Westford Board of Health Adopts Lodging Rules, Moves Toward Kratom Ban

WESTFORD — February 9, 2026 — Westford Board of Health adopts lodging regulations and signals upcoming kratom ban. The board voted unanimously Monday to approve transient lodging regulations under MGL Chapter 111, Section 31, setting annual permit fees of $125 for establishments with fewer than six units and $200 for six or more, covering hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and inns. Cheryl Sbarra, Esq., Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney at the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, told the board that 13 Massachusetts municipalities have already banned or regulated synthetic kratom products and described Northampton's experience — where health inspectors found only synthetic products on store shelves — as a model for Westford's anticipated ban, noting that the city updated its regulation in October 2025 with "all-encompassing capturing language" for future synthetic variants. All five board members supported directing staff to draft a complete kratom ban for the March meeting. In new business, Health Director Ray reported three Westford tobacco retailers were each fined $1,000 for selling to minors during compliance checks, with all fines paid, and the board flagged an ownership-transfer loophole in fine escalation as a regulatory gap to address.