ISD - Health Division

The mission of the Inspectional Services Health Division is to provide all residents and community members with consistent and high-quality education, code enforcement, emergency services, and support to improve health and safety in the City of Somerville. The Health Division aims to continually improve health, safety, and code compliance in the City of Somerville by integrating its services with other city departments and maintaining its tradition of professionalism and high-quality services. The Health Division works closely with the Health Department and the Board of Health and is responsible for the issuance and renewal of health-related licenses and responding to tenant complaints regarding violations of health codes.

License Issuance and Renewal

The Health Division is responsible for issuing licenses related to body art, retail space, food establishments, permanent on-site dumpster use, removal and disposal of trash from dumpsters, and other health-related commercial licenses.

Obtaining or Renewing a License: 

• In order to obtain a license from the Health Division, please see the Forms Library, right, to download license applications. This includes health-related licenses, such as body art licenses and dumpster licenses. 
• Other licenses, such as retail/food establishment licenses, may require additional information. Please call the Health Division to determine the applicable requirements for your specific situation. 
• If you need help determining the application requirements for your specifications, you can contact 311, call the Health Division, or email your questions directly. 

Tenants and the State Sanitary Code

The Health Division protects housing tenants' health and safety by enforcing the State Sanitary Code related to tenants and living space. To view the State Sanitary Code, see the link to the right.

Tenant Rights: According to the State Sanitary Code, landlords in Massachusetts are required to keep rental property to certain health standards. If a property does not meet these standards, tenants can file a complaint with the Health Division of ISD. You can learn more about tenant rights in Massachusetts by clicking here. 

Filing a Complaint: To file a complaint, tenants may contact the Health Division by calling 311. The Health Division will then schedule an inspection of the property in question. If the inspection reveals that the State Sanitary Code has been violated, the Health Division will send the landlord an order to correct. If the landlord fails to correct the situation in the amount of time determined by the Health Division, he or she may be taken to court.

Key Health and Code Issues: The following is a list of issues commonly addressed by tenants and landlords in Somerville. To file a complaint for any of the reasons below, please follow the protocol under Filing a Complaint, above.

Asbestos

In the case of the presence of asbestos, the landlord must hire a licensed asbestos removal company to remove, repair, or encapsulate the asbestos.

Bed bugs 

For more information on how to identify and get rid of bed bugs, click here.

Lead paint 

In households with children under the age of six, the Health Division can conduct a lead paint test to determine the presence of lead. If there is lead present in a home with children under the age of six, the landlord will receive instructions to hire a licensed lead inspector and licensed contractor to remove or encapsulate the lead.

Mold

For visible mold, the Health Division can conduct an inspection. If visible mold is confirmed, the landlord must remove the mold. For mold and air quality inquiries, please contact a mold tech company for air quality testing.

Temperatures 

The temperature requirements for heating are as follows:  September 15 to May 31,  the temperature should be at least 68F (20C) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.; and at least 64F (17C) between 11:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. State Sanitary Code, Chapter II, CMR 105.410.180. 

Cockroaches and other insects

If tenants suspect cockroaches or other insect pests, the Health Division can conduct an inspection. If the inspector finds cockroaches or another insect issue, the landlord must hire a licensed exterminator company.

Rodents

• For information about rodent prevention or what to do if you believe you have identified a rodent issue in an outdoor space, visit our Rodent Control and Public Education page. 
• In cases of indoor rodent complaints, the Health Division can conduct an inspection. If evidence of indoor rodents is found, the landlord must hire a licensed exterminator company.