The Town of Arlington recently started publishing its legal notices digitally on its website and YourArlington. The change to print free legal notices was due to home rule legislation championed by local legislators, Arlington’s Select Board, and Town Meeting. The change allows the Town to respond to the changing landscape of the print newspaper business where subscription numbers are falling and the cost to run a print legal notice remains high. The change does offer some financial savings for the Town, while also increasing public access to these notifications by having them on the Town’s website and allowing residents to receive them via email.  

“I’m pleased Arlington has a more efficient and effective way to provide this information to residents,” said Jim Feeney, Arlington Town Manager. “I want to thank our local legislators, Select Board, and Town Meeting for pushing through this legislation and to the staff for their ongoing support and endless commitment to transparency in making these notices more readily available.” 

Legal notices published by the Town include notice of Town Meeting and Zoning Bylaw changes, hearings of the Redevelopment Board, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Districts Commission, Historical Commission, School Committee Budget Review, and Community Development Block Grant, as well as the announcement of Town Meeting, Tree hearings, and legal notices related to procurement.  

Among the requirements of the home rule legislation is that legal notices are to be posted on the Town’s website as well as a local “website reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication.” The Town has partnered with Your Arlington to fulfill that obligation. 

To visit the page and to sign up to receive email notifications, please visit ArlingtonMA.gov/LegalNotices.