Mass. Gen. Laws » Part II Title I Chapter 185C
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, § 3 (2026)

Concurrent jurisdiction; powers of superior court department; enforcement authority

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 3. The divisions of the housing court department shall have common law and statutory jurisdiction concurrent with the divisions of the district court department and the superior court department of all crimes and of all civil actions arising in the city of Boston in the case of that division, in the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire in the case of the western division and within the cities and towns included in the Worcester county division, northeastern division and southeastern division, in the case of those divisions, under chapter forty A, sections twenty-one to twenty-five, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and eighteen, sections fourteen and eighteen of chapter one hundred and eighty-six and under so much of sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven F, inclusive, and sections one hundred and twenty-seven H to one hundred and twenty-seven L, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven, so much of chapter ninety-three A, so much of section sixteen of chapter two hundred and seventy, so much of chapters one hundred and forty-three, one hundred and forty-eight, and two hundred and thirty-nine, jurisdiction under the provisions of common law and of equity and any other general or special law, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation as is concerned directly or indirectly with the health, safety, or welfare, of any occupant of any place used, or intended for use, as a place of human habitation and the possession, condition, or use of any particular housing accommodations or household goods or services situated therein or furnished in connection there with or the use of any real property and activities conducted there on as such use affects the health, welfare and safety of any resident, occupant, user or member of the general public and which is subject to regulation by local cities and towns under the state building code, state specialized codes, state sanitary code, and other applicable statutes and ordinances. The divisions of the housing court department shall also have jurisdiction of all housing problems, including all contract and tort actions which affect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or owners thereof, arising within and affecting residents in the city of Boston, in the case of that division, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties, in the case of the western division and within the cities and towns included in the Worcester county division, northeastern division and southeastern division, in the case of those divisions, and shall also have jurisdiction in equity, concurrent with the divisions of the district court department, the divisions of the probate and family court department, the superior court department, the appeals court, and the supreme judicial court, of all cases and matters so arising. The divisions of the housing court department, subject to section 14 of chapter 244, shall also have jurisdiction of defenses or counterclaims by any party entitled to notice of sale under said section 14 of said chapter 244 or by any party entitled to notice of sale and who continues to occupy the mortgaged premises.

In all matters within their jurisdiction, the divisions of the housing court department shall have all the powers of the superior court department including the power to grant temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions as justice and equity may require. The divisions shall have like power and authority for enforcing orders, sentences and judgments made or pronounced in the exercise of any jurisdiction vested in them, and for punishing contempts of such orders, sentences and judgments and other contempts of their authority, as are vested for such or similar purposes in the supreme judicial court or superior court department.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 58 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: LeBlanc v. Sherwin Williams Co., 551 N.E.2d 30 (Mass. 1990).
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LeBlanc v. Sherwin Williams Co., 551 N.E.2d 30 (Mass. 1990). · cites it 14× “4 The plaintiff asserts that *891 this tort action involves a housing problem and affects the health, safety, and welfare of occupants, and thereby falls within the plain language of G. L. c. 185C, § 3 (1988 ed.). 5 Moreover, according to the plaintiff, this action is…”
Fed. Nat'l Mortg. Ass'n v. Rego, 50 N.E.3d 419 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 4× “G. L. c. 185C, § 3. See LeBlanc v. Sherwin Williams Co.”
Bank of Am., N.A. v. Rosa, 999 N.E.2d 1080 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 5× “” G. L. c. 185C, § 3, first par. Summary process actions under G.”
Cambridge Street Realty, LLC v. Stewart, 113 N.E.3d 303 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 3× “See G. L. c. 185C, § 3 (vesting Housing Court with jurisdiction over "all civil actions" arising under G.”
Bank of New York v. Bailey, 951 N.E.2d 331 (Mass. 2011). · cites it 2× “10 That the Housing Court has jurisdiction over summary process actions pursuant to G. L. c. 239 is not in dispute. The Housing Court may hear summary process actions brought by those who acquire ownership of property via foreclosure by sale.”
Ryan v. Kehoe, 562 N.E.2d 831 (Mass. 1990). · cites it 6× “The scope of the Housing Court’s jurisdiction is described in G. L. c. 185C, § 3 (1988 ed.). That statute grants the Housing Court subject matter jurisdiction over actions brought under certain enumerated statutes (c.”
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Attorney Gen., 94 N.E.3d 786 (Mass. 2018). “93A, § 9 (1) ; G. L. c. 185C, § 3, and the District Court has jurisdiction over actions "for money damages only," G.”
Harker v. City of Holyoke, 457 N.E.2d 1114 (Mass. 1983). · cites it 3× “258, § 1, the plaintiffs argue that the Superior Court had exclusive jurisdiction of their claims despite G. L. c. 185C, § 3, as amended by St. 1979, c.”
Murphy v. Miller, 913 N.E.2d 379 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 8× “After judgments were entered, the landlord filed timely appeals, which were consolidated.”
City of Boston v. Kouns, 495 N.E.2d 317 (Mass. App. Ct. 1986). · cites it 4× “The plaintiffs argue that the Housing Court had subject matter jurisdiction under G. L. c. 185C, § 3. 5 This is so, the *508 plaintiffs say, because § 3, as amended by St.”
Patry v. Liberty Mobilhome Sales, Inc., 448 N.E.2d 405 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). · cites it 2× “” G. L. c. 185C, § 3, inserted by St. 1979, c.”
Buccaneer Dev., Inc. v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals, 980 N.E.2d 458 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 185C, § 3; G. L. c. 40A, § 17. Nothing in c.”
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