Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title III Chapter 30A
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11 (2026)

Adjudicatory proceedings; additional requirements

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 11. In addition to other requirements imposed by law and subject to the provisions of section ten, agencies shall conduct adjudicatory proceedings in compliance with the following requirements:—

(1) Reasonable notice of the hearing shall be accorded all parties and shall include statements of the time and place of the hearing. Parties shall have sufficient notice of the issues involved to afford them reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence and argument. If the issues cannot be fully stated in advance of the hearing, they shall be fully stated as soon as practicable. In all cases of delayed statement, or where subsequent amendment of the issues is necessary, sufficient time shall be allowed after full statement or amendment to afford all parties reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence and argument respecting the issues.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by any law, agencies need not observe the rules of evidence observed by courts, but shall observe the rules of privilege recognized by law. Evidence may be admitted and given probative effect only if it is the kind of evidence on which reasonable persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs. Agencies may exclude unduly repetitious evidence, whether offered on direct examination or cross-examination of witnesses.

(3) Every party shall have the right to call and examine witnesses, to introduce exhibits, to cross-examine witnesses who testify, and to submit rebuttal evidence.

(4) All evidence, including any records, investigation reports, and documents in the possession of the agency of which it desires to avail itself as evidence in making a decision, shall be offered and made a part of the record in the proceeding, and no other factual information or evidence shall be considered, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this section. Documentary evidence may be received in evidence in the form of copies or excerpts, or by incorporation by reference.

(5) Agencies may take notice of any fact which may be judicially noticed by the courts, and in addition, may take notice of general, technical or scientific facts within their specialized knowledge. Parties shall be notified of the material so noticed, and they shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the facts so noticed. Agencies may utilize their experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge in the evaluation of the evidence presented to them.

(6) Agencies shall make available an official record, which shall include testimony and exhibits, and which may be in narrative form, but the agency need not arrange to transcribe shorthand notes or sound recordings unless requested by a party. If so requested, the agency may, unless otherwise provided by any law, require the party to pay the reasonable costs of the transcript before the agency makes the transcript available to the party.

(7) If a majority of the officials of the agency who are to render the final decision have neither heard nor read the evidence, such decision, if adverse to any party other than the agency, shall be made only after (a) a tentative or proposed decision is delivered or mailed to the parties containing a statement of reasons and including determination of each issue of fact or law necessary to the tentative or proposed decision; and (b) an opportunity is afforded each party adversely affected to file objections and to present argument, either orally or in writing as the agency may order, to a majority of the officials who are to render the final decision. The agency may by regulation provide that, unless parties make written request in advance for the tentative or proposed decision, the agency shall not be bound to comply with the procedures of this paragraph.

