(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 1; Ord. of 6-13-83(1), § 1A; Ord. of 01-28-2005; Ord. of 1-28-04)
(a) 
The names and destinations of the streets, ways, squares and public places of the city shall remain as heretofore established, except that the city council may change and alter the same as provided in this section.
(1) 
Before making any alteration or change in the name and destination of any street, way, square or public place the city council shall hold a public hearing with relation thereto, first giving proper notice of the time and place of such hearing together with a statement of the proposed alteration or change.
(2) 
Such notice may be served by publication at least once in a newspaper published in the city and by delivering a copy of such notice to the abutting property owners on the street, etc., to be affected by the change in the name and destination.
(b) 
The city council shall establish the names of all streets, highways and public places hereafter laid out and accepted by the city, or by any other authority within the city, and shall cause signposts to be erected designating such names, and the names of all streets or ways laid out and accepted.
(c) 
No public way or part thereof, or square, shall be named or dedicated in the name of a person, unless such person’s name has the approval of the Director of Veteran’s Affairs.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 3; A0173-12)
No street or public way shall be constructed to a width of less than forty (40) feet; provided, however, to accept a street or way less than forty (40) feet in width, a plan and profile shall be approved by the planning board, approved by the city engineer, and adopted by a two-thirds vote of the city council.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 5)
(a) 
Every petition for the laying out, widening, altering, discontinuing or defining lines of streets or ways must have endorsed thereon the approval of the planning board, and shall be accompanied by a copy of an approved plan and profile, showing the present length, width, lines and grade of the street which it is proposed to have laid out, widened, altered, discontinued or defined; the abutting lands, with the fences and buildings thereon, and the length of frontage of each estate; the land to be taken and the names of the owners of such lands; also showing, in red ink, the proposed lines and grade of such street, and giving sufficient reference to stakes or other boundary marks on the premises, to enable the city engineer to locate such street with accuracy.
(b) 
Such plan shall be accompanied by an agreement referring thereto, bearing the signatures of such owners, parties and other parties in interest as may be willing to release all claims and demands against the city for property or other damage that may arise out of the proposed change in accordance with such plan, together with the amount of damage.
(c) 
A list of the names of all owners, and other parties in interest who may decline to release or state their prospective damages shall be filed also.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 7; A0173-12)
(a) 
The city council before passing any order for laying out, accepting, widening, altering, discontinuing or defining the lines of any street or way shall issue an order of notice as to the proposed action for a public hearing thereon before the city council.
(b) 
Such notice shall be published for two (2) successive weeks in some newspaper published in the city, the last publication to be at least seven (7) days before such hearing, and such additional service thereof as may be prescribed by law.
(c) 
Such notice shall state the time and place appointed for such hearing. The city council shall act upon the proposed resolve or order for the laying out, accepting, widening, altering, discontinuing or defining the lines of such street or way, and upon all questions relating thereto.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 8)
(a) 
Every dwelling house and other structure shall have proper street numbers affixed thereto in the manner designated by the city engineer.
(b) 
The owner of any building, or part of a building, who neglects or refuses to affix to the same the numbers designated by the city engineer or who shall affix or retain there, for more than three (3) days, any number contrary to such direction, shall be in violation of this section.
(Ord. 2-27-01; Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 21; Ord. of 8-15-94; Ord. of 04-08-2004; A0173-12)
(a) 
Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall place or deposit, or permit to be placed or deposited, in any public way, any impediment or obstruction of any kind, including snow or ice from private premises, without a permit from the city services commission; nor occupy or obstruct any public way to interfere with the convenient use of the same for public travel.
(b) 
The number of street corner boxes allowed, such as newspapers, real estate, employment, etc., at any public location, shall be limited to three.
(c) 
Private property means and includes, but is not limited to, the following exterior locations owned by private individuals, firms, corporations, institutions or organizations; yards, grounds, driveways, entranceways, passageways, parking areas, working areas, storage areas, vacant lots and recreational facilities.
(d) 
Public property means and includes, but is not limited to, the following locations: streets, street medians, roads, road medians, catch basins, sidewalks, strips between streets and sidewalks, lanes, alleys, public rights-of-way, public parking lots, school grounds, municipal housing project grounds, municipal vacant lots, parks, beaches, playgrounds, other publicly-owned recreation facilities, and municipal waterways and bodies of water.
