Massachusetts Eviction Notice Law
Massachusetts's notice period for unpaid rent is 14 days (14-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent). No Massachusetts statute sets a notice period for lease violations.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a Massachusetts attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
Massachusetts eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent)M.G.L. c. 186, § 11, M.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | No state ruleM.G.L. c. 186, § 12, M.G.L. c. 239, § 1, M.G.L. c. 139, § 19 |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | 30 days (either side)M.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
What Massachusetts law says
What notice must a Massachusetts landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
For unpaid rent, serve a written 14-day notice to quit; a tenant at will who has not had such a notice in the past 12 months can stop the termination by paying in full within 10 days (and the notice must say so), and a tenant under a lease can cure by paying all rent, interest and costs by the answer date (M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12) (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in Massachusetts?
No Massachusetts statute sets a notice period or cure right for lease violations, so the notice to quit follows the lease's own termination clause, and a tenancy at will can be ended without cause by a full rental-period (at least 30-day) notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Massachusetts?
Either party can end a Massachusetts tenancy at will with written notice at least as long as the rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, so a monthly tenancy needs a full rental period's notice ending on a rent day (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
How Massachusetts compares
37 of 49 verified jurisdictions use a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of Massachusetts's 5 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Unpaid rent · lease violation | States |
|---|---|
| 14 days · no statewide rule | Massachusetts |
| 3 days · 15 days, with cure | Connecticut |
| 7 days · 30 days | New Hampshire |
| 14 days · 10 days, with cure | New York |
| 5 days · 20 days, with cure | Rhode Island |
| 14 days · 30 days | Vermont |
Other Massachusetts rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rentM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b), (d) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4), (6)(e) |
| Late-fee cap | No state capM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c) (timing only; no amount cap) |
| Entry notice | No statutory notice period. A lease may permit entry only to inspect, repair or show the unit to a prospective tenant, buyer or mortgagee; the landlord may also enter under court order, if the unit appears abandoned, or in the last 30 days of the tenancy to inspect for deposit damageM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleM.G.L. c. 186, § 12 |