Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Councilors introduce tenant-protection ordinance to raise fees, stiffen penalties
Summary
A draft ordinance filed April 29 would raise rental registration and inspection fees and change penalty structure to $300 per day to strengthen enforcement, create shared data between city agencies and expand anti-retaliation protections for tenants.
Boston City Councilors on April 29 filed an ordinance aimed at tightening tenant protections and strengthening the city’s enforcement tools.
Lead sponsor Councilor Collette said the proposal raises rental-registration and inspection fees (examples cited in council remarks: registration $25 to $75; annual renewals $15 to $50; inspection filing $15 to $150) and would revise penalties for noncompliant landlords from $300 per month to $300 per day as permitted under state law. The ordinance also would set up shared datasets between building code enforcement and the Office of Housing Stability to connect tenants with services and create a proactive case-management pathway that refers tenants to supportive services within days of a serious violation.
Councilors described the measure as intended to deter chronic noncompliance, prevent retaliation and reduce displacement by making enforcement more urgent and by linking affected tenants quickly to housing stability supports. The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Government Operations for review and working sessions.
Why it matters: Sponsors and supporters framed the measure as a response to longstanding gaps that leave tenants with unsafe housing and limited options for addressing code violations without risking retaliation or displacement. The fee increases and per-day penalties are designed to create financial deterrence for noncompliant property owners.
What’s next: Docket 0864 was referred to the Government Operations Committee; councilors signaled intent to hold working sessions with staff, advocates and landlords to refine implementation details, including the use of fee revenue and the administrative process for referrals to housing-stability services.
