How long does an eviction take in Massachusetts?
For unpaid rent, expect about 8.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 5.5 to 16.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Massachusetts actually earn?
We'll prefill Massachusetts's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,848/mo
- Property tax 1%–1.02%
- Insurance $1,000–$1,963/yr
- Vacancy 3.6%–3.8%
The Massachusetts eviction timeline
Each step comes from Massachusetts's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 8.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
14 days14-day notice to quit; tenant can cure by paying rent and costs by the answer date (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 11)
- 2
File and get a judgment
14–60 days · typical 28Answer is due on the date in the summons; trial is ordinarily the second Thursday after the Monday entry date
- 3
Judgment to lockout
12–21 daysExecution can issue only after the 10-day appeal period; 48 hours' written notice before the move-out
- 4
If the tenant appeals
10-day window10 days to appeal after judgment
Can the tenant pay and stay? Tenant can pay rent and costs on or before the answer date. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Massachusetts
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$135Summary process entry fee $135 ($120 + $15 surcharge)
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Massachusetts yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Massachusetts yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,848/moMassachusetts median gross rent, ±$24. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Massachusetts scores 60 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Massachusetts eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Massachusetts?
A nonpayment eviction in Massachusetts typically takes about 8.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 5.5 to 16.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Massachusetts?
14-day notice to quit; tenant can cure by paying rent and costs by the answer date (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 11).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Massachusetts by paying the rent?
Tenant can pay rent and costs on or before the answer date.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Massachusetts?
The court filing fee is $135 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Massachusetts?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Massachusetts costs a landlord roughly $4,400 to $5,500: about 8.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,848/month (about $3,600), court and service fees of about $240-$392 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 16.5 weeks can pass $9,400. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Massachusetts landlord-friendly for evictions?
Massachusetts scores 60 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 22.9/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Massachusetts: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcemalegislature.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcemass.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcemass.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcemass.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcemass.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcemalegislature.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
Get an email if Massachusetts's rules change
One short email when notice periods, fees or tenant protections change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.