Deadlines & Notice Periods in Boston
Key timelines for tenant actions under MA law and Boston local ordinances. Missing a deadline can forfeit your rights — verify dates with a local attorney.
Jurisdictional stack
- municipal Boston — viewing
- state Massachusetts
- federal United States
Deadlines for Boston include the layers above. The federal layer (FHA, § 504, VAWA, SCRA) carries its own filing deadlines (typically 1 year for HUD complaints; 2 years for FHA private actions); the state layer governs landlord-tenant timelines like deposit returns and notice-to-cure periods.
Repair Maintenance Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 111 § 127L
| Action / Event | Timeline | Authority | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 14 days | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 111 § 127L | Prerequisite for filing |
Security Deposit Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B
| Action / Event | Timeline | Authority | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landlord must return security deposit | 30 days after tenancy ends | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B | Treble Damages Plus Interest Costs Attorneys Fees |