Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-11 § 10-11.7
Enforcement
Operative Text
(A) The provisions of this Section shall be reported to and investigated by the city’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity and enforced by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, and their duly authorized Agents, Officers and employees, by a noncriminal disposition pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 21D, and if applicable, by seeking to restrain a violation by injunction. Each failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this Section with respect to an individual tenant or occupant entitled to notice hereunder shall be deemed a separate offense triggering a separate warning or a fine of up to $300 per day. Unless otherwise provided, a person or entity violating any provisions of this Section shall be warned or fined in accordance with the provisions of the city Ordinances and/or Boston City Charter. The city may allocate fines collected for violations of this Section for rent relief. The provisions of this Section may also be enforced according to M.G.L. Chapter 40U as accepted by the city, also known as the “Green Ticket” Law. (B) Within ten days, the city shall petition the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Board of Health to promulgate regulations to prevent or discourage eviction actions during the COVID-19 pandemic by preventing the coerced entry into a unit by a sheriff, constable or other party, forcible removal of tenants and their belongings, and other such actions that would incur or exacerbate public health risk.
Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-11 § 10-11.7 establishes that the Office of Fair Housing and Equity investigates complaints under this section, while the Commissioner of Inspectional Services handles enforcement. Violations can result in warnings or fines of up to $300 per day, with each affected tenant or occupant counting as a separate offense. The city is also authorized to pursue injunctive relief to stop ongoing violations and may direct collected fines toward rent relief. A companion provision directs the city to petition public health authorities to adopt regulations limiting eviction-related actions that could worsen public health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-11 § 10-11.7, operators who fail to meet the notice requirements of this section face per-tenant, per-day fines of up to $300, meaning a single non-compliant action affecting multiple tenants can generate multiple simultaneous penalties. Compliant property managers generally maintain documentation showing that each tenant or occupant entitled to notice actually received it, creating a clear record in the event of an investigation by the Office of Fair Housing and Equity or the Commissioner of Inspectional Services. Enforcement can also take the form of a court injunction, so ongoing or repeated non-compliance carries consequences beyond financial penalties alone.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-11 § 10-11.7 gives tenants and occupants standing as individually protected parties, meaning a landlord's failure to provide required notice to each person is treated as a separate violation subject to its own fine. Tenants who believe this section has been violated can report the matter to the city's Office of Fair Housing and Equity, which is charged with receiving and investigating such complaints. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with that office, raising a violation as a defense in a housing court proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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