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 332 of the 2016 second annual session.

General Provisions

Powers and duties of cities and towns generally
  ALM GL c. 40

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

Plan 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. 43A

Home rule procedures
  ALM GL c. 43B

Town 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. 66

Election of town officers
  ALM GL c. 41

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 waterworks
  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 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 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.

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.

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 GL c. 138

Rent control prohibition
  ALM GL c. 40P

Animals

Pounds and impounding of cattle
  ALM GL c. 49 § 22 et seq.

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

Law 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.