Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XVII Chapter 121B
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 121B, § 17 (2026)

Liability of commonwealth or political subdivisions for debts of housing authority

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 17. No bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness executed or obligation or liability incurred by an operating agency shall be a debt or charge against the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof other than such agency. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to obligate the commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof other than the applicable operating agency, or to pledge its credit, to any payment whatsoever to any operating agency or to any creditor or bondholder thereof, nor shall anything therein contained be construed as granting to any operating agency any exemption from taxation except as expressly provided therein or to render the commonwealth, or any political subdivision other than such agency liable for any indebtedness or liability incurred, acts done, or any omissions or failures to act, of any such agency.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2004–2010 · leading case: Simmons v. Clerk-Magistrate of the Boston Div. of the Hous. Court Dep't, 448 Mass. 57 (Mass. 2006).
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Simmons v. Clerk-Magistrate of the Boston Div. of the Hous. Court Dep't, 448 Mass. 57 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 6× “In support of their position, the plaintiffs rely heavily on G. L. c. 121B, § 17, the statute governing the indebtedness of housing authorities.”
Lowell Hous. Auth. v. PSC Int'l, Inc., 692 F. Supp. 2d 180 (D. Mass. 2010). “185C § 19, notwithstanding the fact that Mass. Gen. Laws c. 121B § 17 expressly included housing authorities within the definition of “political subdivision.”
Gloucester Landing Assocs. Ltd. P'ship v. Gloucester Redevelopment Auth., 802 N.E.2d 1046 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004). “The judge *415 noted that the city was not a party to the LDA and, as a matter of law, could not be liable for any breach of the LDA or its covenant of good faith and fair dealing, citing G. L. c. 121B, § 17 (“No . . . liability incurred by an operating agency shall be a debt or…”
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