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

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14 (2026)

Judicial review

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 14. Except so far as any provision of law expressly precludes judicial review, any person or appointing authority aggrieved by a final decision of any agency in an adjudicatory proceeding, whether such decision is affirmative or negative in form, shall be entitled to a judicial review thereof, as follows:—

Where a statutory form of judicial review or appeal is provided such statutory form shall govern in all respects, except as to standards for review. The standards for review shall be those set forth in paragraph (7) of this section, except so far as statutes provide for review by trial de novo. Insofar as the statutory form of judicial review or appeal is silent as to procedures provided in this section, the provisions of this section shall govern such procedures.

Where no statutory form of judicial review or appeal is provided, judicial review shall be obtained by means of a civil action, as follows:

(1) Proceedings for judicial review of an agency decision shall be instituted in the superior court for the county (a) where the plaintiffs or any of them reside or have their principal place of business within the commonwealth, or (b) where the agency has its principal office, or (c) of Suffolk. The court may grant a change of venue upon good cause shown. The action shall, except as otherwise provided by law, be commenced in the court within thirty days after receipt of notice of the final decision of the agency or if a petition for rehearing has been timely filed with the agency, within thirty days after receipt of notice of agency denial of such petition for rehearing. Upon application made within the thirty-day period or any extension thereof, the court may for good cause shown extend the time.

(2) Service shall be made upon the agency and each party to the agency proceeding in accordance with the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure governing service of process. For the purpose of such service the agency upon request shall certify to the plaintiff the names and addresses of all such parties as disclosed by its records, and service upon parties so certified shall be sufficient. All parties to the proceeding before the agency shall have the right to intervene in the proceeding for review. The court may in its discretion permit other interested persons to intervene.

(3) The commencement of an action shall not operate as a stay of enforcement of the agency decision, but the agency may stay enforcement, and the reviewing court may order a stay upon such terms as it considers proper. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the sex offender registry board issues a stay of a final classification in a sex offender registry board proceeding, then such stay shall be for not more than 60 days but if a court issues a stay of a final classification in a court appeal held pursuant to section 178M of chapter 6, then such hearing shall be expedited and such stay shall be for not more than 60 days, without written findings and good cause shown.

(4) The agency shall, by way of answer, file in the court the original or a certified copy of the record of the proceeding under review. The record shall consist of (a) the entire proceedings, or (b) such portions thereof as the agency and the parties may stipulate, or (c) a statement of the case agreed to by the agency and the parties. The expense of preparing the record may be assessed as part of the costs in the case, and the court may, regardless of the outcome of the case, assess any one unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record, for the additional expenses of preparation caused by such refusal. The court may require or permit subsequent corrections or additions to the record when deemed desirable.

(5) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record, except that in cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency, not shown in the record, testimony thereon may be taken in the court.

(6) If application is made to the court for leave to present additional evidence, and it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material to the issues in the case, and that there was good reason for failure to present it in the proceeding before the agency, the court may order that the additional evidence be taken before the agency upon such conditions as the court deems proper. The agency may modify its findings and decision by reason of such additional evidence and shall file with the reviewing court, to become part of the record, the additional evidence, together with any modified or new findings or decision.

(7) The court may affirm the decision of the agency, or remand the matter for further proceedings before the agency; or the court may set aside or modify the decision, or compel any action unlawfully withheld or unreasonably delayed, if it determines that the substantial rights of any party may have been prejudiced because the agency decision is—

(a) In violation of constitutional provisions; or

(b) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; or

(c) Based upon an error of law; or

(d) Made upon unlawful procedure; or

(e) Unsupported by substantial evidence; or

(f) Unwarranted by facts found by the court on the record as submitted or as amplified under paragraph (6) of this section, in those instances where the court is constitutionally required to make independent findings of fact; or

(g) Arbitrary or capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

The court shall make the foregoing determinations upon consideration of the entire record, or such portions of the record as may be cited by the parties. The court shall give due weight to the experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge of the agency, as well as to the discretionary authority conferred upon it.

