Chap. 0414 An Act to regulate public lodging houses in the city of boston.

Be it enacted, etc., as folloivs:

Section 1. Every building in the city of Boston not licensed as an inn, in which ten or more persons are lodged for a price for a single night of twenty-five cents or less for each person, shall be deemed a public lodging house within the meaning of this act.
Section 2. The board of police for said city may license persons to keep public lodging houses in said city. Xo fee shall be charged for such license, and it shall expire on the thirtieth day of April next after the granting of the same. Every such license shall specify the street or other place, and the number of the building, or give some other particular description thereof, where the licensee shall exercise his employment; and the license shall not protect a person exercising his employment in any other place than that so specified.
Section 3. No such license shall be granted until the inspector of buildings of said city has certified that the building is provided with sufficient means to escape in case of fire, and that suitable appliances are provided for extinguishing fires and for giving alarm to the inmates in ease of fire ; and said inspector may from time to time require such alterations to be made or such additional appliances to be provided as may in his judgment be necessary for the protection of life and property in case of fire.
Section 4. No such license shall be granted until the board of health has certified that the building is provided with a sufficient number of water closets and urinals, and with good and sufficient means of ventilation ; and said board may from time to time require the licensee to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect all parts of said building and the furniture therein, to the satisfaction of said board.
Section 5. In every public lodging house a register shall be kept in which shall be entered the name and address of each lodger, together with the time of his arrival and departure, and such register shall at all times be open to the inspection of the police.
Section 6. The keeper of every public lodging house shall at all times when required by any officer of the building department, the health department, or the police department, give him free access to said house or any part thereof.
Section 7. Whoever presumes to keep a public lodging house, or is concerned or in any way interested therein, without being duly licensed as hereinbefore provided, shall be punished by line not exceeding one hundred dollars; and any keeper of a public lodging house who violates any of the provisions of this aet shall be punished by a tine of one hundred dollars, and the licensing board shall immediately revoke his license.
Section 8.   This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved May 19, 1894.