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City of Boston Municipal Code
CITY OF BOSTON CODE OF ORDINANCES
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BOSTON
CHAPTER I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II: FORM OF GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER III: ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY
CHAPTER IV: CONTRACTS
CHAPTER V: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER VI: GENERAL SERVICES
CHAPTER VII: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
CHAPTER VIII: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER IX: BUILDING REGULATIONS
CHAPTER X: HOUSING SERVICES
CHAPTER XI: PUBLIC SERVICES
CHAPTER XII: PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER XIII: NATURAL GAS
CHAPTER XIV: LICENSING AND CONSUMER BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS
CHAPTER XV: DIVISIONS OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE
CHAPTER XVI: PROHIBITIONS, PENALTIES AND PERMITS
16-A1 LICENSE AND PERMIT DENIAL, REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION.
16-A1.1 Failure and/or Refusal to Pay Municipal Charges.
16-A1.2 Safety Concerns and History.
16-A2 FINGERPRINTING AND CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN LICENSES
16-1 HEALTH.
16-2 HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS.
16-3 RESERVED.
16-4 TAKING OF SHELLFISH.
16-4A PROHIBITED ACTS IN WETLANDS; PERMITS.
16-5 FIREARMS.
16-5A REGULATING THE SALE AND MARKETING OF REPLICA FIREARMS IN THE CITY.
16-5B REGULATING REPLICA FIREARMS IN THE CITY.
16-6 BONFIRES.
16-7 BRICK-KILNS.
16-8 INFLAMMABLE ARTICLES.
16-9 OBSTRUCTION OF FIRE FIGHTERS AND FIRE APPARATUS.
16-10 THE MARKET LIMITS.
16-11 FANEUIL HALL MARKET LIMITS.
16-12 USE OF STREETS.
16-13 BRIDGES AND WHARVES.
16-14 RESERVED.
16-15 USE OF ROADWAY FOR VEHICLES.
16-16 STREET CARS.
16-17 MOVING BUILDINGS AND BULKY MACHINERY.
16-18 SIDEWALKS.
16-19 PUBLIC GROUNDS.
16-20 WATER SUPPLY.
16-21 WARD-ROOMS; FANEUIL HALL.
16-22 NUMBERING OF BUILDINGS.
16-23 NOTICES AND PLACARDS.
16-24 JUNK AND SECOND-HAND ARTICLES.
16-25 OBSCENE AND PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL.
16-26 UNREASONABLE NOISE.
16-27 NUISANCE CONTROL.
16-28 JITNEY LICENSES.
16-29 OPEN-AIR THEATERS.
16-30 ABANDONMENT OF AUTOMOBILES.
16-31 RODENT AND INSECT PREVENTION MEASURES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
16-32 FINES.
16-33 SIGNS, AWNINGS AND THE LIKE.
16-34 UNLAWFUL TO TAKE REPRISAL AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO TESTIFIES BEFORE THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL.
16-35 WORKPLACE SMOKING POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.
16-36 CIGARETTE SALES BY VENDING MACHINES RESTRICTED.
16-37 NON-EMERGENCY REPAIR OF VEHICLES.
16-38 PLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF NEWSRACKS.
16-39 SALE OF DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.
16-40 LIMITING TOBACCO ACCESS BY YOUTH.
16-41 REGULATING MANNER AND PLACE OF SOLICITATION.
16-42 LASER POINTERS.
16-43 TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
16-44 SALE OF MERCURY THERMOMETERS BANNED.
16-45 PROHIBITING THE CARRYING OF KNIVES OR SIMILAR WEAPONS.
16-46 NONCRIMINAL DISPOSITION OF ZONING VIOLATIONS IN THE CITY.
16-47 PROHIBITING THE SALE AND/OR INSTALLATION OF A MUFFLER CUT-OUT OR BY-PASS AND PROHIBITING CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS TO EXHAUST SYSTEMS.
16-48 BOAT SLIPS AND MOORINGS.
16-49 IDENTIFYING JACKETS FOR VALET PARKERS.
16-50 AFTER-HOURS PARTIES.
16-51 CRACK PIPES.
16-52 MAINTENANCE OF VACANT, FORECLOSING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
16-53 CLEANING OF COMMERCIAL COOKING HOOD AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS.
16-54 PROHIBITION AGAINST SALVIA DIVINORUM.
16-55 UNPAID MUNICIPAL FINES.
16-56 PENALTIES FOR VALID COMPLAINT PROBLEM PROPERTIES.
16-57 PUBLIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES.
16-58 OVER-THE-AIR DEVICES (“OTARD”).
16-59 PROHIBITION OF THE POSSESSION OR SALE OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS AND ILLICIT SYNTHETIC DRUGS.
16-60 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.
16-61 REGULATION OF LETTER GRADING OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOOD TRUCKS.
16-62 ORDINANCE BANNING FACE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IN BOSTON.
16-63 ORDINANCE ON SURVEILLANCE OVERSIGHT AND INFORMATION SHARING
16-64 AN ORDINANCE REGARDING TARGETED RESIDENTIAL PICKETING.
