice.
(2) The applicant has proved that the same degree of protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare can be achieved without strict application of the particular provision. Where required,
an alternative means of protection shall be detailed and documented by the applicant to the
satisfaction of the Board.
(3) The variance would not conflict with the spirit of the minimum standards prescribed by
Chapter II.
A variance may be granted subject to appropriate conditions, including , but not limited to duration.
d. Variance in Writing, Any variance granted by the Board of Health shall be in writing. Any denial
of a variance shall also be in writing and shall contain a brief statement of the reasons therefore.
A variance is not effective until it is filed by the owner in the registry of deeds for the county.
Section 10: Fees: The Board of Health shall establish a schedule of fees for inspections and variance-
Section 11: Enforcement: Compliance with the provisions of these regulations shall be enforced by the Board , who may institute appropriate legal proceedings to enforce these regulation, restrain by injunction, or both.
Section 12: Fines Whoever — himself or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person, firm, or cooperation — violates any of the provisions of these regulations shall be subject to a
fine as stated in the Town of Williamstown Non-Criminal Disposition Bylaw. Each day of violation, after
written notice, shall be considered a separate offense.
Section 13:Amendments These regulations or any portion of them may be amended, supplemented,
or repealed from time to time by the Board of Health, with notice, as provided for by MGL 1 1 1 Section 31.
A proposal to amend these regulations may be initiated by the Board or by petition.
Section 14: Repealer. As of the effective date of these regulations, all prior Williamstown Board of
Health Regulations Governing Certification of Dwelling and Rooming Units in Williamstown are repealed.
Section 15: Severability: If any provision of these regulations is declared invalid or unenforceable the
other provisions shall not be affected thereby, but shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 16: Effective Date; The effective date of these regulations is January 1, 1997