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 Chapter 140 of the 2017 first annual session.
General Provisions
Powers and duties of cities and towns generally
ALM GL c. 40City charters
ALM GL c. 43Boundaries of cities and towns
ALM GL c. 42Ordinances, by-laws and regulations
ALM GL c. 40 § 21 et seq.Lockups
ALM GL c. 40 § 34 et seq.Seal
ALM GL c. 40 § 47Elections
ALM GL cs. 50—57Administration and Personnel
City government generally
ALM GL c. 39Plan A—Government by mayor and city council elected at large
ALM GL c. 43 § 46 et seq.Plan D—Government by mayor, city council, and city manager
ALM GL c. 43 § 79 et seq.Plan F—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. 43AHome rule procedures
ALM GL c. 43BTown meetings
ALM GL c. 39 § 9 et seq.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. 66Election of town officers
ALM GL c. 41Disclosure of campaign expenditures and contributions
ALM GL c. 55Clerk
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 § 44Commissioners 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 § 61AOfficers in charge of roads, sewers and waterworks
ALM GL c. 41 § 62 et seq.Fires, fire departments and fire districts
ALM GL c. 48Board 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 et seq.Police officers
ALM GL c. 41 § 96 et seq.Police
ALM GL c. 41 § 99B et seq.Indemnification of officers and employees
ALM GL c. 41 §§ 100 and 100HInspector of health
ALM GL c. 41 § 102 et seq.Purchasing agent
ALM GL c. 41 §§ 103 and 104Tree warden
ALM GL c. 41 § 106Town physician
ALM GL c. 41 § 106ATerms of office and compensation of town officers
ALM GL c. 41 § 107 et seq.Municipal personnel systems
ALM GL c. 31ARetirement systems and pensions
ALM GL c. 32Holidays and vacations
ALM GL c. 41 § 110 et seq.Employment of veterans
ALM GL c. 41 § 112 et seq.Tenure for certain appointive officers
ALM GL c. 41 § 126 et seq.Temporary housing assistance plans
ALM GL c. 41 § 125Revenue and Finance
Municipal finance generally
ALM GL c. 44Assessment and collection of local taxes
ALM GL c. 59 and c. 60Excise tax on registered motor vehicles in lieu of local taxes
ALM GL c. 60AExcise tax on boats, ships and vessels in lieu of property tax
ALM GL c. 60BMunicipal charges and bills
ALM GL c. 40 § 21EPurposes 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 § 46Illegal appropriations
ALM GL c. 40 § 53Annuities for hospital employees
ALM GL c. 40 § 55Property taxation
ALM GL c. 40 § 56Governmental units pooled insurance
ALM GL c. 40MMunicipal 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 § 28Department 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.Business Licenses and Regulations
Licenses generally
ALM c. 40 §§ 22F and 57; c. 140Regulation of carriages, taxicabs, etc.
ALM GL c. 40 § 22Alcoholic liquors
ALM GL c. 138Rent control prohibition
ALM GL c. 40PAnimals
Pounds and impounding of cattle
ALM GL c. 49 § 22 et seq.Health and Safety
Vital statistics
ALM GL c. 46Infirmaries
ALM GL c. 47Fires, fire departments and fire districts
ALM GL c. 48Recycling programs
ALM GL c. 40 § 8HPublic. Peace, Morals and Welfare
Crimes and punishments generally
ALM GL c. 263 et seq.Curfews
ALM GL c. 40 § 37AVehicles and Traffic
Law of the road
ALM GL c. 89Parking and parking meters
ALM GL c. 40 § 22A et seq.Procedures for traffic offenses
ALM GL c. 90CStreets, Sidewalks and Public Places
Public parks, playgrounds and the public domain
ALM GL c. 45Improvement districts
ALM GL c. 40 § 44Snow and ice removal in towns
ALM GL c. 40 § 7Public 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 § 44Regional refuse disposal districts
ALM GL c. 40 § 44A et seq.Buildings and Construction
Building permits
ALM GL c. 40 §§ 54 and 54ASubdivisions
Subdivision control
ALM GL c. 41 § 81K et seq.Planning and Zoning
Zoning generally
ALM GL c. 40AZoning board of appeals
ALM GL c. 40A §§ 12, 14Regional planning
ALM GL c. 40BHistoric districts
ALM GL c. 40CIndustrial development of cities and towns
ALM GL c. 40DImproved method of municipal planning
ALM GL c. 41 § 81A et seq.