The Malden City Council approved a package of municipal code changes affecting zoning, health, and land-use rules.

The council ordained an amendment to Title 12 to establish a new use category and associated regulations for motor vehicle services (paper 389-24). That ordinance passed by roll-call vote with all councilors recorded as voting yes.

The council also ordained an amendment to Title 6 to set retail car wash hours at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (paper 224-series), passed by roll call.

On a separate item the council enrolled updated language to MCC 9.04.0.01 to exempt rain barrels from the nuisance category under the health code, clarifying allowable construction, drainage, nonpotable use, attachment to structures, maximum size limits, and enforcement authority. Councilor Linehan, sponsor of the rain-barrel language, said the change followed the Green Malden Fair and was intended to clear confusion about standing water rules and enable residents to participate in the program without enforcement ambiguity. The ordinance was enrolled after committee review and passed unanimously.

Finally, the council amended Title 12 to clarify open-space, landscaping, and restrictions on overly compacted surfacing (for example, crushed stone/stone dust) and prohibited parking in landscaped areas; the revised open-space coverage rules require a minimum of 50% landscaped front-yard coverage and 50% of total required on-site open space for residential uses. The ordinance was amended in committee and enrolled by unanimous roll-call.

Councilors said the package is intended to protect neighborhood character, prevent erosion, encourage on-site water infiltration, and remove regulatory barriers for environmentally friendly practices such as rain barrels.