Cal. Civ. Code § 27
Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violation of Secs. 23 to 26; applicability of other laws to requests to change locks
Operative Text
Section 27. The superior court, housing court, district court and Boston municipal court shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of sections 23 to 26, inclusive. Section 18 of this chapter and section 2A of chapter 239 shall apply to an act taken in reprisal against a person for requesting that locks be changed under section 26. Notwithstanding sections 23 to 26, inclusive, if a court has issued a protective order under chapter 209A, or any other law, ordering a tenant, co-tenant or member of the household to vacate the dwelling unit, the owner shall not interfere with the order and upon a request to change the locks as described in section 26, shall comply with such request.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 27 establishes that several Massachusetts courts — including the superior court, housing court, district court, and Boston municipal court — have equitable authority to stop violations of the lock-change and domestic-safety provisions found in sections 23 through 26. The provision also extends anti-retaliation protections to tenants who request lock changes under section 26, and it clarifies that when a court has issued a protective order requiring someone to vacate a dwelling, the owner must not obstruct that order and must honor a qualifying lock-change request. In short, the rule creates both a judicial enforcement mechanism and a layer of protection for people who invoke their lock-change rights.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 27, property owners and managers operating in compliance generally recognize that multiple courts hold equitable power to enjoin conduct that violates sections 23 through 26, meaning a court can order a landlord to stop or correct a violation. Compliant operators also take care not to retaliate against a tenant for requesting a lock change under section 26, since anti-retaliation rules under section 18 of chapter 186 and section 2A of chapter 239 apply to such requests. When a court-issued protective order under chapter 209A or any other law directs a tenant, co-tenant, or household member to vacate, a compliant owner treats that order as controlling and fulfills any associated lock-change request rather than interfering with the order's effect.
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 § 27 means that if a landlord violates the protections in sections 23 through 26 — including rules around lock changes — tenants have access to courts with equitable jurisdiction, such as the housing court or district court, that can issue orders to stop those violations. If a landlord retaliates against you for requesting a lock change under section 26, the anti-retaliation provisions of section 18 of chapter 186 and section 2A of chapter 239 may be available as a basis for a complaint or as a defense in a court proceeding. Tenants navigating these issues can explore options such as filing a complaint with a relevant court, raising a violation as a defense in an existing proceeding, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on how section 27 applies to their circumstances.
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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