Just cause eviction rules in Fall River, MA — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Bristol County landlords must follow MGL ch. 239 summary process for evictions. No-fault evictions require 30-day or rental-period notice; non-payment requires 14-day notice to quit. Self-help eviction is barred by MGL ch. 184 §18.
Eviction in Bristol County (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro) is governed by Massachusetts General Laws chapter 239 and must proceed through Southeast Housing Court or Fall River/New Bedford District Court. Non-payment requires a 14-day notice to quit under MGL ch. 186 §11 or §12. No-fault termination of a tenancy at will requires written notice equal to a full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer. Fixed-term leases end on the stated date without notice. MGL ch. 184 §18 prohibits self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities exposes a landlord to treble damages plus attorney's fees under MGL ch. 186 §14. Retaliation within six months of a tenant's protected activity is presumed unlawful under MGL ch. 186 §18. New Bedford and Fall River both have active housing inspection divisions that tenants frequently involve in eviction disputes.
Self-help eviction: treble damages, actual damages, and attorney's fees (MGL ch. 186 §14, ch. 184 §18). Retaliatory eviction: 1 to 3 months' rent plus costs. Improper notice to quit: case dismissed without prejudice, must restart process.
Fall River, MA
Fall River prohibits all noises that menace health or interrupt sleep between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM to 8 AM on Sundays. The city's noise regul...
Fall River, MA
Fall River addresses barking and nuisance dogs under MGL Ch. 140 §157. A dog that is a habitual barker or creates a nuisance may result in a citation with a ...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance provisions. Construction activities that create excessive noise are prohibited duri...
Fall River, MA
Fall River's zoning code Ch. 86 §86-441 requires parking areas to be set back at least 10 feet from front lot lines and from abutting residential property li...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates the parking of trailers, semitrailers, and large vehicles on city streets under §70-320. Commercial buses designed to carry 7+ persons m...
Fall River, MA
Fall River enforces street parking regulations under Ch. 70 of the Revised Ordinances. A winter parking ban is declared when 3+ inches of snow are predicted,...
See how Fall River's just cause eviction rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.