Cal. Civ. Code § 14
Inspection of property for presence of abandoned animals
Operative Text
Section 14. Not more than 3 days after a property owner or a lessor knew or should have known that a property has been vacated as a result of summary process, the property owner, lessor or a designee shall inspect the property for the presence of abandoned animals. If the property owner, lessor or a designee encounters an abandoned animal under this section or section 4, the property owner, lessor or a designee shall immediately notify an animal control officer as defined in section 136A of chapter 140, a police officer or other authorized agent of the presence and condition of the animal. The property owner, lessor or designee who encounters an abandoned animal pursuant to this section shall not be considered the owner, possessor or person having the charge or custody of the animal under section 77 of chapter 272. For the purposes of this section, an animal shall be considered abandoned if it is found on or in a property vacated as a result of summary process. If the property owner, lessor or a designee fails to comply with this section, the lessor or property owner shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first offense and not more than $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. Funds collected under this section shall be deposited into the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund established in section 35WW of chapter 10.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 14 establishes a post-eviction inspection requirement tied to summary process proceedings in Massachusetts. Within three days of a property being vacated through summary process, the property must be checked for animals left behind. Any animal found on a property vacated through summary process is considered abandoned under this provision, and its discovery must be reported immediately to an animal control officer, police officer, or other authorized agent. Property owners or lessors who fail to meet these obligations may face civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for repeat offenses, with collected funds directed to the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 14, compliant property owners and lessors generally conduct a documented inspection of a vacated unit within three days of learning — or when they reasonably should have learned — that the property was vacated through summary process. If an animal is found during that inspection, operators typically contact an animal control officer, local police, or another authorized agent right away and document that notification. Operators who follow this process are not treated as the legal owner or custodian of the animal, which limits their exposure under related animal-welfare statutes; failing to follow the process, however, can result in civil penalties under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239 § 14 was designed in part to protect animals that may be left behind when a tenant is displaced through summary process, creating a legal obligation on the property owner or lessor — not the tenant — to inspect and report. If a tenant is concerned that a pet or other animal may be at risk after a summary-process eviction, they may contact a local animal control officer or animal welfare organization directly, as those agencies are the authorized recipients of reports under this section. Tenants who believe a landlord has failed to comply with the inspection or reporting requirements of this section may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or municipal animal control office to understand what enforcement or complaint options may be available.
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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