reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 49 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 11 - Maintenance of Fences Surrounding Land Laying Common

Section 11. If a division of fence between the owners of improved land has been made either by fence viewers or under an agreement in writing between the parties which has been recorded in the office of the clerk of the town, the several occupants of such land and their heirs and assigns shall erect and maintain said fences agreeably to such division; but if a person lays his land common and determines not to improve any part adjoining the fence so divided, and gives six months' notice of his determination to all the occupants of adjoining land, he shall not be required to keep up or maintain said fence during the time that his land lies common and unimproved.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 12 - Purchase of Rights in Fence

Section 12. If one person ceases to improve his land or lays open his enclosure, he shall not take away any part of the partition fence belonging to him and adjoining the next enclosure if the occupant or owner pays the reasonable value thereof, as determined in writing by the fence viewers.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 13 - Enclosing of Formerly Unenclosed Land; Liability of Owner; Exception

Section 13. If unenclosed land is afterward enclosed or used for depasturing, the occupant or owner shall pay for one half of each partition fence standing upon the line between it and the enclosed land of any other occupant or owner, the value thereof, as determined in writing by the fence viewers; and if thereupon such occupant or owner neglects or refuses, for thirty days after demand, to pay one half of the value, the proprietor thereof may maintain an action of contract therefor and for the costs of ascertaining the same; but the occupant or owner of unenclosed land on the island of Nantucket used only for depasturing shall not be subject to this section.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 14 - Boundary Disputes

Section 14. If the division line between lands of respective occupants is in dispute or unknown, the fence viewers may designate a line on which the fence shall be built, and may employ a surveyor therefor; and such line shall, for the purpose of maintaining a fence, be deemed the division line between such lands until it is determined that the true line is in another place, and until so determined all laws relative to the erection, maintenance and protection of fences shall be applicable to the fence erected or to be erected on such line.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 15 - Rebuilding of Fence on True Boundary; Duties of Adjoining Owners

Section 15. If it is determined that the true division line is in another place, each occupant shall remove his part of the fence to, and rebuild the same on such line; and in case of neglect or refusal by either to remove and rebuild his share thereof, the other may apply to the fence viewers, who shall view the premises and assign a time within which the fence shall be removed and rebuilt, and shall give the delinquent party notice thereof; and if such party does not remove and rebuild the fence within the time so assigned, the other party may remove and rebuild the same and recover double the expense thereof, with the fees of the fence viewers, to be ascertained and recovered in the manner provided in section five.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 16 - Fence Viewers; Jurisdiction Where Fence Is on Town Boundary

Section 16. If the line upon which a partition fence is to be made or divided is a boundary line of a town or is partly in one and partly in another town, a fence viewer shall be taken from each place.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 17 - Water Fences

Section 17. A water fence, or fence running into the water, shall, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, be built by them in equal shares; and they shall have like remedies as in case of partition fences.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 18 - Fence Viewers; Powers

Section 18. Fence viewers, when called upon to act under any section of this chapter, may determine whether a partition fence is required.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 19 - Penalty for Misfeasance

Section 19. A fence viewer who, when requested, unreasonably neglects to perform any duty required of him in this chapter shall forfeit five dollars to be recovered in tort to the use of the town, or on complaint to the use of the commonwealth, and shall also be liable for all damages to the party injured.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 20 - Fees

Section 20. Each fence viewer shall be paid at the rate of five dollars a day for the time during which he is employed, but his fee for services in any one case shall not be less than one dollar. Such payment shall be made by all or by such of the parties in dispute, and in such proportions, as shall be determined by a certificate in writing under the hands of the fence viewers acting in each case. If any person required to pay the whole or any portion of said fees neglects to pay the fence viewers within thirty days after the certificate has been delivered, they may recover in tort double the amount of the fees due from such delinquent person.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 21 - Fences Deemed a Private Nuisance; Right of Action

Section 21. A fence or other structure in the nature of a fence which unnecessarily exceeds six feet in height and is maliciously erected or maintained for the purpose of annoying the owners or occupants of adjoining property shall be deemed a private nuisance. Any such owner or occupant injured in the comfort or enjoyment of his estate thereby may have an action of tort for damages under chapter two hundred and forty-three.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 22 - Pounds; Establishment; Appointment of Keeper

