General Bylaws of Abington

General Bylaws of Abington

(excluding zoning bylaws)

 

 

CODE OF THE TOWN OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS

 

PART I

GENERAL BYLAWS

CHAPTER 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS. 8

ARTICLE I, General Penalty  8

ARTICLE II, Terms and References  8

 

CHAPTER 7, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. 8

ARTICLE I, Consumption in Public  8

CHAPTER 11, ANIMALS. 9

ARTICLE I, Pasturing of Certain Animals  9

ARTICLE II, Dogs  9

CHAPTER 17, BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS. 14

ARTICLE I, Terms of Office  14

ARTICLE II, Organization  14

ARTICLE III, Public Hearings  15

CHAPTER 25, BUILDINGS, NUMBERING OF. 15

CHAPTER 35, CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS. 16

.. 21CHAPTER 40, COUNCIL ON AGING.. 22

CHAPTER 44, DEEDS OF RELEASE AND REDEEMED REAL ESTATE. 23

CHAPTER 49, DUMPING.. 23

ARTICLE I, Landfill 23

ARTICLE II, Control of Dump and Compost Site  24

CHAPTER 53, ELECTIONS. 24

ARTICLE I, Police Presence  24

CHAPTER 59, FEES. 24

ARTICLE I, Payment into Treasury  24

ARTICLE II, Town Clerk and Sealer of Weights and Measures Fees  24  24

CHAPTER 63, FENCES. 25

ARTICLE I, Dangerous Fences  25

ARTICLE II, Electrical Fences  25

CHAPTER 67, FINANCE COMMITTEE. 26. 28

CHAPTER 71, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. 29. 29

CHAPTER 75, FIRE PREVENTION.. 30

ARTICLE I, Explosives and Flammable  30

ARTICLE II, Underground Storage of Flammable Fluids  30

CHAPTER 81, GARAGES, COMMERCIAL. 32

CHAPTER 84, GAS INSTALLATIONS. 32

CHAPTER 89, HISTORICAL COMMISSION.. 33.. 34

CHAPTER 94, JUNK DEALERS. 34

CHAPTER 98, LAND USE. 34

ARTICLE I, Investigation of Complaints  34

CHAPTER 102, LICENSING.. 35

ARTICLE I, Failure to Pay Taxes  35

CHAPTER 113, PEACE AND GOOD ORDER.. 36

ARTICLE I, Ball Playing in Street 36

ARTICLE II, Posting of Advertisements  37

   37ARTICLE III, Injury to Memorials and Gravesites  37

ARTICLE IV, Sound Trucks  37

ARTICLE V, Public Decency  37  37

CHAPTER 117, PEDDLING AND SOLICITING.. 37

ARTICLE I, Peddling and soliciting  38

ARTICLE II, Hawkers and Peddlers  38

CHAPTER 122, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE. 38

ARTICLE I, Discharge of Offensive Matter Into Streets  38

ARTICLE II, Public Safety Hazard Abatement 39

CHAPTER 128, SEWERS. 40

ARTICLE I, Connection of Runoff Sources to System   40

CHAPTER 134, SOIL REMOVAL. 41

CHAPTER 138, SOLID WASTE. 41

ARTICLE I, Regulation of Facilities  41

ARTICLE II, Site Selection Procedures  43  45

CHAPTER 142, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. 45

ARTICLE I, Permits to Build Sidewalks  45

ARTICLE II, Obstruction  45  45

ARTICLE III, Discharge of Water onto Streets  45  45

ARTICLE IV, Openings and Excavations  45  46

CHAPTER 152, TOWN MEETINGS. 46

CHAPTER 155, TOWN OFFICES. 48. 48

CHAPTER 159, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.. 48

ARTICLE I, Interference With Snow Plowing  49

ARTICLE II, Obstruction of Fire Lanes  49

ARTICLE III, All-Night Parking  50


CHAPTER 163, VEHICLES, JUNKED.. 50

CHAPTER 164, VEHICLES, SALE OF. 50

CHAPTER 167, WATER.. 53

ARTICLE I, Water Use Restrictions  53

CHAPTER 171, Wetlands Protection. 57

ENDNOTES  /  HISTORICAL REFERENCES. 65

 

