Plymouth County, MA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Plymouth County, MA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Just cause
- Not required statewide
- Tenancy-at-will notice
- 30 days written
- Nonpayment notice
- 14 days
- Statute
- MGL c.239 §1
- Town authority
- None
Summary
Massachusetts has no statewide just-cause eviction law, and no Plymouth County town can add one. A landlord ends a tenancy at will with 30 days' written notice, or 14 days for nonpayment of rent, then files summary process under MGL c.239 §1.
If a forcible entry into land or tenements has been made, if a peaceable entry has been made and the possession is unlawfully held by force, if the lessee of land or tenements or a person holding under him holds possession without right after the determination of a lease by its own limitation or by notice to quit or otherwise...
Full Breakdown
No statute forces a landlord to prove cause before ending a tenancy. For a tenancy at will, Chapter 186 §12 requires notice equal to one rent interval or 30 days, whichever is longer; nonpayment cuts that to 14 days. After the notice expires, the landlord files summary process under Chapter 239 §1 and must win a court judgment before a constable removes anyone. Towns cannot impose just cause, relocation payments, or a good-cause defense. A tenant's real protection is the process itself: proper written notice, a hearing in the Housing or District Court, and a judgment before any lawful eviction.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who skips the required notice or forces a tenant out without a court judgment can have the case dismissed and faces treble damages under Chapter 186 §14 for an illegal lockout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my landlord need a reason to evict me?
How much notice comes before eviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts rental property rules overview
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