Section 22. Each town may provide and maintain one or more pounds. The mayor or selectmen may appoint a pound keeper for each pound and one or more field drivers for the town.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 23 - Pounds; Penalty for Injuring

Section 23. Whoever wilfully injures a pound shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than three months.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 24 - Duties of Field Driver; Taking Up Untended Animals

Section 24. Every field driver shall take up horses, mules, asses, neat cattle, sheep, goats or swine going at large in the public ways, or on common and unimproved land within his town and not under the care of a keeper; and any other inhabitant of the town may take up such cattle or beasts so going at large on Sunday, and for taking up such beasts on said day the field driver or such other inhabitant of the town may in tort recover for each beast the same fees which the field driver is entitled to receive for taking up like beasts.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 25 - Duties of Keeper; Impounding of Untended Animals

Section 25. Beasts so taken up by a field driver or such inhabitant shall be forthwith impounded, and while so impounded shall be furnished with suitable food and water.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 26 - Fees of Field Driver and Pound Keeper

Section 26. A city by vote of its city council, approved in accordance with the provisions of its charter, and a town by order adopted by the selectmen or town meeting members, may establish, and from time to time amend, a scale of fees to be paid a field driver for sheep, goats and for other beasts taken up by him, and a scale of fees to be paid a pound keeper for animals impounded in the pound.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 27 - Payment of Fees

Section 27. The pound keeper shall not deliver to the owner any beast so impounded until the owner pays him his fees, the expense of keeping the beasts, and the fees of the field driver, which, when received, he shall pay to the field driver.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 28 - Use of Premises of Field Driver for Keeping Impounded Animals; Conditions

Section 28. Beasts taken up by a field driver in a town which adopts this section or has adopted corresponding provisions of earlier laws may be impounded on his own premises; and for the purposes of this chapter he shall be considered a pound keeper, and such place on his premises shall be considered a town pound relative to beasts therein impounded.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 29 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 29 - Remedies for Damage Done by Untended Animals

Section 29. If a person is injured in his land by horses, mules, asses, neat cattle, sheep, goats or swine, he may recover his damages in an action against the owner of the beasts or by distraining the beasts doing the damage and proceeding therewith as hereinafter directed.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 30 - Care of Distrained Animals

Section 30. Beasts so distrained shall be impounded in the pound or in some suitable place under the immediate care and inspection of the distrainor, and he shall furnish them with suitable food and water while they remain impounded.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 31 - Duties of Distrainor

Section 31. If the beasts are impounded in the pound, the distrainor shall leave with the pound keeper a memorandum in writing, under his hand, stating the cause of impounding and the amount which he demands from the owner for the damage done by them, and also for the daily charges of feeding them; and if they are impounded in any other place, he shall on demand give a like memorandum to the owner.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 32 - Release of Distrained Animals; Conditions

Section 32. The pound keeper shall not deliver the beasts to the owner until his fees, the amount so demanded by the distrainor for the damages and charges aforesaid, the expense, if any, of advertising, and all other legal costs and expenses have been paid to him.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 33 - Notice of Impounding

Section 33. Whoever impounds beasts shall, within twenty-four hours thereafter, give notice in writing, containing a description of the beasts and a statement of the time, place and cause of impounding, to the owner or person having the care of them, if known and living within six miles of the place of impounding, by delivering it to him or leaving it at his place of abode.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 34 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 34 - Publication of Notice of Impounding

Section 34. If there is no person entitled to such notice, the person impounding the beasts shall, within forty-eight hours thereafter, post a like notice in a public place in the town and in a public place in each of any two adjoining towns, if within four miles from the place where the beasts were taken; and if their value exceeds thirty dollars and no person claims them within seven days after the day of impounding, a like notice shall be published three weeks successively in a newspaper, if any, published within twenty miles of the pound, the first publication to be within fifteen days after the day of impounding.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 35 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 35 - Determination of Amount of Damages in Dispute

Section 35. If the owner or keeper of the beasts is dissatisfied with the claim of the person impounding them, he may have the amount for which he is liable determined by two disinterested persons, who shall be appointed and sworn by a justice of the peace or by the town clerk.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 36 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 36 - Procedure for Settlement of Claim