(e) 
A police officer may arrest, without a warrant, any person who in his presence violates this section.
(f) 
Whoever is in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine in accordance with Section 1-8 of these Revised Ordinances of the City of Everett.
(C0099-14; C0434-20; amended as part of October 2021 update)
(a) 
This section shall only apply during a snow emergency as called by the police chief or his designee.
(b) 
This section shall apply to all residences, businesses and all other properties abutting a paved sidewalk – including, but not limited to, properties owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, all departments and agencies of the city, houses of worship and nonprofit entities. All provisions of this section shall apply to both natural and unnatural accumulations of snow.
(c) 
The owner of land or of a building abutting any highway, street, lane, court, square or public way, where there is a footway or sidewalk duly established in the city shall make said sidewalk convenient for public use or travel by removing any accumulated snow thereon.
(d) 
Sidewalks should be cleared to provide a minimum passage of 36 inches in width or approximately 2/3 the sidewalk’s width, whichever is less.
(e) 
All snow must be removed from property described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section within 12 hours of the formal declaration that the snow emergency has ended or after the snowfall has ended, as applicable. In the event of an unusually heavy snowfall or other exigent circumstances, the time limit may be extended at the discretion of the executive director of the department of public works or his agent. All bus stops must be cleared within 24 hours of the formal declaration that the snow emergency has ended or after the snowfall has ended, as applicable.
(f) 
Waiver.
To qualify for a waiver, all owners of record must occupy the premises as their primary residence. Application for a waiver must be submitted, with all supporting documentation, to the office of assessing by the first day of November preceding the upcoming winter. If these 2 requirements are satisfied, waivers shall be granted in the following circumstances:
(1) 
A waiver shall be awarded if all owners qualify for and receive the elderly exemption on their property taxes;
(2) 
A waiver shall be awarded if all owners are deemed physically incapable of complying with this section and whose combined annual income does not exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level. A letter, from a medical doctor, stating that a disability exists that prevents the home owner from shoveling must be provided to the city;
(3) 
Owners of multi-unit residential dwellings shall be eligible for waivers if all of the following applies:
a. 
All owners of record occupy the premises as their primary residence; and
b. 
All owners of record meet criteria provided elsewhere in this provision.
Any waiver granted shall be valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. The office of assessing shall maintain a list of all waivers granted.
(g) 
Fines.
(1) 
Whoever is in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine in accordance with MGL c.85, §5.
(2) 
The first offense of this section shall be punished by warning.
(3) 
Any subsequent offenses shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(4) 
Each 24-hour period of continued violation, following notice of the initial violation to the owner by the city, shall constitute a separate offense for which a separate and additional fine may be imposed.
(5) 
The fine structuring system, as indicated above, shall restart with each declared snow emergency and/or separate snow event.
(h) 
Appeals.
Fines shall be appealed in accordance with MGL Chapter 40U.
(i) 
Notice.
The city shall publish an annual notice on the city’s website and ECTV, in multiple languages, in Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Portuguese in the city during the months of October, November and December that snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 12 hours after snowfall has ended.
(j) 
Severability.
Should any subsection or portion of this section be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that decision shall not affect the validity of the section as a whole or any part thereof, other than that portion so declared to be invalid.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 23; Ord. of 11-27-95(3); A0173-12)
(a) 
No person shall erect, or cause to be erected, any fence or building on the line of any public way without first ascertaining the bounds of the street from the city engineer.
(1) 
If any encroachment shall be made upon any street or way, and the party making it neglects or refuses to remove the same after notice so to do, the city services commission may remove the same at the expense of the owner and shall cause the persons so offending to be prosecuted for such offense.
(b) 
No person shall erect any fence to a height of less than eight (8) feet above ground level on any side that has barbed wire or razor wire mounted on the top of such fence.
(1) 
Any fence erected with barbed or razor wire mounted on the top is prohibited on or adjacent to residential use property.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 26)
No person shall allow any gate or door belonging to premises under his legal control, and adjoining any public way, to swing on, over or into a public way.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 28; A0173-12)
(a) 
No platform or grate covering the entrance or passageway to a cellar or basement, or any shaft or light shaft leading to a cellar or basement, in any public way, shall project above the even surface of such way.
(b) 
Every such entrance, passageway or shaft shall be kept covered with a suitable platform or grate, or shall be guarded and protected by a sufficient railing on both sides thereof, and well lighted at night.
