3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Rent control is prohibited statewide in Massachusetts under MGL c. 40P (the Rent Control Prohibition Act passed by 1994 ballot Question 9). Boston's 2023 home-rule petition to re-enable rent stabilization passed the City Council but remains pending at the State House. Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop have no rent control. All rent increases require proper state-law notice.
MGL c. 40P (The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act)
Chapter 40P: THE MASSACHUSETTS RENT CONTROL PROHIBITION ACT Section 1 Title Section 2 Purpose Section 3 Definition of rent control Section 4 General prohibition; exception Section 5 Preemption
MA does not have a statewide just-cause eviction law. Evictions in Suffolk County follow MGL c. 239 summary process. Boston's CORI and Source of Income protections and the statewide eviction record sealing law (HOMES Act 2024) provide tenant protections. No-cause termination of a tenancy at will requires 30+ days notice; lease non-renewal requires timely notice per the lease.
Boston requires all non-owner-occupied rental properties to register annually with Inspectional Services Department (ISD) under Boston Ordinance 9-1.3 (Rental Registration), with inspection every 5 years. Chelsea requires rental registration under Chapter 9. Revere has Rental Property Registration in §11.80. Winthrop does not have a registration program but enforces the State Sanitary Code.
1 cities in Suffolk County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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