Cal. Civ. Code § 21
Disclosure of insurance information by lessor; violations; waiver
Operative Text
Section 21. The landlord or lessor of any residential or commercial property, upon the written request of any tenant or lawful occupant, of any code or other law enforcement official or of any official of the municipality in which the property is situated, shall disclose in writing within fifteen days of such request the name of the company insuring the property against loss or damage by fire and the amount of insurance provided by each such company and the name of any person who would receive payment for a loss covered by such insurance. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. A waiver of this section in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 21, landlords and lessors of residential or commercial property are required to respond in writing within fifteen days whenever a tenant, lawful occupant, or certain government officials submit a written request for fire-insurance information. The disclosure must cover the name of the insuring company, the coverage amount, and who would receive any loss payment. Landlords who fail to comply face a fine of up to $500, and any lease clause attempting to waive this requirement is void and unenforceable.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 21 generally maintain current, accessible records of their property's fire-insurance carrier, policy coverage amounts, and designated loss payees so that a written response can be prepared and delivered within the fifteen-day window. Compliant landlords treat any written request from a tenant, occupant, or municipal official as triggering that deadline immediately. Because the statute explicitly voids any lease language that attempts to waive these obligations, property managers typically review their lease templates to ensure no such clause appears.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 21 gives tenants and lawful occupants the right to request fire-insurance information from their landlord in writing and to receive a written response within fifteen days. If a landlord fails to respond or provides incomplete information, the statute provides for a fine of up to $500, and any lease provision purporting to strip away this right is unenforceable. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider contacting their local municipal officials, a tenant-rights organization, or a housing agency for guidance on available enforcement paths.
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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