(c) 
Whenever such platform, grate or railing shall be adjudged unsafe by the city services commission, the owner thereof shall be notified without delay and shall replace the same with a safe and proper platform, grate or railing forthwith.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 30; A0398-06; A0556-06)
(a) 
No person shall, without a permit from the Chief of Police, sell in a public way or from any building, any goods or articles to any person on such way.
(b) 
No person shall place or permit to remain on a public way for more than ten (10) minutes any goods or articles of which he is the owner or in charge.
(c) 
No person shall stand in a roadway for purpose of soliciting a ride, employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
(d) 
No person shall stand in a roadway for purpose of soliciting contributions from the occupant of any vehicle without first obtaining a permit from the Chief of Police.
(1) 
Said permits shall be limited to:
a. 
A veterans’ organization chartered by the Congress of the United States;
b. 
A church or religious organization;
c. 
A fraternal or fraternal benefit society;
d. 
An educational or charitable organization;
e. 
A civic or service club; or
f. 
Other clubs or organizations operated exclusively and for non-profit purpose.
(2) 
Said organizations shall have been organized and operating in Everett; and have evidence of their non-profit IRS status.
(3) 
Said organization shall provide the Chief of Police with the locations, dates and times of the solicitations; and in the case of Youth Organizations, a plan for adequate adult supervision.
(e) 
No person shall stand directly in a lane of moving traffic on any street or roadway and stop or attempt to stop and engage any person in any vehicle for the purpose of soliciting contributions; or sell or attempt to sell anything to any person in any vehicle; or hand or attempt to hand to any person in any vehicle any circular, advertisement, handbill or any political campaign literature, or any sample, souvenir or gift; or in any other manner, in an attempt to interfere with the normal flow of traffic for any other similar purpose.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 31; A0173-12)
No person shall raise into, or lower from, the second or any higher story of a building, over any portion of a public way, any article of merchandise, except in accordance with a permit from the city services commission, and such person shall execute a bond to the city in such a sum as the city services commission may prescribe.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 39; A0173-12; amended C0030-18)
In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 85, Sections 8 and 9:
(a) 
With the exception of banners hanging on a building, no person shall place or maintain any sign, awning, canopy or other structure projecting into or over the public way without first obtaining a permit to project on or over the public way from the city;
(b) 
The city council, as the municipal board having charge of the laying out of public ways in the city, shall be responsible for issuing such permits; and
(c) 
As the licensing/permitting authority for such permits, the city council may:
(1) 
Fix the fees for the issuance of such permits;
(2) 
Make rules and regulations relating to the issuing and maintaining of such permits; and
(3) 
Prescribe the penalties for any breach of said rules and regulations.
(Ord. of 8-19-96(2); A0173-12)
(a) 
No person shall place or maintain a protective barrier or grate on any window or entrance in a building without first obtaining a license from the city council.
(b) 
Such license may contain terms and conditions as the city council may require.
(c) 
No license shall be granted unless approval has been received from the fire chief or his designee.
(d) 
The person or persons so placing and or maintaining the same shall also conform to any directions given by the city services commission and or the inspector of buildings.
(e) 
The property owner where such barrier or grate is to be located shall execute a bond to the city in such a sum as the city council may prescribe.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, Pt. 2, Ch. 17, § 40; A0173-12)
No person shall move a building in a public way without a license from the city council, to be granted upon such terms as in its opinion public safety may require, and such person shall execute a bond to the city in such a sum as the city council may prescribe.
(a) 
Purpose.
The purpose of this section is to provide for the temporary blocking of city streets, highways and roads in a safe manner to allow neighborhoods to have neighborhood block parties, celebrations, graduation parties, or other like events.
(b) 
Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
(1) 
PARTY—A neighborhood block party, celebration or event but shall not include a garage sale, yard sale, bazaar, rummage sale or other similar activity having the principal purpose as fundraising for an individual or organization, nor shall it include a political meeting or rally, carnival or theatrical or musical performances, such as rock concerts or similar events.
(2) 
STREET—A city street, highway or road.
(c) 
Permit required; application.
(1) 
Any person, before blocking or barricading a road in the City of Everett for purposes of holding a block party, celebration, graduation party, or other like event, shall obtain a permit from the City Clerk or his designee.
