[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health
of the Town of Williamstown 10-7-1996; as amended through 1-29-1998 and renumbered 5-18-1998. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of these regulations is to protect
the health, safety and well-being of the occupants of rental housing.
These regulations are enacted by the Town of
Williamstown Board of Health under the authority of MGL c. 111, §§ 31
and 127A and any other power thereto enabling.
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.
In these regulations, the following terms have
the meanings indicated:
The Williamstown Board of Health or its designated agent.
A unit defined in 105 CMR 410.025, as it now exists or may
hereafter be amended, that is rented or intended for rental.
Chapter II of the State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410.00.
A unit defined in 105 CMR 410.040, as it now exists or may
hereafter be amended, that is rented or intended for rental.
No dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be occupied without a valid certificate of compliance, except as provided by § 154-7 or 154-8B herein.
A.
Dwelling units:
(1)
Whenever a dwelling unit is vacated by the occupant
or occupants thereof, the Board shall certify, prior to reoccupation,
that the unit meets the applicable standards set forth in Chapter
II.
(2)
Application for certificate of compliance.
(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 II 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 30 days after the completion of the unit or from the
effective date of these regulations.
(3)
The property owner will ensure, by providing proof
upon request, that the heating system for the dwelling unit has undergone
service and/or maintenance by a licensed heating system professional
within the previous 12 months.
[Added 1-19-1999; amended 7-8-2002]
B.
Rooming units:
(1)
The Board shall inspect and certify annually each
rooming unit to ensure that it meets the applicable standards of Chapter
II.
(2)
Application for certificate of compliance.
(a)
The owner, manager or person in charge of a
rooming unit shall apply to the Board for the certificate of compliance
at least 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 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.
(4)
The property owner will ensure, by providing proof
upon request, that the heating system for the dwelling unit has undergone
service and/or maintenance by a licensed heating system professional
within the previous 12 months.
[Added 1-19-1999; amended 7-8-2002]
The Board shall conduct all inspections of dwelling
and rooming units within seven 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
II.
C.
The property owner will abate all violations and nonconformances
of 105 CMR 410.000, listed in correction orders, by the scheduled
date of reinspection.
[Added 7-8-2002; amended 1-5-2004]
If after inspection of the dwelling unit or
rooming units, the Board determines that 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 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 45 days.
A.
Recently certified units. No dwelling unit need be
certified for occupancy more than once in any consecutive twelve-month
period.
B.
Exclusion of certain rooming units. The certification
required herein does not apply to hotels, bed and 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 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
II.
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.
(1)
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:
(a)
The enforcement of the regulation would do manifest
injustice.
(b)
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 of Health.
(c)
The variance would not conflict with the spirit
of the minimum standards prescribed by Chapter II.
(2)
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 therefor.
A variance is not effective until it is filed by the owner in the
Registry of Deeds for the county.
The Board of Health shall establish a schedule
of fees for inspections and variances.
Compliance with the provisions of these regulations
shall be enforced by the Board, which may institute appropriate legal
proceedings to enforce these regulations, restrain by injunction,
or both.
[Amended 10-7-2019]
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 is subject to a fine as stated in Chapter 146, Local Fines, of the Code of the Town of Williamstown. Each day of violation, after written notice, is considered a separate offense.
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 C. 111 § 31.
A proposal to amend these regulations may be initiated by the Board
or by petition.
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.
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.
The effective date of these regulations is January
1, 1997.
