Massachusetts sets a statewide minimum wage of $15.00 per hour under MGL Chapter 151, and generally preempts cities from adopting higher local minimum wages.
MGL Chapter 151 establishes Massachusetts wage and hour law, including the statewide minimum wage which reached $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2023. The tipped minimum wage is $6.75, with employers required to ensure total compensation reaches the regular minimum. Massachusetts case law and statutory framework treat wage levels as a matter of statewide concern, generally preempting municipalities from setting different rates for private employers. However, cities may impose higher wage floors for their own employees and contractors through living wage ordinances such as those in Boston and Cambridge.
Wage violations carry treble damages, attorney fees, and Attorney General civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation under MGL Chapter 149 Section 27C.
Lowell, MA
Lowell applies the Massachusetts DEP 10-dB-above-ambient standard for objective measurement and uses a plainly-audible test for subjective enforcement.
Lowell, MA
Lowell restricts gas-powered leaf blower use to daytime hours; no outright ban exists, but decibel and hour limits apply under the general noise ordinance.
Lowell, MA
Outdoor music at restaurants, breweries, and event venues in Lowell requires an entertainment license and must end by 10 p.m. in residential zones.
Lowell, MA
Lowell enforces nighttime quiet hours that restrict unreasonable noise in residential areas, authorized under MGL c.40 s.21 and enforced by Lowell Police and...
Lowell, MA
Amplified music from homes, vehicles, or outdoor events in Lowell must not be plainly audible beyond 50 feet and is subject to permit rules for public venues.
Lowell, MA
Industrial operations in Lowell must keep noise within Massachusetts DEP guidelines and the local ordinance, with stricter limits at residential property lines.
See how Lowell's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.