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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1394 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1277
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Barrett
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to solar drying of laundry.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1394 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1277
By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1277) of Michael J. Barrett for
legislation relative to the use of outdoor clotheslines. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1319 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to solar drying of laundry.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 184 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 36. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
3meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
4 “Association of homeowners”, a community association, condominium association,
5homeowners association, cooperative or any other nongovernmental entity with covenants, by-
6laws and administrative provisions with which the homeowner’s compliance is required.
7 “Clothesline”, a rope, cord, wire or similar device on which clothing or other items
8including, but not limited to, linens are hung outdoors to dry. 2 of 2
9 (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a homeowner or tenant
10shall not be prohibited from installing or using a clothesline.
11 (c) A homeowner or an association of homeowners may adopt rules that reasonably
12restrict the placement and use of a clothesline on the premises of a residential dwelling;
13provided, however, that those restrictions shall not prohibit the use of clotheslines. No private
14entity shall assess or charge a homeowner a fee for the placement or use of a clothesline. If a
15homeowner or an association of homeowners has a contract, deed, covenant, restriction, rule, by-
16law, lease agreement or rental agreement that prohibits the use of clotheslines on the effective
17date of this act, the homeowner or association of homeowners shall hold a meeting to reconsider
18the provision prohibiting the use of clotheslines at the request of a unit owner or tenant;
19provided, however, that in the case of a tenant leasing or renting a unit in an association, the
20tenant shall make such a request to the unit owner. Any such meeting shall be held at a date and
21time agreed upon with the requesting party and after providing reasonable notice to all of the
22interested parties.
23 (d) Upon approval of this section by the legislative body of a city or town, the following
24question shall be placed on the official ballot and submitted to the voters of that city or town at
25the next regular municipal or state election:
26 “Shall (the city or town) accept Section 36 of Chapter 184 of the General Laws relative to
27the solar drying of laundry?”
28 If a majority of the voters voting on the question vote in the affirmative, this section shall
29take effect in that city or town.