Section 36. If the amount for which the beasts have been impounded and detained is not paid within fourteen days after notice of the impounding has been given as before directed, or after the last publication of such notice, the person who impounded them shall apply to the justice of the peace or to the city or town clerk, who shall, upon the receipt of the fee provided by clause (23) of section thirty-four of chapter two hundred and sixty-two, issue a warrant to two disinterested persons, to be appointed and sworn by the justice or clerk, and they shall determine the amount due from the owner of the beasts for the damages, costs and expenses for which they have been impounded and detained, including fees paid by such person and reasonable compensation for their services.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 37 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 37 - Sale of Animals to Satisfy Claim

Section 37. If the amount so determined is not paid forthwith, the person who impounded the beasts shall cause them to be sold by auction in the town where impounded, first advertising the sale by posting a notice thereof for twenty-four hours at some public place in such town.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 38 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 38 - Disposition of Proceeds

Section 38. The proceeds of the sale, after paying all damages, costs, expenses and charges for advertising and selling the beasts, shall be deposited in the town treasury for the use of the owner, upon proof of his right thereto within two years from the sale.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 39 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 39 - Escaped or Rescued Animals; Right to Retake

Section 39. If beasts lawfully distrained or impounded escape or are rescued, the pound keeper, field driver or other person who distrained them may, within seven days thereafter, retake, hold and dispose of them as if there had been no escape or rescue.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 40 - Penalty for Rescuing Distrained Animals

Section 40. Whoever rescues beasts lawfully distrained or impounded shall be liable in tort to any person injured for all damages sustained thereby and the fees and charges incurred before the rescue; and he shall also be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 49 § 41 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 49 - Fences, Fence Viewers, Pounds and Field Drivers|Section 41 - Rights of Owner in Distress Proceedings

Section 41. The defendant in an action for rescuing beasts distrained or impounded shall not be allowed to allege or give in evidence the insufficiency of the fences or any other fact or circumstance to show that the distress or impounding was illegal, but if there is such ground of objections to the proceedings he may avail himself thereof in an action of replevin.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 2 - Results of Election; Determination

Section 2. In elections, the person receiving the highest number of votes for an office shall be deemed and declared to be elected to such office; and if two or more are to be elected to the same office, the several persons, to the number to be chosen to such office, receiving the highest number of votes, shall be deemed and declared to be elected; but persons receiving the same number of votes shall not be deemed to be elected if thereby a greater number would be elected than are to be chosen. Except as otherwise provided, this section shall apply to all nominations and elections by ballot at primaries or caucuses. Nothing herein shall derogate from the provisions of chapter fifty-four A.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 3 - Day of Election in Cities

Section 3. All elections in cities which by charter or statute are to be held on a Monday shall be held on the following Tuesday.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 3a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 3a - Written Acceptance of Candidates

Section 3A. Wherever the written acceptance of a candidate upon a nomination paper or a signature and place of residence of the person filing the same is required by law, it shall be sufficient if such acceptance or signature and place of residence is placed upon one nomination paper only of the group of nomination papers required to secure the nomination.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 4 - Computation of Time; Filing

Section 4. In computing the period of time prescribed in any statute relating to primaries, caucuses or elections, Sundays and holidays shall generally be included; but when the last day of such period falls on a Sunday or on a holiday, the following day shall be considered the final day of such period; and when the first day of such period falls on a Sunday or on a holiday, the day preceding shall be considered the first day of the period. Whenever the day designated for a primary, caucus or election is a holiday, said primary, caucus or election shall be held on the following day.  Except as otherwise provided by section thirty-eight of chapter fifty-three, all certificates of nomination, nomination papers, and other papers pertaining to primaries and elections, required by law to be filed on or before a specified day, shall be filed no later than five o'clock in the afternoon on said day.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 5 - Posting of Lists, Notices, and Copies of Laws

Section 5. All lists, notices and copies of laws relating to primaries or elections, required to be posted, shall be posted at the same places with the voting lists, or as near as may be thereto.
MA Gen L ch 50 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 50 - General Provisions Relative to Primaries, Caucuses and Elections|Section 6 - Laws Relating Particularly to Any City or Town

Section 6. Laws from time to time in force relating particularly to any city or town shall prevail where they are in conflict with the provisions of chapters fifty-one to fifty-seven, inclusive; but, except as otherwise provided by any such law, said chapters and all other statutes in any way concerning the right to vote at primaries, caucuses or elections, or its exercise, or matters incidental thereto, shall apply to such city or town, in addition to the laws particularly applicable thereto.