Cal. Civ. Code § 127E
Copy of report of investigation; admissibility in evidence
Operative Text
Section 127E. A copy of the report of the investigation by the department of public health or the board of health, or, in the cities of Boston, Worcester and Cambridge, the commissioner of housing inspection, certified as a true copy by the custodian of the records of such agency shall be admissible in any proceeding brought under section one hundred and twenty-seven C without further authentication, and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127E, a certified copy of a housing inspection report issued by the Department of Public Health, a local board of health, or—in Boston, Worcester, and Cambridge—the commissioner of housing inspection carries automatic evidentiary weight in court proceedings brought under § 127C. No additional steps to verify the document's authenticity are required before it can be introduced. Once admitted, the report is treated as prima facie evidence, meaning the facts it contains are presumed true unless contradicted by other evidence.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127E means that a certified inspection report can be introduced against a property owner in a § 127C enforcement proceeding without the agency having to call a witness to authenticate it. Operators who receive notice of a housing inspection generally document any remediation work thoroughly, since the report's findings carry presumptive weight from the moment it is admitted. Maintaining clear records of repairs, timelines, and communications with inspectors is a practice commonly associated with operators who are prepared to respond to such evidence.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127E gives tenants a meaningful evidentiary tool: a certified copy of a housing inspection report from the relevant agency can be used in a § 127C proceeding without complex authentication steps, and its findings are presumed accurate. Tenants who have requested an inspection by the Department of Public Health, their local board of health, or—in Boston, Worcester, or Cambridge—the commissioner of housing inspection may be able to obtain a certified copy of the resulting report for use in related proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help explain how this provision fits into the broader range of enforcement options available under Massachusetts housing law.
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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