{"id":"DUT-MA-004","kind":"duty","level":"state","jurisdiction":"Massachusetts","state":"MA","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"","eco":"","issuer":"General Court (codified statute; powers exercised by municipal boards of health)","authority":"Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XVI, Chapter 111","instrument":"G.L. c. 111, s. 31","title":"Health regulations of boards of health; publication as notice to all persons; penalty","dateIssued":"2026-09-28","effective":"standing","end":"standing","startDate":"2026-09-28","endDate":"","quarters":["2020Q2","2020Q3","2020Q4","2021Q1","2021Q2","2021Q3"],"types":["DUTY","CLOSE","GATH","MASK","EMP"],"addressees":["persons generally; employers and their servants and agents; owners or persons in control of premises"],"clause":"Boards of health may make reasonable health regulations. A summary which shall describe the substance of any regulation made by a board of health under this chapter shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town, and such publication shall be notice to all persons.","enforcement":"Fine of not more than $1,000 for any violation for which no other penalty is provided by law","functions":[],"notes":"Every city and town board of health holds standing power to make health regulations binding on all persons within the municipality; the section\u0027s penalty clause punishes whoever, \u0027himself or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person or any firm or corporation, violates any reasonable health regulation, made under authority of this section,\u0027 by a fine of up to $1,000; this was the authority for the municipal mask, capacity and closure regulations of 2020 and 2021 outside the field the Governor\u0027s orders occupied. Character as recorded: statutory_authority (enabling power; binds through the orders issued under it).","sourceUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter111/Section31","snapshot":"","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":62291,"grade":"primary","character":"statutory_authority","description":"","collection":"DUT-MA","url":"/library/DUT-MA-004","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/DUT-MA-004","citation":"General Court (codified statute; powers exercised by municipal boards of health), G.L. c. 111, s. 31 (standing) (Ex. DUT-MA-004)","stateName":"Massachusetts","related":["MA-008","MA-016","MA-017","MA-019","DUT-MA-005"]}