Code of Massachusetts Regulations
780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Chapter 31 - Special Construction
Section 3111 - TEMPORARY OVERNIGHT SHELTERS
Subsection 3111.2 - Temporary Overnight Shelters - Defined
For purposes of section 3111, a temporary overnight shelter shall be defined as any building, facility, or space therein designed and used primarily as a church or house of worship for religious services or instruction or related activities which is owned or operated by a religious organization and qualified for exemption under 26 U.S.C. section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The primary use of the building, facility, or space therein is for religious services or instruction but may, on occasion, provide temporary overnight accommodation to a limited number of individuals for a limited period of time as provided for. Other groups or organizations wishing to offer overnight accommodations in buildings designed and constructed for other purposes shall file an application for change of use in accordance with section 105.
Temporary overnight shelters, as addressed in section 3111, shall be classified as R-l Use. Express administrative and technical requirements found in section 3111 shall override more general requirements found elsewhere in this code.