STATUTORY REFERENCES

FOR

MASSACHUSETTS CITIES AND TOWNS

The statutory references listed below refer the code user to state statutes applicable to Massachusetts cities and towns. They are up to date through July, 2009.

General Provisions

Powers and duties of cities and towns generally

ALM GL c. 40 §§ 1– 4F

City charters

ALM GL c. 43

Boundaries of cities and towns

ALM GL c. 42

Ordinances, by-laws and regulations

ALM GL c. 40 § 21 et seq.

Lockups

ALM GL c. 40 § 34 et seq.

Seal

ALM GL c. 40 § 47

Elections

ALM GL cs. 50– 57

Administration and Personnel

City government generally

ALM GL c. 39 § 1 et seq.

Government by mayor and city council elected at large

ALM GL c. 43 § 46 et seq.

Government by mayor, city council, and city manager

ALM GL c. 43 § 79 et seq.

Government by mayor and council elected by wards and at large, and nominated at party primaries

ALM GL c. 43 § 117 et seq.

Standard form of representative town meeting government

ALM GL c. 43A

Home rule procedures

ALM GL c. 43B

Town meetings

ALM GL c. 39 § 9 et seq.

Open meetings

ALM GL c. 39 § 23B

Taking, purchasing and abandonment of land

ALM GL c. 40 § 14 et seq.

Records and reports

ALM GL c. 40 § 48 et seq.

Public. records

ALM GL c. 66

Election of town officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 1 et seq.

Disclosure of campaign expenditures and contributions

ALM GL c. 55

Clerk

ALM GL c. 41 § 12 et seq.

Selectmen

ALM GL c. 41 § 20 et seq.

Assessors

ALM GL c. 41 § 24 et seq.

Treasurer and collector

ALM GL c. 41 § 35 et seq.

Sinking fund commissioners

ALM GL c. 41 § 44

Commissioners of trust funds

ALM GL c. 41 § 45 et seq.

Auditor

ALM GL c. 41 § 48 et seq.

Accountant

ALM GL c. 41 § 55 et seq.

Temporary officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 61A

Officers in charge of roads, sewers and water works

ALM GL c. 41 § 62 et seq.

Fires, fire departments and fire districts

ALM GL c. 48

Board of public. works

ALM GL c. 41 § 69C et seq.

Planning board and planning

ALM GL c. 41 § 70 et seq.

Board of survey

ALM GL c. 41 § 73 et seq.

Art commission

ALM GL c. 41 § 82 et seq.

Weighers, measurers and surveyors of commodities

ALM GL c. 41 § 85 et seq.

Constables

ALM GL c. 41 §§ 91– 95

Police officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 96 et seq.

Regional police districts

ALM GL c. 41 § 99B et seq.

Indemnification of officers and employees

ALM GL c. 41 §§ 100 and 100H

Inspector of health

ALM GL c. 41 § 102 et seq.

Purchasing agent

ALM GL c. 41 §§ 103 and 104

Tree warden

ALM GL c. 41 § 106

Town physician

ALM GL c. 41 § 106A

Terms of office and compensation of town officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 107 et seq.

Municipal personnel systems

ALM GL c. 31A

Retirement systems and pensions

ALM GL c. 32

Holidays and vacations

ALM GL c. 41 § 110 et seq.

Employment of veterans

ALM GL c. 41 § 112 et seq.

District officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 113 et seq.

Tenure for certain appointive officers

ALM GL c. 41 § 126 et seq.

Temporary housing assistance plans

ALM GL c. 41 § 125

Revenue and Finance

Municipal finance generally

ALM GL c. 44

Assessment and collection of local taxes

ALM GL c. 59 and c. 60

Excise tax on registered motor vehicles in lieu of local taxes

ALM GL c. 60A

Excise tax on boats, ships and vessels in lieu of property tax

ALM GL c. 60B

Municipal charges and bills

ALM GL c. 40 § 21E

Purposes for which towns may appropriate money

ALM GL c. 40 § 5 et seq.

Public. beach districts

ALM GL c. 40 § 12B et seq.

Taking, purchase and abandonment of land

ALM GL c. 40 § 14 et seq.

Oaths of claimants demanding payment

ALM GL c. 40 § 46

Illegal appropriations

ALM GL c. 40 § 53

Annuities for hospital employees

ALM GL c. 40 § 55

Property taxation

ALM GL c. 40 § 56

Governmental units pooled insurance

ALM GL c. 40M

Municipal indebtedness

ALM GL c. 44 § 2 et seq.

Liability for debts

ALM GL c. 44 § 14 et seq.

Bonds, notes and certificates of indebtedness

ALM GL c. 44 § 16 et seq.

Form and certification of town and district notes

ALM GL c. 44 § 23 et seq.

Report of borrowing

ALM GL c. 44 § 28

Department appropriations

ALM GL c. 44 § 30 et seq.

Budget in cities

ALM GL c. 44 § 32 et seq.

Auditing

ALM GL c. 44 § 35 et seq.

Sinking funds

ALM GL c. 44 § 47 et seq.

Miscellaneous financial provisions

ALM GL c. 44 § 53 et seq.

Business Licenses and Regulations

Licenses generally

ALM c. 40 § 22F and 57; c. 140

Regulation of carriages, taxicabs, etc.

ALM GL c. 40 § 22

Alcoholic liquors

ALM c. 138

Rent control prohibition

ALM GL c. 40P

Animals

Dogs

ALM GL c. 140 § 136A et seq.

Pounds and impounding of cattle

ALM GL c. 49 §§ 22– 41

Health and Safety

Vital statistics

ALM GL c. 46

Infirmaries

ALM GL c. 47

Fires, fire departments and fire districts

ALM GL c. 48

Recycling programs

ALM GL c. 40 § 8H

Public Peace, Morals and Welfare

Crimes and punishments generally

ALM GL c. 263 et seq.

Curfews

ALM GL c. 40 § 37A

Vehicles and Traffic

Laws of the road

ALM GL c. 89

Parking and parking meters

ALM GL c. 40 § 22A et seq.

Procedures for traffic offenses

ALM GL c. 90C

Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places

Public parks, playgrounds and the public domain

ALM GL c. 45

Improvement districts

ALM GL c. 40 § 44

Snow and ice removal

ALM GL c. 40 § 7

Public Services

Public water supply

ALM GL c. 40 § 38 et seq.

Collection of water rates

ALM GL c. 40 § 42A et seq.

Improvement districts

ALM GL c. 40 § 44

Regional refuse disposal districts

ALM GL c. 40 § 44A et seq.

Buildings and Construction

Building permits

ALM GL c. 40 §§ 54 and 54A

Subdivisions

Subdivision control

ALM GL c. 41 § 81K et seq.

Planning and Zoning

Zoning generally

ALM GL c. 40A

Zoning board of appeals

ALM GL c. 40A §§ 12, 14

Regional planning

ALM GL c. 40B

Historic districts

ALM GL c. 40C

Industrial development of cities and towns

ALM GL c. 40D

Improved method of municipal planning

ALM GL c. 41 § 81A et seq.