Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XX Chapter 140
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 22 (2026)

''Lodging house'' defined

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 22. ''Lodging house'', as used in sections twenty-two to thirty-one, inclusive, shall mean a house where lodgings are let to four or more persons not within second degree of kindred to the person conducting it, and shall include fraternity houses and dormitories of educational institutions, but shall not include dormitories of charitable or philanthropic institutions or convalescent or nursing homes licensed under section seventy-one of chapter one hundred and eleven or rest homes so licensed, or group residences licensed or regulated by agencies of the commonwealth.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1968–2025 · leading case: City of Worcester v. Coll. Hill Props., LLC, 987 N.E.2d 1236 (Mass. 2013).
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City of Worcester v. Coll. Hill Props., LLC, 987 N.E.2d 1236 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 4× “The distinction between “lodgings” and rental apartments is consistent with the definition of “lodging house” in G. L. c. 140, § 22, and with the role that a “lodging house” plays in the *143 over-all statutory structure.”
Newbury Junior Coll. v. Town of Brookline, 472 N.E.2d 1373 (Mass. App. Ct. 1985). · cites it 3× “10 As originally enacted, the definition of lodging house which appears in G. L. c. 140, § 22, excluded “dormitories of charitable, educational or philanthropic institutions.”
Hall v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 549 N.E.2d 433 (Mass. App. Ct. 1990). “Because owners, or tenants who reside on the premises, are expressly permitted to have up to four boarders, it would be reasonable to construe the by-law as prohibiting, at least without a special permit, having more than four boarders.”
Bhd. of Alpha Upsilon, Inc. v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Bridgewater, 15 Mass. App. Ct. 991 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). · cites it 2× “We reject the notion that the expanded definition of a “lodging house” which was not adopted by the Legislature until 1965 (G. L. c. 140, § 22, as appearing in St. 1965, c.”
Coll. Hill Props., LLC v. City of Worcester ex rel. Dep't of Bldg. & Zoning, 135 F. Supp. 3d 10 (D. Mass. 2015). “The statute requires a license for the operation of a "lodging house,” which is defined as a "house where lodgings are let to four or more persons not within second degree of kindred from the person conducting it____” Mass.Gen. L. ch. 140, § 22. Keepers of an unlicensed lodging…”
Selvetti v. Bldg. Inspector of Revere, 233 N.E.2d 915 (Mass. 1968). “See G. L. c. 140, § 22. A dictionary definition of “lodging” is “accommodation in a house, esp.”
City of Worcester v. Bonaventura, 775 N.E.2d 795 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “The city’s ordinance resembles the definition of “lodging house” provided by G. L. c. 140, § 22. Chapter 140, generally, establishes licensing authorities and defines the scope of their authority.”
McNeill v. Bd. of Assessors, 487 N.E.2d 849 (Mass. 1986). “, G. L. c. 140, § 22 (1984 ed.). Statutes governing nursing homes are codified under G.”
Trs. of Boston Univ. v. Licensing Bd., 510 N.E.2d 283 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). “” G. L. c. 140, § 22. The issue is whether the criteria for awarding lodging house licenses for dormitories are the same in Boston as they are elsewhere in the Commonwealth.”
City of Worcester v. Coll. Hill Props., LLC, 956 N.E.2d 1222 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 2× “” 13 G. L. c. 140, § 22. The city’s proof established each such element for each of the properties at issue here: a building or structure, where housing accommodations are leased or let, to four adults, unrelated to the defendants.”
Oprzedek v. City of Beverly, 103 N.E.3d 766 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018). “We have said in the context of college dormitories, which fall within the definition of "lodging houses" in G. L. c. 140, § 22, that "[a] dormitory license may be denied because the facilities are physically inadequate, because the applicant institution has a bad record in…”
Bak Realty, LLC v. City of Fitchburg, 253 N.E.3d 1231 (Mass. 2025). “Compare G. L. c. 140, § 22 (definition of "lodging house"); G.”
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