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Marshfield is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, with a population of approximately 28,000. While it is primarily known as a South Shore beach community, Marshfield has a meaningful renter population, and many tenants in the area are subject to seasonal lease arrangements, year-round rentals, and the full scope of Massachusetts state tenant protections.
Massachusetts is widely regarded as one of the most tenant-friendly states in the nation. Renters in Marshfield benefit from strict security deposit rules, strong habitability standards enforced through the state sanitary code, robust anti-retaliation protections, and clear eviction procedures. Although Marshfield has no local rent control ordinance or additional local tenant protections beyond state law, the statewide framework provides a meaningful safety net for renters.
This page summarizes the key tenant rights that apply in Marshfield under Massachusetts General Laws. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a legal aid organization.
Marshfield has no rent control ordinance. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that prohibited rent control across the entire Commonwealth, including in cities and towns that previously had local rent control programs such as Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. That ban remained in effect for over two decades.
In January 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which repealed the 1994 ban and restored the authority of municipalities to enact their own local rent stabilization ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts city or town — including Marshfield — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under this restored authority.
In practical terms, this means Marshfield landlords may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or with proper written notice on a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap on rent increases in Marshfield. Tenants facing steep rent increases have no local or state rent stabilization law to rely on, and their primary protection is the requirement that landlords provide legally sufficient notice before a rent increase takes effect.
Massachusetts law provides Marshfield renters with several significant protections that apply regardless of whether a local ordinance exists.
Security Deposits (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the United States. A landlord may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account in Massachusetts, and the tenant must receive written notice of the bank name, account number, and branch address within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Interest accrues at the rate of 5% per year or the actual rate paid by the bank, whichever is less, and must be paid to the tenant annually or credited toward rent. At the end of the tenancy, the landlord must return the deposit — along with any accrued interest — within 30 days, accompanied by an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply can expose the landlord to liability for three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Habitability and Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): All rental units in Marshfield must comply with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, plumbing, electrical systems, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Landlords are legally required to maintain rental units in compliance with these standards at all times. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after receiving written notice, tenants may file a complaint with the Marshfield Board of Health, withhold rent under certain conditions, exercise a repair-and-deduct remedy for minor repairs (up to four months' rent in a twelve-month period), or terminate the lease if conditions are serious enough (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L).
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): To end a month-to-month tenancy in Marshfield, a landlord must provide the tenant with at least 30 days' written notice. Critically, this notice must be timed to expire at the end of a rental period — meaning a landlord cannot give notice mid-month and expect the tenancy to end before the next full rental period has elapsed. Tenants must also give landlords the same 30-day notice when they intend to vacate.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise their legal rights. Protected acts include reporting housing code violations to the Board of Health, contacting a government agency about housing conditions, organizing other tenants, or pursuing legal remedies. Retaliation includes raising rent, reducing services, or commencing eviction proceedings. If a landlord takes any such action within six months of a tenant's protected activity, the law creates a rebuttable presumption that the action was retaliatory. Tenants who prevail on a retaliation claim may recover actual damages, up to three months' rent, and attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Self-help eviction is illegal in Massachusetts. A landlord may not lock a tenant out of their unit, remove their belongings, or interfere with utility services as a means of forcing a tenant to leave. Tenants subjected to an unlawful lockout or utility shutoff are entitled to recover actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees and costs.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186, Section 15B governs security deposits for all rental properties in Marshfield and throughout the Commonwealth. The rules are among the strictest in the country, and landlords who fail to follow them precisely can face significant financial penalties.
Maximum Amount: A security deposit cannot exceed one month's rent. A landlord may also collect first and last month's rent at the start of a tenancy, but the security deposit itself is capped at one month's rent. Landlords may not collect additional amounts labeled as 'cleaning deposits,' 'pet deposits,' or similar charges that would effectively circumvent the one-month cap.
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank. The landlord must provide the tenant with written notice — within 30 days of receipt — of the bank's name and address and the account number. The landlord must pay the tenant interest on the deposit annually (or apply it as a rent credit), at a rate of 5% per year or the bank's actual rate, whichever is lower.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the full deposit — together with accrued interest and a written itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days of the tenancy ending. Deductions are permitted only for unpaid rent or for damage beyond normal wear and tear that is documented with receipts or written estimates.
Penalties for Violations: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 30 days, fails to provide required notices, commingles the deposit with personal funds, or wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant may be entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees and court costs, under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7). Courts in Massachusetts have applied this treble-damages provision strictly.
Evictions in Marshfield follow the Massachusetts summary process procedure governed primarily by M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and M.G.L. c. 186 (Estates for Years and at Will). Massachusetts law provides significant procedural protections for tenants, and self-help eviction is strictly prohibited.
Step 1 — Notice to Quit: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Quit. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give at least 14 days' written notice to quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11). For termination of a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault), at least 30 days' notice is required, and the notice must expire at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). For lease violations other than nonpayment, notice requirements vary by the specific breach and lease terms.
Step 2 — Summons and Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process Summons and Complaint in the Brockton Division of the District Court or Plymouth Housing Court, which has jurisdiction over Plymouth County. The tenant receives a court date and must be served with the summons at least seven days before the hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: At the hearing, both parties may present evidence and arguments. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including the landlord's failure to maintain the unit in compliance with the state sanitary code (a 'rent withholding' defense), retaliation, improper notice, and others. Tenants may also request a continuance to seek legal counsel.
Step 4 — Judgment and Appeal: If the court enters judgment for the landlord, the tenant typically has 10 days to appeal to the Appellate Division. Filing an appeal may stay execution of the eviction while the appeal is pending, provided the tenant pays or bonds any outstanding rent.
Step 5 — Execution: If judgment is not appealed or the appeal fails, the landlord may obtain an execution (writ of possession) and arrange for a constable or sheriff to remove the tenant. Only a court officer may physically remove a tenant — the landlord has no authority to do so personally.
Self-Help Eviction Prohibited (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): A landlord who locks a tenant out, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes the tenant's personal property without a court order commits an unlawful act. The tenant may seek emergency injunctive relief and recover damages equal to the greater of actual damages or three months' rent, plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause Eviction: Marshfield does not have a just cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston — which enacted a Just Cause Eviction ordinance in 2024 requiring landlords to demonstrate a valid legal reason to terminate a tenancy — Marshfield landlords may terminate a month-to-month tenancy without providing any specific reason, as long as proper notice is given.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Marshfield renters with legal questions should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Greater Boston Legal Services or Mass Legal Help. RentCheckMe makes no representations about the completeness or current accuracy of the information on this page and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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