Condo Media - January 2013 - 20
MASSACHUSETTS N e w s
by Patrick J. Brady, Esq.
R e g i o n a l
A Breed Apart
Does the Law Apply to Massachusetts Condominiums?
ver recent years, numerous Massachusetts cities and towns adopted breed-specific ordinances and bylaws distinguishing dogs of one or more specific breeds, along with dogs presumed to be a mix of those breeds, as inherently dangerous or vicious. In addition to naming specific breeds, these ordinances often described the most common physical characteristics of the breed and classified certain breeds as dangerous, per se. The restrictions adopted by cities and towns often included requiring muzzling, special leashes or collars, signage at the prop-
C A I
O
erty, sterilization and/or special training of the owners who kept such breeds. However, the Massachusetts legislature recently amended M.G.L. c. 14, Section 157, which bans breed-specific pet legislation. The result of this legislation is that cities and towns may no longer adopt ordinances or bylaws that deem a dog dangerous, based upon the breed or physical characteristic, and requires that any dangerous dog ordi-
nance be neutral and based only on a dog’s behavior, not breed. As a result of this new law banning breed-specific legislation we have been asked: Does this recent legislation apply to condominiums? If my condominium’s master deed or bylaws currently prohibit certain breeds, is it still enforceable? May my association in the future adopt an amendment to the master deed or bylaws restricting or prohibiting certain breeds? The answer is the Massachusetts law banning breed-specific legislation applies to state, city and town regulations, but not to Massachusetts condominiums. Condominiums are private property and the use of the units and condominium property is subject to those restrictions contained in the constituent documents. Massachusetts courts have consistently ruled that restrictions on the use of a unit contained in either the master deed or bylaws are enforceable, and that rules and regulations adopted only by the board govern only the use of the common areas and facilities. Therefore, if the master deed, bylaws or duly adopted amendment contain restrictions prohibiting or limiting the breeds of dogs that owners are allowed to keep inside a unit, these restrictions are valid and enforceable. Further, if in the future an association wants to prohibit certain breeds of dogs they may do so by properly amending their master deed or their by-laws. CM Patrick J. Brady, Esq. is a partner in the law firm of Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, P.C. and co-chair of the CAI-NE attorneys’ committee.
20
CONDO MEDIA • JANUARY 2013
Condo Media - January 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - January 2013
Condo Media - January 2013
Contents
From the CED’s Desk
President’s Message
CAI News
CAI Regional News
Asked & Answered
Homeowner’s Corner
Insurance
Vendor Spotlight
Legal
Maintenance
Communications
Industry Perspective
Self-Managed Association Boards
Classified Service Directory
Advertisers Index
Condo Media - January 2013 - Condo Media - January 2013
Condo Media - January 2013 - Cover2
Condo Media - January 2013 - Contents
Condo Media - January 2013 - From the CED’s Desk
Condo Media - January 2013 - 3
Condo Media - January 2013 - President’s Message
Condo Media - January 2013 - 5
Condo Media - January 2013 - CAI News
Condo Media - January 2013 - 7
Condo Media - January 2013 - 8
Condo Media - January 2013 - 9
Condo Media - January 2013 - 10
Condo Media - January 2013 - 11
Condo Media - January 2013 - 12
Condo Media - January 2013 - 13
Condo Media - January 2013 - 14
Condo Media - January 2013 - 15
Condo Media - January 2013 - 16
Condo Media - January 2013 - 17
Condo Media - January 2013 - CAI Regional News
Condo Media - January 2013 - 19
Condo Media - January 2013 - 20
Condo Media - January 2013 - 21
Condo Media - January 2013 - 22
Condo Media - January 2013 - 23
Condo Media - January 2013 - 24
Condo Media - January 2013 - 25
Condo Media - January 2013 - Asked & Answered
Condo Media - January 2013 - 27
Condo Media - January 2013 - Homeowner’s Corner
Condo Media - January 2013 - 29
Condo Media - January 2013 - Insurance
Condo Media - January 2013 - 31
Condo Media - January 2013 - 32
Condo Media - January 2013 - 33
Condo Media - January 2013 - 34
Condo Media - January 2013 - 35
Condo Media - January 2013 - Vendor Spotlight
Condo Media - January 2013 - 37
Condo Media - January 2013 - Legal
Condo Media - January 2013 - 39
Condo Media - January 2013 - 40
Condo Media - January 2013 - 41
Condo Media - January 2013 - Maintenance
Condo Media - January 2013 - 43
Condo Media - January 2013 - 44
Condo Media - January 2013 - 45
Condo Media - January 2013 - Communications
Condo Media - January 2013 - 47
Condo Media - January 2013 - 48
Condo Media - January 2013 - 49
Condo Media - January 2013 - Industry Perspective
Condo Media - January 2013 - 51
Condo Media - January 2013 - 52
Condo Media - January 2013 - 53
Condo Media - January 2013 - Self-Managed Association Boards
Condo Media - January 2013 - 55
Condo Media - January 2013 - 56
Condo Media - January 2013 - Classified Service Directory
Condo Media - January 2013 - Advertisers Index
Condo Media - January 2013 - 59
Condo Media - January 2013 - 60
Condo Media - January 2013 - 61
Condo Media - January 2013 - 62
Condo Media - January 2013 - 63
Condo Media - January 2013 - 64
Condo Media - January 2013 - Cover3
Condo Media - January 2013 - Cover4
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