Worcester City Policies and Ordinances
Worcester Noise Ordinance
The City of Worcester has its own regulations concerning noise and expectations related to the volume of any activity originating from a private residence or vehicle; the policy considers excessive or unnecessary noise as a “threat to the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life of the public.” As a result, Worcester has developed and passed strict legislation to govern the ambient noise levels within the city: “No person shall operate any electronic sound reproduction device [radio/MP3 player] so as to create sound which is plainly audible in a public place at a distance of 25 feet or more in any direction from the device or the premises.
containing the device, whichever is greater.” Generally, this means that if noise can be heard on the sidewalk outside of your apartment, the Worcester noise ordinance is being violated, and residents are subject to complaint and action by WPD.
In addition, the City of Worcester has established its own set of “courtesy hours”: Loud noises that bother or disturb the ambient quiet between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on any day of the week will not be tolerated and will be subject to a $50 fine and/or the possibility of arrest. Also, no sound emanating from a vehicle (moving or parked) should be audible at a distance of 50 feet from that vehicle.
Living off-campus means understanding how a neighborhood community operates. Because not everyone in the vicinity of a student’s apartment is a Clark student, the noise policies are actually stricter than students would find within the residence halls or University-owned houses. Noise complaints remain the most common issue for our neighbors and our students. Please be careful and respectful of others when considering the amount of noise being generated in your spaces (and time of day).
Social Host Liability and Off -Campus Parties
Off-campus residents may consider hosting gatherings at their apartment or property that include the availability and/or consumption of alcohol. Massachusetts, like most states, has a Social Host Liability Law that places any party host at significant risk should anything happen to a guest during or after a gathering at their residence.
When students live on campus, Clark takes responsibility for many of the actions that happen in and around the residence halls and houses. This is one of the reasons why Clark employs resident advisers, community directors, and police officers who make frequent rounds of the property to address any questionable incidents or safety concerns. Students living off-campus, however, assume most of the responsibility associated with what happens in their apartment and under their supervision.
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the sale, delivery, or furnishing (making available) of alcohol to persons under 21 is prohibited and considered a violation of the law, subject to arrest at an officer’s discretion. In addition, a “social host” may — under certain circumstances — be held liable for injuries caused by guests of any age who, having consumed alcohol at the host’s residence, does harm to themselves or to a third party. A “social host” is defined as any person who provides alcohol to others as an act of hospitality or hosts a gathering that serves or condones the consumption of alcohol.
In Massachusetts, a host who simply allows alcohol to be consumed at their residence may be responsible for the actions of others. If the guest is a minor and the host reasonably knew or should have known that they were allowing an underage person to consume alcohol, the host may also be held responsible.
Dog Licenses and Registration
Some off-campus students might consider dog ownership if permitted by their lease. All dogs must be registered and licensed in the City of Worcester. According to the city ordinance, all dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs leashed and for cleaning up all waste.
Parking Information
Parking in the city — especially near or close to a private residence — can be extremely stressful. Many students choosing to live off-campus will continue to pay for an on-campus parking decal to guarantee themselves a parking space. Off-campus students should understand that parking on campus without a decal is a violation of Clark’s parking policy, and may be subject to a fine and/or removal of the vehicle at the student’s expense.
Students who live off-campus and wish to park a car in the neighborhood should follow all posted parking guidelines and restrictions. The Worcester Parking Enforcement Department patrols the neighborhood regularly and will fine and/or tow vehicles parked illegally.
Each year, the city will post notices of that restrict parking on certain streets at specific times for street sweeping. and restrict parking on certain streets at specific times. The city will tow vehicles that are parked in these restricted areas.
During winter months, students should be aware that during heavy snowfall, the city will declare winter parking bans that make parking on certain sides of the street — or parking on the street at all — illegal (depending on the street). Students living off-campus should check the Worcester Telegram and Gazette at telegram.com to see if a parking ban is in effect, follow @SnowParkingBan on Twitter, or sign up with the City of Worcester (worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/winter-parking) to receive parking ban alerts via text.