 

CHAPTER 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS.. 8

ARTICLE I, General Penalty. 8

§1-1.  Maximum fine. 8

§1-2.  Recovery of fine by indictment or complaint. 8

ARTICLE II, Terms and References. 8

§1-3.  Reference to statute. 8

§1-4.  Town website. 8

CHAPTER 7, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.. 8

ARTICLE I, Consumption in Public. 8

§7-1.  Drinking on public or private property restricted. 8

§7-2.  Seizures of alcoholic beverages. 9

§7-3.  Violations and penalties. 9

CHAPTER 11, ANIMALS.. 9

ARTICLE I, Pasturing of Certain Animals. 9

§11-1.  Pasturing within streets or ways prohibited. 9

ARTICLE II, Dogs. 9

§11-2.  Running at large prohibited; exception for hunting purposes. 9

§11-3.  Impoundment; maintenance and administrative charges. 9

§11-4.  Registration required; dogs disturbing the peace; license period. 10

§11-5.  Confinement of dogs during heat. 10

§11-6.  Violations and penalties;  Fees. 10

§11-7.  Pit bull terriers. 11

§11-8.  Kennels. 11

§11-9.  Animal waste. 13

CHAPTER 17, BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.. 14

ARTICLE I, Terms of Office. 14

§17-1.  Term to be specified at creation; default term. 14

ARTICLE II, Organization. 14

§17-2.  Reorganization by elected officials. 14

§17-3.  Reorganization by appointed officials. 14

ARTICLE III, Public Hearings. 15

§17-4.  Minimum notice requirements. 15

CHAPTER 25, BUILDINGS, NUMBERING OF.. 15

§25-1.  Display of numbers. 15

§25-2.  Verification by Fire Department. 15

 

CHAPTER 35, CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS.. 16

§35-1.  Declaration of emergency. 16

§35-2.  Purpose. 16

§35-3.  Definitions. 17

§35-4.  Applicability. 18

§35-5.  Condominium or cooperative conversion permit. 18

§35-6.  Tenant rights. 20

§35-7.  Enforcement. 21

§35-8.  Effect on other regulations. 21

§35-9.  Severability. 21

§35-10.  Safety. 21

CHAPTER 40, COUNCIL ON AGING.. 22

§40-1.  Establishment; membership; terms. 22

§40-2.  Duties. 22

§40-3.  State and federal agencies and laws. 22

§40-4.  Reports. 22

CHAPTER 44, DEEDS OF RELEASE AND REDEEMED REAL ESTATE.. 23

§44-1.  Duties of Treasurer. 23

§44-2.  Sale of real estate; advertisement. 23

CHAPTER 49, DUMPING.. 23

ARTICLE I, Landfill 23

§49-1.  Permit to dump required. 23

§49-2.  Planning Board rules. 24

ARTICLE II, Control of Dump and Compost Site. 24

§49-3.  Control by Board of Health; other dumps prohibited. 24

CHAPTER 53, ELECTIONS.. 24

ARTICLE I, Police Presence. 24

§53-1.  Posting at polling places. 24

CHAPTER 59, FEES.. 24

ARTICLE I, Payment into Treasury. 24

§59-1.  Fees and revenues. 24

ARTICLE II, Town Clerk and Sealer of Weights and Measures Fees. 24

§59-2.  Town Clerk fees. 24

§59-3.  Sealer of Weights and Measures fees. 24

CHAPTER 63, FENCES.. 25

ARTICLE I, Dangerous Fences. 25

§63-1.  Responsibility of property owners for dangerous fence; deadline for completion of work. 25

§63-2.  Responsibility of property owner for erecting fence; deadline for completion of work. 25

§63-3.  Powers of Fence Viewer. 25

ARTICLE II, Electrical Fences. 25

§63-4.  Conditions and specifications. 25

§63-5.  Livestock fencing. 26

§63-6.  Fee. 26

CHAPTER 67, FINANCE COMMITTEE.. 26

§67-1.  Appointment; terms; eligibility. 26

§67-2.  Organization; vacancies. 27

§67-3.  Access to books, contracts, and accounts. 27

§67-4.  Consideration of articles; recommendations. 27

§67-5.  Preparations of budget estimates. 27

§67-6.  Requests for funds after Town Meeting. 28

§67-7.  Inventory of Town property; inventory forms; disposal of property. 28

§67-8.  Annual internal audit. 29

 

