Eviction Notice Requirements in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a landlord may end a tenancy for unpaid rent with a 14-day written notice to quit, and may end a tenancy at will with written notice equal to the rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Massachusetts at a glance
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 14 days
- 14-day notice to quit for nonpayment
- Notice for a lease violation
- No fixed period
- No statutory notice period; set by the lease (commonly a 7-day notice to quit)
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 30 days
- 30 days' written notice or one full rental period, whichever is longer
The rules in Massachusetts
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts rule: 14-day notice to quit for nonpayment.
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts rule: No statutory notice period; set by the lease (commonly a 7-day notice to quit).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts rule: 30 days' written notice or one full rental period, whichever is longer.
Where do the Massachusetts rules for eviction notices come from?
They come from M.G.L. c. 186 Sec. 11 Determination of lease for nonpayment of rent and M.G.L. c. 186 Sec. 12 Notice to determine estate at will. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Massachusetts compares
For unpaid rent, 39 jurisdictions allow a shorter notice than Massachusetts, and none require a longer one.
What this means in practice
A notice is usually the first step, not the eviction itself. A landlord generally needs a court order before a tenant can be removed, and changing the locks or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is not allowed in most states.
Serve the notice the way state law requires, keep a copy and proof of delivery, and count the days carefully: some states skip weekends and holidays.
Tenants who receive a notice can often stop the process by paying or fixing the problem within the notice period. Local legal aid offices can explain the options.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.