[HISTORY: Adopted as Art. 6 of the 1977 compilation. Amendments noted where applicable.]
These bylaws may be repealed or amended at any Annual Town Meeting or at any other Town Meeting specially called for the purpose, an Article or Articles for such purpose having been inserted in the warrant for such meeting.
[Amended 5-4-1987 ATM, Art. 27]
Every violation of any of the bylaws of the Town of Littleton, except as otherwise provided by law or these bylaws, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300 for each violation thereof.
These bylaws shall go into effect upon their acceptance by the Town and their approval and publication in the manner required by law, and all bylaws heretofore existing are hereby repealed.
[Added 5-4-1987 ATM, Art. 28; amended 5-5-2008 ATM, Art. 22]
A. 
Criminal complaint. Whoever violates any provision of these bylaws may be penalized by indictment or on complaint brought in the District Court. Except as may be otherwise provided by law and as the District Court may see fit to impose, the maximum penalty for each violation or offense brought in such manner shall be $300.
B. 
Noncriminal complaint. Whoever violates any provision of these bylaws, the violation of which is subject to a specific penalty, may be penalized by a noncriminal disposition as provided in MGL C. 40, § 21D. The noncriminal method of disposition may also be used for violations of any rule or regulation of any municipal officer, board or department which is subject to a specific penalty. Without intending to limit the generality of the foregoing, it is the intention of this provision that the following bylaws and sections of bylaws are to be included within the scope of this subsection, that the specific penalties, as listed here, shall apply in such and that, in addition to police officers, who shall in all cases be considered enforcing persons for the purpose of this provision, the municipal personnel listed for each section, if any, shall also be enforcing persons for such section; each day on which any violations exist shall be deemed to be a separate offense.
(1) 
List of provisions subject to enforcement under MGL C. 40, § 21D, procedures:
(a) 
Alcoholic Beverage Bylaw (Chapter 53, Art. I).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first and subsequent offenses, $50.
(b) 
Firearms Discharge Bylaw (Chapter 94).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first and subsequent offenses, $50.
(c) 
Street Numbers Bylaw (Chapter 66).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $10.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Select Board or designee.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first and subsequent offenses, $10.
(d) 
Long Lake Powerboat Bylaw (Chapter 62).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcing agents: Building Inspector/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(e) 
Abandoned Well Bylaw (Chapter 169).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $100 to $500.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Building Inspector/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(f) 
Removed 5-2-2016, Art. 19.
(g) 
Junk Car Bylaw (Chapter 165).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, warning; second offense, $25; third and subsequent offenses, $50.
(h) 
Junk Collectors Bylaw (Chapter 115).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300 (MGL C. 40, § 21D).
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, warning; second offense, $5; third and subsequent offenses, $50.
(i) 
Hawkers and Peddlers Bylaw (Chapter 109).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300 (MGL C. 40, § 21D).
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, warning; second offense, $25; third and subsequent offenses, $50.
(j) 
Sidewalks and Highways Bylaw (Chapter 150, Art. I).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50, third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(k) 
Conservation Land Bylaw (Chapter 77).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $200.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(l) 
Animal Control Bylaws (Chapter 84).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Animal Control Officer/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $10; second and subsequent offenses, $20.
(m) 
Animal Control Bylaws (Chapter 84, § 84-2F) (failure to quarantine).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Animal Control Officer/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second and subsequent offenses, $50.
(n) 
Animal Control Bylaws (Chapter 84, § 84-2G) (stray dog sheltering).
[1] 
Maximum fine: $10.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Animal Control Officer/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, warning; second and subsequent offenses, $10.
(o) 
Leash Law (Chapter 84, Art. III).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Animal Control Officer/police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(p) 
Burglar Alarm Bylaw (Chapter 68, Art. I).
[Added 5-8-2000 ATM, Art. 35]
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50 and $75.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: First three violations, warning; fourth and fifth violations, $50; six and more violations, $75.
(q) 
Fire Alarm Bylaw (Chapter 68, Art. II).