(8) Every agency decision shall be in writing or stated in the record. The decision shall be accompanied by a statement of reasons for the decision, including determination of each issue of fact or law necessary to the decision, unless the General Laws provide that the agency need not prepare such statement in the absence of a timely request to do so. Parties to the proceeding shall be notified in person or by mail of the decision; of their rights to review or appeal the decision within the agency or before the courts, as the case may be; and of the time limits on their rights to review or appeal. A copy of the decision and of the statement of reasons, if prepared, shall be delivered or mailed upon request to each party and to his attorney of record.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 241 cases (20 in the last 5 years), 1961–2026 · leading case: Embers of Salisbury, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 517 N.E.2d 830 (Mass. 1988).
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Embers of Salisbury, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 517 N.E.2d 830 (Mass. 1988). · cites it 12× “[2] On appeal, the licensees contend that the ABCC's decision is not supported by substantial evidence; and that they were deprived of the opportunity to confront and to cross-examine Kozec, in violation of the rights guaranteed them by G.”
Goldstein v. Galvin, 719 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2013). · cites it 4× “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2), (4); 950 Mass.”
Doe, SORB No. 523391 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 120 N.E.3d 1263 (Mass. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “See G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (2) ; 803 Code Mass. Regs.”
Arthurs v. Bd. of Reg. in Med., 418 N.E.2d 1236 (Mass. 1981). · cites it 4× “As we read the board’s decision, it concentrated on Arthurs’s overprescribing, his failure properly to identify David and Charles Jackson, and the obvious mistakes in the patient cards concerning the prescriptions in evidence.”
Kobrin v. Bd. of Reg. in Med., 832 N.E.2d 628 (Mass. 2005). · cites it 2× “130, 137 (1963) (G. L. c. 30A, § 11 [8], requires that decision be accompanied by statement of reasons, determination of relevant issues of law and fact, and adequate subsidiary findings).”
Olde Towne Liquor Store, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 360 N.E.2d 1057 (Mass. 1977). · cites it 4× “The plaintiff argues that the commission impermis-sibly failed to state reasons for its decision as required by G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (8), inserted by St. 1954, c.”
Rivas v. Chelsea Hous. Auth., 982 N.E.2d 1147 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 4× “See also G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (8). 18 The grievance panel’s notice of decision to Rivas stated: “The facts upon which the Grievance Panel made this decision are summarized as follows: “Failure to report changes in family composition and in family’s income.”
Morris v. Bd. of Reg. in Med., 539 N.E.2d 50 (Mass. 1989). · cites it 5× “G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (2) (1986 ed.). 2 Our reading of the record shows no intrusion that was so extensive or invasive on the subject *108 of prior mental history as to have been likely to have prejudiced the patient in the eyes of an experienced administrative magistrate.”
Coll.-Town, Div. of Interco, Inc. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 508 N.E.2d 587 (Mass. 1987). · cites it 2× “There was no error in the hearing commissioner's decision to admit in evidence a letter from a psychologist who had treated Rizzi, and a statement of charges for the treatment. Although the hearing commissioner erroneously stated that the documents were admissible under G.”
Rinaldi v. State Bldg. Code Appeals Bd., 779 N.E.2d 688 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 6× “See G. L. c. 30A, § 11. We conclude that the notice provisions of G.”
Langlitz v. Bd. of Reg. of Chiropractors, 486 N.E.2d 48 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 3× “G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (1984 ed.). “Due process requires that, in any proceeding to be accorded finality, notice must be given that is reasonably calculated to apprise an interested party of the proceeding and to afford him an opportunity to present his case.”
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 897 N.E.2d 1001 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 2× “Technical or specialized facts must be supported by expert testimony, or taking official notice of facts under G. L. c. 30A, § 11 (5). 1 Agency expertise is no substitute for necessary evidence.”
Show all 241 citing cases →
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(1) — 11 cases
Goldstein v. Galvin, 719 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2), (4); 950 Mass.”
Levy v. Bd. of Reg. & Discipline in Med., 392 N.E.2d 1036 (Mass. 1979).
Foster from Gloucester, Inc. v. City Council of Gloucester, 407 N.E.2d 363 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980).
Lincoln Pharmacy of Milford, Inc. v. Comm'r of the Div. of Unemployment Assistance, 907 N.E.2d 1128 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).
Rinaldi v. State Bldg. Code Appeals Bd., 779 N.E.2d 688 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “See G. L. c. 30A, § 11. We conclude that the notice provisions of G.”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2) — 30 cases
Doe, Sex Offender Registry Bd. No. 356011 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 35 N.E.3d 788 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
Goldstein v. Galvin, 719 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2), (4); 950 Mass.”
Merisme v. Bd. of Appeals on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 539 N.E.2d 1052 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989).
Hardemon v. City of Boston, 144 F.3d 24 (1st Cir. 1998).
Wightman v. Superintendent, Massachusetts Corr. Inst., 475 N.E.2d 85 (Mass. App. Ct. 1985).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(3) — 6 cases
Goldstein v. Galvin, 719 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2), (4); 950 Mass.”
Palmer v. Rent Control Bd. of Brookline, 386 N.E.2d 1047 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 948 N.E.2d 1268 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Rivas v. Chelsea Hous. Auth., 952 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Wasserman v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 18 Mass. L. Rptr. 259 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2004).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(4) — 5 cases
Norway Cafe, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 386 N.E.2d 32 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
Palmer v. Rent Control Bd. of Brookline, 386 N.E.2d 1047 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
Silvia v. Sec. Div., 810 N.E.2d 825 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004).
Manoli's Case, 422 N.E.2d 1373 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981).
Wasserman v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 18 Mass. L. Rptr. 259 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2004).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(5) — 4 cases
Hotchkiss v. State Racing Comm'n, 701 N.E.2d 642 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998).
Bd. of Assessors v. Ogden Suffolk Downs, Inc., 499 N.E.2d 1200 (Mass. 1986).
Rivas v. Chelsea Hous. Auth., 952 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Hadge v. Bd. of Reg. of Real Est. Appraisers, 107 N.E.3d 1255 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(6) — 3 cases
Covell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 768 N.E.2d 564 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002).
Wasserman v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 18 Mass. L. Rptr. 259 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2004).
Waxman v. Aziz, 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 544 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1990).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(7) — 5 cases
Silvia v. Sec. Div., 810 N.E.2d 825 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004).
Isgur v. Sch. Comm. of Newton, 400 N.E.2d 1292 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980).
Town of Middleborough v. Hous. Appeals Comm., 845 N.E.2d 1143 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006).
Mole v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 12 Mass. L. Rptr. 581 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001).
Boston Seaport M1&2 Land, LLC v. Comm'r of Revenue (Mass. Super. Ct. 2025).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(8) — 36 cases
Vinal v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 430 N.E.2d 440 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982).
Goldstein v. Galvin, 719 F.3d 16 (1st Cir. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 11(2), (4); 950 Mass.”
Amherst-Pelham Reg'l Sch. Comm. v. Dep't of Educ., 381 N.E.2d 922 (Mass. 1978).
City of Boston v. Outdoor Advert. Bd., 673 N.E.2d 868 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996).
Robinson v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 482 N.E.2d 514 (Mass. App. Ct. 1985).
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