16-65 SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION OPERATIONS IN THE CITY.
16-66 UNLAWFUL CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
CHAPTER XVII: LICENSES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING CERTAIN TRADES
CHAPTER XVIII: FEES AND CHARGES
CHAPTER XIX: SCHOOLS
CHAPTER XX: CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER XXI: MISCELLANEOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS
CHAPTER XXII: SUFFOLK COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIII: TRASH AND REFUSE DISPOSAL
CHAPTER XXIV: BOSTON JOBS, LIVING WAGE AND PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE
PARALLEL REFERENCES
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16-1.9G.3   Penalties.
   Any person or entity, except as provided by law, who sells a dog, cat, guinea pig or rabbit in violation of this Section shall be fined $300 per violation. Each animal sold or offered for sale in violation of this Section shall constitute a separate offense. Any animal being offered for sale or transfer, or displayed in violation of these Sections, may be seized or impounded.
(CBC 1985 16-1.9G.3; Ord. 2016 c. 1; Ord. 2023 c. 13 § 3)
16-1.9G.4   Enforcement.
   (A)   The Parks and Recreation Department, its Animal Care and Control Unit and/or the Boston Police Department shall have the authority to enforce all violations of these Sections. Any animal being offered for sale or transfer, or displayed in violation of these Sections, may be seized or impounded unless the enforcing Officer determines that failure to seize or impound will be detrimental to the safety and/or health of the animal. In such cases, the animal shall be seized.
   (B)   Animals seized pursuant to this Section will be held for a period of seven days. The person or entity in violation of these Sections may file for an administrative hearing to appeal the seizure within seven days of the seizure of the animals. If, after seven days, the person or entity fails to file an appeal, the animals shall be surrendered to the city’s Animal Care and Control.
(CBC 1985 16-1.9G.4; Ord. 2016 c. 1; Ord. 2019 c. 4 § 12)
16-1.9G.5   Applicability.
   If any provision of these Sections imposes greater restrictions or obligations than those imposed by any other general law, special law, regulations, rule, ordinance, order or policy, then the provisions of these Sections shall control.
(CBC 1985 16-1.9G.5; Ord. 2016 c. 1)
16-1.9G.6   Severability.
   If any provision of these Sections shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be considered separately and apart from the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(CBC 1985 16-1.9G.6; Ord. 2016 c. 1)
16-1.10   Keeping of Animals.
   No person shall keep any animal upon any estate within the city, except in a place that is properly fitted out for the healthful and sanitary maintenance of that animal, nor shall any person keeping an animal allow any odor from such animal to escape the premises so as to disturb the peaceful enjoyment of the property of another, in addition to all other provisions set forth in M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 174E.
(CBC 1975 Ord. T14 § 254A; Ord. 1976 c. 7, s 2; CBC 1985 16-1.10; Ord. 2014 c. 15 § 14) Penalty, see Subsection 16-32.6
16-1.10A   Dog Fouling.
   (A)   Duty to dispose. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his or her dog on any sidewalk, street or other public area. It shall further be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his or her dog on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person.
   (B)   Duty to possess means of removal. No person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without the means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Furthermore, no person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person without the means of removal of any feces left by said dog.
   (C)   Method of removal and disposal. For the purposes of this Subsection, the means of removal shall be any plastic bag, tool, implement or other device carried and used for the purpose of picking up and containing such feces, unexposed to said person and unexposed to the public. Disposal shall be accomplished by transporting such feces to a receptacle or other place suitable for the disposal of waste, trash or debris.
   (D)   Fines of violation. Violation of this regulation shall be punished by a fine of $50 for each occurrence.
   (E)   Enforcement. Violation of this regulation shall be enforced in accordance with law; provided, however, that, if simultaneously with the issuance of a complaint hereunder, a complaint is issued pursuant to M.G.L., Chapter 40, Section 21D, and that complaint is disposed of pursuant to said act and Subsection 16-32.3, the complaint issued hereunder shall be deemed disposed of.
   (F)   Exemption. This regulation shall not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who, by reason of his or her handicap, is physically unable to comply with the requirements of this Subsection, or any individual over 65 years of age accompanying a licensed dog.
   (G)   Severability. The provisions of this Subsection are severable; and if any of the provisions of this Subsection shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions.
(CBC 1975 Ord. T14 § 291; Ord. 1979 c. 34; CBC 1985 16-1.10A; Recodified by Ord. 1991 c. 5 § 24; Ord. 2004 c. 13 § 2) Penalty, see Subsection 16-32.6
16-1.11   Manure.
   No owner or occupant of a building shall permit any manure to be therein, unless such building is used as a stable, or in that case permit more than two cords of manure to accumulate or remain therein; nor shall any person permit any manure to remain uncovered on his or her grounds outside of his or her building, or permit his or her building or any grounds connected therewith to be foul or unclean.
(CBC 1975 Ord. T14 § 255; CBC 1985 16-1.11) Penalty, see Subsection 16-32.6
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