Boston Proposes Public List of Landlords with Violations
The city’s new plan would track property owners who ignore safety codes, giving renters more visibility into building issues.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Apartments
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Boston City Council President Liz Breadon has introduced a new ordinance that would create a public list of landlords who consistently fail to meet safety and housing codes. The measure targets property owners with high violation records in an effort to improve living conditions for renters across the city.
Why it matters
This ordinance seeks to hold property owners accountable for substandard conditions by imposing significant business restrictions on those with repeated violations. It aims to address persistent issues in a city where high rental density makes quality enforcement critical for resident safety.
The proposed system tracks code violations and unpaid fines to generate a biannual list of high-point landlords. In Allston, where rental availability sits at just 4 percent, these landlords would face increased inspections and be barred from city grants and zoning relief.
The players
Liz Breadon
The Boston City Council President who introduced the ordinance to publicly track and sanction landlords with repeated housing violations.
Boston City Council
The local legislative body currently reviewing the ordinance and scheduled to vote on the housing enforcement measure by the end of 2026.
The details
The ordinance uses a point-based system to monitor compliance with sanitary and fire safety regulations. Landlords accrue points when they fail to correct violations or pay associated fines, ultimately triggering public identification on a city-managed biannual registry. Once listed, these property owners face mandatory increased inspections and are prohibited from conducting business with the city, including receiving zoning relief or participating in the Article 80 development process.
Timeline
October 2026: Council President Liz Breadon introduced the ordinance.
Late 2026: City Council is expected to vote on the measure.
The Home Front
The ordinance marks a shift in how Boston integrates residential code compliance with its established Article 80 development review process. By linking landlord behavior to participation in city business, the policy creates a new standard for property management accountability.
If you are a renter in Boston, you can track the progress of this ordinance to see if it will eventually provide public data on your property owner. In the meantime, continue to document any unresolved sanitary or fire code issues in writing and submit them through the city's standard reporting channels.
The takeaway
This measure aims to create greater transparency for renters by publicly naming property owners who fail to maintain safe housing standards. Residents should keep records of any outstanding maintenance requests, as such documentation remains a vital tool for proving code compliance issues.
What happens next
The Boston City Council is scheduled to hold a vote on the ordinance by the end of 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest news affecting Boston Apartments.
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Should cities publish lists of landlords who repeatedly violate housing and sanitary codes?
