If you need help determining the application requirements for your specifications, you can contact 311, call the Health Division, or email your questions directly.
Tenants and the State Sanitary Code
The Health Division protects housing tenants' health and safety by enforcing the State Sanitary Code related to tenants and living space. To view the State Sanitary Code, see the link to the right.
Tenant Rights: According to the State Sanitary Code, landlords in Massachusetts are required to keep rental property to certain health standards. If a property does not meet these standards, tenants can file a complaint with the Health Division of ISD. You can learn more about tenant rights in Massachusetts by clicking here.
Filing a Complaint: To file a complaint, tenants may contact the Health Division by calling 311. The Health Division will then schedule an inspection of the property in question. If the inspection reveals that the State Sanitary Code has been violated, the Health Division will send the landlord an order to correct. If the landlord fails to correct the situation in the amount of time determined by the Health Division, he or she may be taken to court.
Key Health and Code Issues: The following is a list of issues commonly addressed by tenants and landlords in Somerville. To file a complaint for any of the reasons below, please follow the protocol under Filing a Complaint, above.
Contact Information
Contact Information
Public Office Hours
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Friday
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.