(2) 
The City Clerk or his designee shall be authorized, with the further approval of the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief and the Director of City Service or their designees, to issue a permit for the temporary blocking of a street for the purpose of holding a party. Such permit shall allow the temporary blocking of a road on one (1) particular date only, and during a specified time period which shall be of a single duration. An application for such permit shall be filed with the City Clerk or his designee at least fourteen (14) days before the commencement of such party. Such application shall contain the following information:
a. 
The name and address of applicant.
b. 
Declaration of approval signed by at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the residents of the proposed block;
c. 
The name of the street or streets and the description of the portions thereof to be blocked; major arteries and bus routes exempted.
d. 
A description of the specific party to be held.
e. 
The date and the hours thereof; holidays and weekends only.
(3) 
The specific nature of the form of the permit shall be determined by the City Clerk or his designee.
(d) 
Determination of Approval or Disapproval of Permit Application.
The permit shall be granted by the City Clerk or his designee upon determining that the permit bears the signature of the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, and the Director of City Services or their designees and that the party is consistent with the provisions of this section and all applicable sections of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Everett. The permit shall be denied if it is not signed by the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, and the Director of City Services or their designees or if either finds that blocking the street or portion thereof on the date requested in the application will unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic or upon determining that the party is not consistent with the provisions of this section and all applicable sections of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Everett. The City Clerk shall advise the applicant, in writing, of the reason for denial of the application.
(e) 
Duration of Permit; Time Limitations.
A permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be valid only for the date and hours specified thereon, which shall not be before 8:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m.
(f) 
Cleanup Required.
The applicant shall be responsible for the removal of litter, debris and other materials from the street or portion thereof used for the party that is attributable to or caused by the party.
(g) 
Blocking of Roads.
(1) 
Prior to the commencement of the time for which the road is to be blocked, the Director of City Services or his designee shall cause the street or portion thereof to be blocked by devices of his choice to motor vehicles except authorized emergency or hazard vehicles, as the same are defined in this Chapter and by Massachusetts General Law, and to provide detour signs for vehicular traffic. No other person shall in any manner block or place barricades in the road.
(2) 
A street, or portion thereof, blocked off for a party shall not be obstructed by picnic tables and shall not be obstructed by other obstacles which cannot be readily moved to allow emergency or hazard vehicles to enter in response to an emergency.
(3) 
The City Clerk or his designee shall notify the Department of City Services, the Everett Police Department and Everett Fire Department of the date and time of the road blocking at the time the permit is issued by telephone call followed by written confirmation.
(h) 
Limitation on Number of Permits Issued.
No more than two (2) permits shall be granted by the City Clerk in any calendar year for the same neighborhood.
(i) 
Alcohol Consumption Prohibited.
No alcoholic beverages shall be consumed on the public way, streets or sidewalks.
(j) 
Liaison Assigned, Police Detail.
(1) 
The Chief of Police or his designee may assign an on-duty uniformed police officer as a liaison to said function. Assigned officer may monitor function via unannounced observations of function.
(2) 
The Chief of Police reserves the right to request that a paid detail be provided for functions involving over fifty (50) people.
(k) 
Liability.
The persons, organization or association to whom the permit is issued shall be liable for all losses, damages or injuries sustained by any person, whether a participant or spectator at the block party or recreational event, whether or not said losses, damages or injuries arise by reason of the negligence of the person, persons or organization to whom such permit shall have been issued. The Office of the City Solicitor shall require the applicant to enter into a hold-harmless agreement, which agreement shall provide that the applicant shall agree to save and hold the City harmless of and from any and all obligations and liabilities which may arise from the temporary street closing which represents the subject matter of the application. The applicant shall further agree as part of these provisions to hold harmless the City and to defend at his own cost and expense any claims or lawsuits instituted by third parties, which obligations or liabilities might otherwise exist or be asserted against the City. The Office of the City Solicitor shall further have the option to require that, prior to the issuance of a permit or commencement of the temporary street closing for commercial advertising purposes or profit, the applicant submit evidence of liability insurance covering damages to property and injuries to members of the general public arising out of the temporary street closing in such amounts as may be determined by the Office of the City Solicitor.
(l) 
Penalties for Offenses.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty under section 1-8, in addition to any and all applicable state and local fines. Each day’s continued violation shall constitute a separate offense.