[Added 5-8-2000 ATM, Art. 35]
[1] 
Fine allowed: $50 and $150.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Fire Control Officer and police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: first three violations, warning; subsequent violations, $50; initiation of false alarm during maintenance, repair or installation where no permit has been obtained, $150.
(r) 
Valuable second hand items bylaw (Chapter 163).
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Police Officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: $300 per violation.
(s) 
Illicit Connections and Discharges to Storm Drain System Bylaw (Chapter 38, Art. I).
[Amended 5-7-2018 ATM, Art. 11]
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Highway Department employees, Board of Health agents, and police officers.
[3] 
Fine schedule: First violation $100; subsequent violations, $300.
(t) 
Stormwater management and erosion control bylaw (Chapter 38, Art. II).
[Amended 5-2-2016 ATM, Art. 21]
[1] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[2] 
Enforcement agents: Planning Department employees and the Building Commissioner.
[3] 
Fine schedule: First violation $100; subsequent violations, $300.
(2) 
Rules and regulations of the Board of Health and landfill.
(a) 
Criminal complaint. Whoever violates any provision of these rules and regulations may be penalized by indictment or on complaint brought in the District Court. Except as may otherwise be provided by law and as the District Court may see fit to impose, the maximum penalty for any violation of these provisions shall be $300 for each offense.
(b) 
Noncriminal disposition. Whoever violates any provision of these rules and regulations may, in the discretion of the Health Agent, be penalized by a noncriminal complaint in the District Court pursuant to the provisions of MGL C. 40, § 21D. For the purpose of this provision, the penalty to apply in the event of a violation shall be as follows: $25 for the first offense; $50 for the second offense; $100 for the third and each subsequent offense. Each day on which a violation exists shall be deemed to be a subsequent offense.
(c) 
Specific provisions.
[1] 
Rules and regulations of the Board of Health.
[a] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[b] 
Enforcement agents: Board of Health agents.
[c] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
[2] 
Nuisance Bylaws (Sections 1 and 2).
[a] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[b] 
Enforcement agents: Board of Health agents.
[c] 
Fine schedule: first offense, warning; second offense, after time specified in warning, $25; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
[3] 
Nuisance Bylaws (Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6).
[a] 
Fine allowed: $300.
[b] 
Enforcement agents: Board of Health agents/police officers.
[c] 
Fine schedule: first offense, $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
[4] 
Landfill regulations (Sections 2 to 5).
[a] 
Fine allowed: $100.
[b] 
Enforcement agents: Board of Health agents/police officers.
[c] 
Fine schedule: first offense: $25; second offense, $50; third and subsequent offenses, $100.
(3) 
Zoning bylaws. Notwithstanding the enforcement and penalties prescribed in § 173-5 of the Zoning Bylaw and the provisions of MGL C. 40A, the provisions of said bylaw may be enforced by the Building Commissioner by noncriminal complaint. Each day of violation may constitute a separate offense. No enforcement under this section shall be authorized until the enforcing officer has mailed by certified mail or delivered in hand to the offender a written notice of violation and 30 days have expired from the date of mailing or delivery and no appeal pursuant to Chapter 40A has been timely filed or, if an appeal has been filed, final determination has been made favorable to the Town. The penalty for violation(s) shall be as follows:
[Added 6-26-1989 STM, Art. 9]
(a) 
First offense: $25.
(b) 
Second offense. $50.
(c) 
Third offense and each subsequent offense: $100.
[Added 6-13-2020 ATM, Art. 25[1]]
The Select Board shall have all the powers and duties granted to Boards of Selectmen by the Constitution and General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by any Special Act of the Legislature applicable to the Town of Littleton, by these Bylaws, by the Zoning Bylaws, or by Town Meeting vote. The Select Board shall also oversee all matters affecting the interest and welfare of the Town and exercise the power and authority vested in the Town not specifically delegated by law to any other board or office.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This bylaw also changed all references to "Board of Selectmen" and "Selectmen" wherever they appeared in the General and Zoning Bylaws to "Select Board."