Rent control rules in Cambridge, MA — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Cambridge has NO rent control. Massachusetts banned rent control statewide in 1994 via ballot question codified in MGL c.40P, and Cambridge cannot restore rent control without state legislative action.
Cambridge had one of the most extensive rent control systems in the nation from 1970 to 1994. In November 1994, Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot question banning rent control, codified as MGL Chapter 40P. This law took effect January 1, 1995, ending Cambridge rent control. Since then, rents are set by the market subject to standard landlord-tenant law under MGL c.186 and c.239. Cambridge has pursued alternative strategies including inclusionary zoning (affordable units required in new developments), a 100 percent Affordable Housing Overlay, tenant protections via the Cambridge Housing Authority, and advocacy for state-level rent control authorization. Recent state legislation (H.B. 1378 etc.) has been proposed but not enacted. Rent increases must still provide proper notice (30 days for tenancies at will under MGL c.186 s.12).
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces numerical decibel limits: 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night at residential receptors, with a 5 dBA penalty for tonal or impulsive sounds.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge treats persistent barking as a noise violation under Chapter 8.16 and an animal nuisance under Chapter 6.04; owners of chronically barking dogs fac...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge banned gas-powered leaf blowers in 2024, requiring all landscapers and residents to switch to electric models, with time and decibel restrictions r...
Cambridge, MA
Outdoor music events in Cambridge require a one-day entertainment license from the License Commission, with end times typically capped at 10 PM on weeknights...
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge enforces strict industrial and commercial noise limits: 60 dB days and 50 dB nights at residential property lines, aligned with MassDEP Policy 90-001.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge reserves designated EV charging station spaces for actively charging electric vehicles only, and new large developments must provide EV-ready parki...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle rent control.
See how Cambridge's rent control rules stack up against other locations.
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