An Act permitting the city of Revere to establish penalties and liens for noise ordinance violations

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lydia Edwards and 1 co-sponsor

Gives Revere authority to issue noise-citation penalties, run hearings, and place real estate liens to collect unpaid fines for noise-ordinance violations, using 40U procedures.

Overview

HD 5219 would authorize the City of Revere to strengthen enforcement of its noise ordinance by enabling the city to issue citations, establish citation appeal/hearing processes, place real estate liens to collect unpaid fines or penalties, and use applicable enforcement procedures from Chapter 40U of the General Laws. The act is narrowly limited to noise-ordinance violations and does not apply to other city or state code violations. It would take effect upon passage.

Purpose and intent

Provide Revere with enhanced tools to enforce its noise ordinance.

Create a formal process for issuing and adjudicating noise-related citations.

Enable collection of unpaid fines or penalties through real estate liens on affected properties.

Align local enforcement with relevant procedures in Chapter 40U for noise-violation cases.

Key provisions

The city may:

Issue citations for noise ordinance violations.
Establish appeal and hearing processes for those citations.
File real estate liens to collect unpaid fines, penalties, or assessments arising from citations.
Utilize relevant enforcement or procedural provisions from Chapter 40U of the General Laws for noise-violation enforcement in Revere.

Scope limitation:

The act applies only to violations that are separate and distinct from violations of health, sanitary, housing, fire, building, plumbing, or electrical codes of the city or Commonwealth.

Effective date:

The act takes effect upon passage (no separate delayed start or sunset).

Affected parties and impact

City of Revere: Gains explicit authority to issue noise citations, manage appeals, and place liens to recover fines.

Property owners and violators: Potentially face civil penalties via citations and, if fines go unpaid, real estate liens on properties associated with the violations.

General enforcement landscape: Any enforcement actions would be guided by the city’s noise ordinance and applicable state procedures, including those in Chapter 40U where relevant.

Procedural and timeline notes

Filed: October 8, 2025 (House Docket No. 5219; House No. 4603).

Local context: Petition indicates local approval from the mayor and city council.

Status: Official legislative status not specified in the provided excerpt; enactment would require passage by the General Court and receipt of any required gubernatorial signatures.

Additional context

This is a local-option measure aimed at addressing noise violations more effectively through civil remedies (citations and liens) rather than only administrative enforcement. It clarifies that these provisions are specific to noise ordinance violations and do not overwrite other code enforcement.

Source: Text of House Docket No. 5219 (House No. 4603), filed 10/8/2025, “An Act permitting the city of Revere to establish penalties and liens for noise ordinance violations.”

Bill