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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
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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9-14.8   Complaint Process; Violations.
   (A)   Complaint. A complaint alleging that a residential unit is in violation of this Section or any applicable law, code or regulation may be filed with ISD. The complaint must contain the residential unit’s address, unit number, date and nature of alleged violations) and name and contact information of complainant.
   (B)   Review of complaint. Within 30 days after receipt of a complaint, the Commissioner, or a designee, shall investigate the complaint and shall determine whether mere may be a violation. If the alleged violation is under the jurisdiction of another city or commonwealth or federal Agency, the Commissioner shall refer the complaint to such Agency for further action. Upon a finding of a potential violation, the Commissioner, or designee, shall serve notice of the violation upon the operator of the residential unit at issue, if such unit is listed on the Short-Term Rental Registry, and upon the owner or resident agent of record of the residential unit at issue, if such unit is not listed on the Short-Term Rental Registry. The Commissioner shall keep records of all complaints received and determinations made.
   (C)   Right to hearing. A person upon whom a notice of violation has been served may request a hearing from ISD by filing a written petition requesting a hearing on the matter with ISD within 14 days after the day the notice of violation was served. Upon receipt of a petition for hearing, ISD shall notify the complainant of the place, date and time of the hearing. The hearing shall occur no later than two weeks after the date ISD receives the petition for hearing. The time period in which violations must be remedied shall be stayed upon receipt of the petition for a hearing until such time as the hearing is held and the Commissioner, or designee, has issued a decision.
   (D)   Decision. 
      (1)   Within seven days after the conclusion of the hearing, the Commissioner, or designee, shall sustain, modify or withdraw the notice of violation and shall inform the person upon whom a notice of violation has been served, in writing, of its decision and the reasons therefor. If ISD sustains or modifies the notice of violation, said violation shall be remedied within the time period allotted as issued or in the modification.
      (2)   If a written petition for a hearing is not filed with ISD within 14 days after the notice of violation has been served, or if, after a hearing, the notice of violation has been sustained in any part, each day’s failure to comply with the notice of violation within the time allotted as issued or modified shall constitute a separate violation.
   (E)   Judicial appeals. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of ISD with respect to a notice of violation or any other order issued under this Section may seek relief therefrom in any court of competent jurisdiction as provided by the laws of the commonwealth.
(CBC 1985 9-14.8; Ord. 2018 c. 5 § 1)
9-14.9   Penalties.
   (A)   Offering an ineligible unit as a short-term rental. Any person who offers a unit as a short-term rental, or any booking agent who accepts a fee for booking a unit as a short-term rental, where such unit is not an eligible residential unit, shall be fined $300 per violation per day. Each day’s failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation. The Commissioner, or a designee, may also seek an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting the offering of the unit as a short-term rental.
   (B)   Failure to register. Any person who offers an eligible residential unit as a short-term rental without registering with ISD, or any person who offers an eligible residential unit as a short-term rental while the unit’s registration on the Short-Term Rental Registry is suspended, shall be fined $100 per violation per day. Each day’s failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation.
   (C)   Failure to comply with notice of violation. Any person who fails to comply with any notice of violation or other order issued pursuant to this Section by the Commissioner, or a designee, for a violation of any provision of this Section shall be fined $100 dollars per violation per day. Each day’s failure to comply with a notice of violation or any other order shall constitute a separate violation.
(CBC 1985 9-14.9; Ord. 2018 c. 5 § 1)
9-14.10   Enforcement.
   (A)   Enforcement by city. The provisions of this Section may be enforced in accordance with the noncriminal disposition process of M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 21D, and, if applicable, by seeking to restrain a violation by injunction. The provisions of this Section may also be enforced according to M.G.L. Chapter 40U as accepted by the city, also known as the “Green Ticket” Law.
   (B)   Enforcement by booking agent. 
      (1)   The Commissioner shall enter into agreements with booking agents for assistance in enforcing the provisions of this Section, including, but not limited to, an agreement whereby the booking agent agrees to remove a listing from its platform for exceeding the maximum number of days a residential unit may be offered as a short-term rental, whereby the booking agent agrees to remove a listing from its platform that is deemed ineligible for use as a short-term rental under the provisions of this Section, and whereby the booking agent agrees to prohibit a host from listing any listing without a valid registration number from the city.
      (2)   Any booking agent that fails to enter into such agreements to actively prevent, remove or de-list any ineligible listings shall be prohibited from conducting business in the city.
(CBC 1985 9-14.10; Ord. 2018 c. 5 § 1)
9-14.11   Data Sharing.
   A booking agent shall provide to the city, on a monthly basis, an electronic report, in a format determined by the city, in consultation with ISD, DoIT and DND, of the listings maintained, authorized, facilitated or advertised by the booking agent within the city for the applicable reporting period. The report shall include a breakdown of where the listings are located, whether the listing is for a room or a whole unit, and shall include the number of nights each unit was reported as occupied during the applicable reporting period.
(CBC 1985 9-14.11; Ord. 2018 c. 5 § 1)
9-14.12   Regulations.
   The Commissioner, in consultation with DoIT and DND, may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this Section.
(CBC 1985 9-14.2; Ord. 2018 c. 5 § 1)