Eviction in Suffolk County (Boston), Massachusetts
Where eviction cases are filed in Suffolk County (Boston), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)
- Eviction court
- Massachusetts Housing Court - Eastern Division (Boston and Chelsea Sessions) — Housing Court (statewide specialized court, divisional sessions); District Court / Boston Municipal Court have concurrent jurisdiction Court page
- Filing fee
- $135 entry fee for a summary process (eviction) case in Housing Court ($120 + $15 surcharge); blank summons $5. eFiled cases also pay the eFiling provider's fee. 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
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $2,941/month HUD
- Renter households
- 207,832 (64% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Suffolk County (Boston)
Eviction cases in Suffolk County (Boston) are heard by the Massachusetts Housing Court - Eastern Division (Boston and Chelsea Sessions) (Housing Court (statewide specialized court, divisional sessions); District Court / Boston Municipal Court have concurrent jurisdiction).
- Eastern Housing Court - Boston Session (division clerk's office) — Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon St., Boston, MA 02114 · website
- Eastern Housing Court - Chelsea Session (in Chelsea District Court; Mondays) — 120 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150 · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center
Boston Session (Edward W. Brooke Courthouse) serves Boston neighborhoods incl. Allston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, West Roxbury (and Brookline in Norfolk County). Chelsea Session (in Chelsea District Court, Mondays) serves Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop and East Boston. Eviction cases may also be filed in the Boston Municipal Court (tenant can transfer to Housing Court). Clerk: Boston (617) 788-8486; Chelsea (617) 788-8485.
How much it costs to file an eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)
$135 entry fee for a summary process (eviction) case in Housing Court ($120 + $15 surcharge); blank summons $5. eFiled cases also pay the eFiling provider's fee.
Statewide schedule, same in every Housing Court division. The Summary Process Summons and Complaint form must be bought from the clerk (or as an eSummons online). Filing in a District Court/Boston Municipal Court instead costs $180 + $15 surcharge (mass.gov 'File an eviction case'). Fee waivers for people who cannot pay are available under the state indigency statute; ask the clerk.
Source: Massachusetts Housing Court filing fees (M.G.L. c. 185C, s. 19)
How eviction cases work locally
| Choice of court | Landlords may file residential evictions in the Housing Court division for the town, or in the local District Court / Boston Municipal Court; a tenant sued in District Court/BMC may transfer the case to the Housing Court. Only the Housing Court has Housing Specialists (mediators). Source: Official source |
|---|---|
| Mandatory first-tier court event (mediation) | Under Housing Court Standing Order 1-23, the clerk schedules a mandatory in-person first-tier court event 30-60 days after entry, where parties meet a court Housing Specialist to mediate and explore rental assistance. A tenant who doesn't appear may be defaulted; a landlord who doesn't appear may have the case dismissed. Source: Official source |
| Nonpayment cases pending rental assistance | In nonpayment cases the court must continue the case and stay execution while a tenant's emergency rental assistance application (e.g. RAFT) is pending, if the nonpayment was due to financial hardship (St. 2023, c. 28 / G.L. c. 239, s. 15). Source: Official source |
| eFiling and eSummons | eFiling (Tyler) is mandatory for attorneys in Housing Court summary process cases and optional for self-represented parties. The Summary Process Summons and Complaint can be bought online as an eSummons (GovHub) for a specific division/session. Source: Official source |
| Court date text reminders | Parties can sign up for free eReminder texts about eviction court dates (does not replace official notices). Source: Official source |
| Sealing eviction records | The Trial Court offers a process (including eFiling) to petition to seal eviction court records. Source: Official source |
| Tenancy Preservation Program | Court-connected program for tenants facing eviction because of behavior related to a disability; works with landlord and tenant on a reasonable accommodation. Source: Official source |
The Massachusetts eviction process
Massachusetts state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Suffolk County (Boston):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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 Suffolk County (Boston)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $2,359 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,476 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,941 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,526 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,894 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Suffolk County (Boston): $2,129/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
All of Suffolk County (Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop) is in this HUD area.
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance. Massachusetts county governments do not regulate tenancies; local rules (if any) are city/town ordinances.
Eviction help in Suffolk County (Boston)
Free legal help
- Greater Boston Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of the Greater Boston area; housing is a core practice. Also a Lawyer for the Day provider in the Eastern Housing Court ((617) 603-1807).
- Lawyer for the Day (Eastern Housing Court) — Volunteer Lawyers Project (617) 603-1700; GBLS (617) 603-1807; De Novo (617) 661-1010; Justice Bridge (617) 860-3414; Harvard Law School Legal Services (617) 390-2535.
- Court Service Centers (Massachusetts Trial Court) — Free help for anyone without a lawyer (forms, procedures); no income or immigration requirements.
Rental assistance
- RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) — Statewide emergency help of up to $7,000 per 12 months for rent arrears, moving costs, utilities; for households under 50% AMI (60% if at risk of domestic violence). Apply via the Housing Help Hub or a Regional Administering Agency; call 211.
- Housing Court Housing Specialist Department — Free court mediators who help landlords and tenants settle eviction cases and connect them to rental assistance.
City rules in Suffolk County (Boston)
Other Massachusetts counties
- Eviction in Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell)
- Eviction in Worcester County (Worcester)
- Eviction in Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence)
- Eviction in Norfolk County (Quincy)
- Eviction in Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River)
- Eviction in Hampden County (Springfield)
- Eviction in Plymouth County (Brockton, Plymouth)
Related
- Massachusetts landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Massachusetts (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Suffolk County (Boston)?
What is the fair market rent in Suffolk County (Boston)?
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.