On May 14, 2010, the City of Boston adopted Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40U, an Act Relative to the Collection of Unpaid Municipal Fines, often referred to as the "Green Ticket Law". This statute provides for both written appeals and administrative hearings for citations written for violations "regulating the housing, sanitary or snow and ice removal requirement" and establishes penalties and collection mechanisms for unpaid fines.
View MA General Law Chapter 40U »

Appeals must now first be made directly to the City of Boston. The person receiving a Code Enforcement citation may submit a written appeal or request a hearing in writing within 21 days to Boston Inspectional Services Department, CEP Hearing Officer, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 02118. For written appeals, a written statement should be sent along with documentation, witness statements or pictures to dispute the validity of the citation(s). If the person cited is not satisfied with the result, he or she may still appeal to Boston Housing Court.

If after 21 days, an appeal has not been requested and the citation has not been paid, the City will issue a late notice with a $10 processing fee. After an additional 30 days, "Final Notice Before Inclusion in the Real Estate Tax Bill" will be issued with a penalty fee of $10. If the fines and fees are still not paid, the City can commit these charges to the property tax bill, and they will be subject to collection by the same means used to collect delinquent real estate taxes, up to and including the recording of an instrument of tax taking on the property.

For more information regarding appeal hearings, please call 617-635-4896.

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