All Laws Decoded

Eviction in Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Where eviction cases are filed in Barnstable County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in Barnstable County

Eviction court
Southeast Housing Court - Barnstable Session — Housing Court Court page
Filing fee
$135 entry fee for a Housing Court civil or summary process (eviction) action ($120 plus $15 surcharge); blank summons $5; blank writ $5. Massachusetts Housing Court filing fees (M.G.L. c. 185C, s. 19)
Notice before filing (state law)
14 days' written notice to quit. For tenants at will: a tenant who has not received a similar notice in the previous 12 months can cure by paying the full rent due within 10 days after receiving the notice, and the notice must state this right. For tenants with a lease: the tenant can cure by paying all rent due, plus interest and costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the eviction case. Massachusetts rules
Renter households
20,024 (19% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28

Where eviction cases are filed in Barnstable County

Eviction cases in Barnstable County are heard by the Southeast Housing Court - Barnstable Session (Housing Court).

Court eviction page · Self-help center

The Barnstable Session serves Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties and is served by the Clerk's Office in New Bedford - do not mail or bring filings to the Barnstable address. Housing Specialists (court mediators) can be reached at (508) 677-1505 or (508) 994-0156. Documents can be filed electronically through the Housing Court's e-filing system.

How much it costs to file an eviction in Barnstable County

$135 entry fee for a Housing Court civil or summary process (eviction) action ($120 plus $15 surcharge); blank summons $5; blank writ $5.

Statewide Housing Court schedule. Payment by cash, check, money order or certified bank check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; confirm in-person credit card acceptance with the court. No cost to file into an existing case.

Source: Massachusetts Housing Court filing fees (M.G.L. c. 185C, s. 19)

How eviction cases work locally

MediationHousing Specialists are court employees who act as neutral mediators, help parties reach agreements and connect them with local resources.
Source: Official source
Tenancy Preservation ProgramWorks with tenants facing eviction because of disability-related behavior to see whether a reasonable accommodation can preserve the tenancy: (781) 267-3594.
Source: Official source

The Massachusetts eviction process

Massachusetts state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Barnstable County:

  1. Notice to quit: 14 days for nonpayment, which must be accompanied by the EOHLC rental-assistance form (G.L. c. 186, § 31); otherwise generally 30 days or one rental period for a tenancy at will, or as the lease provides.
  2. After the notice expires, the landlord buys a Summary Process Summons and Complaint and has a sheriff or constable serve it on the tenant 7 to 30 days before the chosen Monday entry day.
  3. The landlord files (enters) the case by close of business on the Monday entry day, with the served summons and complaint, the notice to quit, and the fee.
  4. The tenant files an Answer (defenses, counterclaims, discovery requests) by the first Monday after the entry day. The trial is listed for the second Thursday after entry (or another designated day). Housing Court cases usually start with mediation.
  5. Judgment by agreement, bench trial, or jury trial. Nonpayment cases are continued and stayed while a tenant with financial hardship has a pending emergency rental assistance (RAFT) application (G.L. c. 239, § 15).
  6. Execution issues after the 10-day appeal period. The court may grant a stay of up to 6 months (up to 1 year for elderly or disabled tenants) in qualifying cases. The landlord has 3 months to use the execution.
  7. A sheriff or constable gives at least 2 days' written notice (excluding weekends and holidays), then removes the tenant on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Belongings go to a licensed storage facility.

Full Massachusetts eviction rules with sources →

Rent in Barnstable County

Median gross rent in Barnstable County: $1,678/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

County tenant ordinance

No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure follows state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.

Eviction help in Barnstable County

Free legal help

Rental assistance

Tenant and eviction lawyers in Barnstable County

Other Massachusetts counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in Barnstable County?
Eviction cases in Barnstable County are filed with the Southeast Housing Court - Barnstable Session.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Barnstable County?
$135 entry fee for a Housing Court civil or summary process (eviction) action ($120 plus $15 surcharge); blank summons $5; blank writ $5.
Where can I get help with an eviction in Barnstable County?
South Coastal Counties Legal Services; Southeast Housing Court Lawyer for the Day Program; RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition).

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.