Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 19 (2026)

Fines and imprisonment

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 19. Any contractor or subcontractor who shall knowingly, willfully, or negligently operate without obtaining a certificate of registration as required by this chapter and who is not otherwise exempt from the registration requirement or any contractor or subcontractor who continues to operate after revocation of or during suspension of, or who fails to renew his certificate of registration, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both.

Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any of the provisions of this chapter, with respect to which a greater penalty is not otherwise provided by the provisions of this chapter or by any other law may be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.

Such fines and imprisonment shall be in addition to any administrative penalty otherwise applicable thereto and may be sought in an action brought by the attorney general or the district attorney.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2003–2022 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Lepper, 798 N.E.2d 1030 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003).

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Commonwealth v. Lepper, 798 N.E.2d 1030 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 5× “266, § 30, and four indictments of operating as a home contractor without a certificate of registration, G. L. c. 142A, § 19. The trial judge adjudicated the defendant a common and notorious thief under G.”

Bridgwood v. A.J. Wood Constr., Inc., 105 N.E.3d 224 (Mass. 2018). “criminal prosecution as prescribed in [ G. L. c. 142A, § 19 ]," which authorizes the Attorney General or any district attorney to prosecute any person who knowingly and wilfully violates any provision of § 17 and, unless another statute provides for a greater penalty, subjects…”

Commonwealth v. Brien, 853 N.E.2d 590 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). “5 *313 Criminal prosecution thus depends on the reference to G. L. c. 142A, § 19. In the case of licensed contractors, as cited above, § 19 provides: “[a]ny person who knowingly and willfully violates any of the provisions of this chapter .”

Damian Anketell & Another v. Off. of Consum. Affairs & Bus. Reg.., 101 Mass. App. Ct. 628 (Mass. App. Ct. 2022). “Anketell argues that the hearing officer could not subject him to administrative sanctions absent proof that he made the material misrepresentation knowingly and willfully.”

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