CHAPTER 71, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES.. 29

§71-1.  Permission to discharge required; exceptions. 29

CHAPTER 75, FIRE PREVENTION.. 30

ARTICLE I, Explosives and Flammable. 30

§75-1.  Fees. 30

ARTICLE II, Underground Storage of Flammable Fluids. 30

§75-2.  Testing Schedule. 30

§75-3.  Supervision of testing; removal of leaking tanks. 31

§75-4.  Town held harmless; obligations of owners upon discontinuance. 31

§75-5.  Jurisdiction over leakages; notification information. 31

§75-6.  Installation and usage constitutes agreement. 32

§75-7.  Tanks in floodplain areas; fee. 32

CHAPTER 81, GARAGES, COMMERCIAL. 32

§81-1.  License required. 32

§81-2.  License fee. 32

§81-3.  Expiration; revocation; hearing. 32


CHAPTER 84, GAS INSTALLATIONS.. 32

§84-1.  Appointment of Inspector. 32

§84-2.  Permit to install gas equipment required. 33

§84-3.  Permit fees. 33

CHAPTER 89, HISTORICAL COMMISSION.. 33

§89-1.  Membership; terms. 33

§89-2.  Authority of Commission. 33

§89-3.  Urging property owners to include deed designation. 34

§89-4.  Declassifying properties; procedure. 34

§89-5.  Severability. 34

CHAPTER 94, JUNK DEALERS.. 34

§94-1.  Authority of Selectmen to license dealers and collectors. 34

CHAPTER 98, LAND USE.. 34

ARTICLE I, Investigation of Complaints. 34

§98-1.  Investigation by Selectmen. 34

§98-2.  Hearing; Order to correct. 35

§98-3.  Failure to comply with order. 35

CHAPTER 102, LICENSING.. 35

ARTICLE I, Failure to Pay Taxes. 35

§102-1.  Furnishing of list. 35

§102-2.  Denial by licensing authority; hearing; issuance of certificate indicating good standing. 35

§102-3.  Issuance of certificate upon compliance with payment agreement. 36

§102-4.  Waiver. 36

§102-5.  Non-applicability. 36

CHAPTER 113, PEACE AND GOOD ORDER.. 36

ARTICLE I, Ball Playing in Street 36

§113-1.  Restrictions. 36

ARTICLE II, Posting of Advertisements. 37

§113-2.  Permission required. 37

ARTICLE III, Injury to Memorials and Gravesites. 37

§113-3.  Desecration prohibited. 37

§113-4.  Violations and penalties. 37

ARTICLE IV, Sound Trucks. 37

§113-5.  Permit required. 37

ARTICLE V, Public Decency. 37

§113-6.  Peeping into Windows. 37

CHAPTER 117, PEDDLING AND SOLICITING.. 37

ARTICLE I, Peddling and soliciting. 38

§117-1.  Registration required. 38

§117-2.  Issuance of permit 38

ARTICLE II, Hawkers and Peddlers. 38

§117-3.  Issuance of licenses by Selectmen; fee. 38

CHAPTER 122, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.. 38

ARTICLE I, Discharge of Offensive Matter Into Streets. 38

§122-1.  Contents of sinks, cesspools and privies. 38

§122-2.  Dead animals, rubbish and garbage. 38

§122-3.  Violations and penalties. 39

ARTICLE II, Public Safety Hazard Abatement 39

§122-4.  Enforcement officials. 39

§122-5.  Failure to abate; filing of complaint. 39

§122-6.  Term defined. 39

§122-7.  Swimming pool fencing. 39

CHAPTER 128, SEWERS.. 40

ARTICLE I, Connection of Runoff Sources to System.. 40

§128-1.  Certain Connections prohibited. 40

§128-2.  Notice to discontinue illegal connection.