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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 523 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1012
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mark C. Montigny
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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 window guards in residential rental properties.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 523 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1012
By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1012) of Mark C. Montigny for
legislation relative to window guards in residential rental properties. Housing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 892 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to window guards in residential rental properties.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 3R the following section:-
3 SECTION 3R 1/2: WINDOW GUARDS IN RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTIES
4 (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
5 (1) The term “child” means any individual ten years of age or under.
6 (2) The term “Department” means the Department of Public Safety.
7 (3) The term “landlord” means the owner of a multiple dwelling.
8 (4) The term “lease” means the lease agreement, rental agreement, or any other document
9legally formalizing the rental arrangement between the landlord and tenant. 2 of 4
10 (5) The term “multiple dwelling” has the meaning assigned to it in Chapter 151B Section
111.11.
12 (6) The term “tenant” means the lessee or other occupant residing within a dwelling unit
13of a multiple dwelling, regardless of whether the occupant is a party to the lease.
14 (7) The term “window guard” means a bar, screen, or grille assembly installed in a
15window for the purpose of preventing a child from accidental falling out of the window, in
16accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Department.
17 (8) The term “applicable window” means any window greater than six feet above grade
18that is also capable of opening sufficiently to allow a five inch diameter ball to pass through and
19is not connected to a fire escape.
20 (b) Installation.
21 (1) The landlord or his agent, at the request of a tenant with a child, shall install and
22maintain window guards on all applicable windows in the tenant’s unit. The landlord or his
23agent, at the further request of a tenant with a child, shall install and maintain window guards on
24all applicable windows in the common area of the multiple dwelling accessible by the tenant
25without having to leave and reenter the building.
26 (2) Each window guard installed pursuant to subsection 1 shall be designed, constructed,
27and installed so that it may not deliberately or through accident, ignorance, or inadvertence, be
28removed, opened, or dislodged without the use of a key or tool. The key or tool shall remain in
29the possession of the landlord or his agent. Each window guard installed on a window connected 3 of 4
30to a fire escape shall be releasable or removable from the inside without use of a key, tool, or
31excessive force.
32 (3) The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding the design,
33installation, yearly inspection, and maintenance of window guards.
34 (c) Notice.
35 (1) At the beginning of the tenancy, and at least annually thereafter, the landlord or his
36agent shall provide the tenant with a notice, in accordance with subsection 2, of the tenant’s right
37to have window guards installed.
38 (2) The notice shall be in paper format and contain the following text prominently
39displayed in the lease in no less than 10 point type: “Parents with children under the age of 10
40have the right, at no additional charge, to have window guards installed within the rented
41apartment and the common areas of the building, to prevent children from accidentally falling
42out of the window.” The landlord or his agent shall also give similar oral notice to the tenant at
43the beginning of the tenancy.
44 (3) The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations to establish a yearly training
45program for landlords and tenants. The Department shall also promulgate rules and regulations to
46establish the necessary training that the landlord or his agent shall provide to a tenant upon
47installation of a window guard within the tenant’s unit and upon a tenant beginning a lease in a
48multiple dwelling with window guards preinstalled.
49 (d) Prohibitions. 4 of 4
50 (1) The owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee or managing agent of multiple dwelling, or
51other person having the right of ownership or possession or right to rent, lease, or sell, or
52negotiate for the sale or lease of such land or accommodations, or any agent or employee of such
53a person, shall not:
54 (i) Charge a tenant requesting window guards any additional rent or fees that a tenant not
55requesting window guards would be charged.
56 (ii) Communicate or indicate to the tenant in any way that the installation of window
57guards is dependent upon additional payment by the tenant.
58 (iii) Impose any type of pre-condition or psychological deterrent, preliminary to
59installation of window guards.
60 (iv) Discriminate against a tenant exercising the right to have window guards installed in
61any way, including the terms, conditions or privileges of such accommodations or land or the
62acquisition thereof or renewal of the lease, or in the furnishing of facilities and services in
63connection therewith.
64 (2) No occupant of a multiple dwelling, or any other person, shall obstruct or interfere
65with the installation of window guards, nor shall any person remove or otherwise render
66ineffective window guards, provided, however, that the landlord or his agent may remove
67window guards from an unoccupied unit or with the written consent of the tenant.
68 (3) The Department shall, within a reasonable period of time, investigate complaints filed
69with regard to a violation under this section, and may impose up to a $5,000 civil penalty for a
70violation not remedied within ten business days.