If the court finds that the action of the appointing authority in discharging, removing, suspending, laying off, lowering in rank or compensation or abolishing his position, or the action of the commission confirming the action taken by the appointing authority, was not justified, the employee shall be reinstated in his office or position without loss of compensation and the court shall assess reasonable costs against the employer.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,694 cases (198 in the last 5 years), 1958–2026 · leading case: City of Revere v. Massachusetts Gaming Comm'n, 71 N.E.3d 457 (Mass. 2017).
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City of Revere v. Massachusetts Gaming Comm'n, 71 N.E.3d 457 (Mass. 2017). · cites it 16× “In the first two counts, Mohegan Sun, the city, and the union seek review and reversal of the commission’s award of the gaming license to Wynn under G. L. c. 30A, § 14 (count I), and under G.”
Magazu v. Dep't of Child. & Families, 42 N.E.3d 1107 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 20× “The Magazus appealed the department's decision by filing a complaint for judicial review in the Superior Court pursuant to G. L. c. 30A, § 14. They alleged that their substantial rights had been prejudiced because the department's decision violated constitutional provisions (§…”
Doe, Sex Offender Registry Bd. No. 68549 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 470 Mass. 102 (Mass. 2014). · cites it 9× “SORB’s final classification of a sex offender is subject to judicial review under G. L. c. 30A, § 14. See G. L. c. 6, § 178M.”
Attorney Gen. v. Dep't of Pub. Utils., 455 N.E.2d 414 (Mass. 1983). · cites it 14× “Our task under the State Administrative Procedure Act (G.L.c. 30A, § 14 [7]) is not to decide the issues anew but to *229 determine whether there was any error of law.”
Grady v. Comm'r of Corr., 981 N.E.2d 730 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 13× “The principal issue in this appeal is whether inmate grievances are subject to judicial review in the Superior Court pursuant to G. L. c. 30A, § 14, which requires that a complaint be filed within thirty days of the final action complained of, or subject to G.”
Rivas v. Chelsea Hous. Auth., 982 N.E.2d 1147 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 14× “There is some debate whether the authority’s action is properly appealable under G. L. c. 30A, § 14, or in the nature of certiorari review pursuant to G.”
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 459 Mass. 603 (Mass. 2011). · cites it 6× “6, § 178M, and G. L. c. 30A, § 14. 3 Counts I through IV, presenting claims against the board, challenge the validity of the sex offender registry fee, the lack of public access to a classification hearing, the validity of the classification scheme based on enumerated “factors”…”
Brackett v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 447 Mass. 233 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 9× “The plaintiffs sought judicial review of the commission’s determination pursuant to G. L. c. 30A, § 14, and G. L. c. 31, § 44.”
Quincy City Hosp. v. Labor Relations Comm'n, 511 N.E.2d 582 (Mass. 1987). · cites it 14× “Chapter 150E, § 11, provides that judicial review of the commission's orders shall be governed by the provisions of G.L.c. 30A, § 14, "insofar as applicable.”
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 130 N.E.3d 778 (Mass. 2019). · cites it 5× “Doe sought **133 judicial review under G. L. c. 30A, § 14, and a judge of the Superior Court affirmed SORB's classification.”
Massachusetts Ass'n of Minority Law Enf't Officers v. Abban, 748 N.E.2d 455 (Mass. 2001). · cites it 8× “The police department sought review of the commission’s decision in the Superior Court pursuant to G. L. c. 30A, § 14, and G. L. c. 31, § 44, 14 arguing that it properly considered race in the 1996 promotions.”
Sch. Comm. of Franklin v. Comm'r of Educ., 482 N.E.2d 796 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 19× “” 3 The school committee’s initial complaint, filed in December, 1976, sought review under G. L. c. 30A, § 14. Although the complaint requested “declaratory judgment,” the school committee sought review on the record of the agency proceedings and recited the grounds for judicial…”
Show all 1,694 citing cases →
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(1) — 40 cases
Herrick v. Essex Reg'l Ret. Bd., 861 N.E.2d 32 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
Bd. of Appeals of Rockport v. DeCarolis, 588 N.E.2d 1378 (Mass. App. Ct. 1992).
Grady v. Comm'r of Corr., 981 N.E.2d 730 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). “The principal issue in this appeal is whether inmate grievances are subject to judicial review in the Superior Court pursuant to G. L. c. 30A, § 14, which requires that a complaint be filed within thirty days of the final action complained of, or subject to G.”
Flynn v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 461 N.E.2d 1225 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984).
Paquette v. Dep't of Env't Prot., 774 N.E.2d 1174 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(17) — 1 case
Lawrence Gen. Hosp. v. Bullen, 12 Mass. L. Rptr. 386 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2000).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(17)(a) — 1 case
Sullivan v. Bullen, 3 Mass. L. Rptr. 188 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1994).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(2) — 4 cases
Gordon v. State Bldg. Code Appeals Bd., 872 N.E.2d 794 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
Hillary's v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 536 N.E.2d 1104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989).
Gallagher v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 340 N.E.2d 905 (Mass. App. Ct. 1976).
Sturbridge Bd. of Health v. O'Leary, 25 Mass. L. Rptr. 171 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2009).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(3) — 6 cases
GRACE B. v. Lexington Sch. Comm., 762 F. Supp. 416 (D. Mass. 1991).
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 33 Mass. L. Rptr. 598 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2016).
Poe v. Attorney Gen., 6 Mass. L. Rptr. 313 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 14 Mass. L. Rptr. 111 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001).
Int'l Ass'n of Firefighters, Local 3188 v. Town of Lakeville, 22 Mass. L. Rptr. 147 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2006).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(4) — 36 cases
Arnone v. Comm'r of the Dep't of Soc. Servs., 680 N.E.2d 945 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997).
Banner v. Smolenski, 315 F. Supp. 1076 (D. Mass. 1970).
Buteau v. Norfolk Cnty. Ret. Bd., 394 N.E.2d 993 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
Worcester Redevelopment Auth. v. Dep't of Hous. & Cmty. Dev., 713 N.E.2d 1033 (Mass. App. Ct. 1999).
Kahn v. Brookline Rent Control Bd., 1982 Mass. App. Div. 111 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 1982).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(4)(5) — 1 case
Est. of Robertson v. Tsai, 33 Mass. L. Rptr. 226 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2016).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(5) — 74 cases
Loe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 901 N.E.2d 140 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).
Kurlander v. Sch. Comm. of Williamstown, 451 N.E.2d 138 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983).
Silvia v. Sec. Div., 810 N.E.2d 825 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004).
Lincoln Pharmacy of Milford, Inc. v. Comm'r of the Div. of Unemployment Assistance, 907 N.E.2d 1128 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).
No. Three Lounge, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 387 N.E.2d 181 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(6) — 19 cases
Ne. Metro. Reg'l Vocational Sch. Dist. Sch. Comm. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 626 N.E.2d 884 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994).
Commonwealth v. Roxbury Charter High Pub. Sch., 865 N.E.2d 1183 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
Hillary's v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 536 N.E.2d 1104 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989).
She Enter., Inc. v. State Bldg. Code Appeals Bd., 480 N.E.2d 39 (Mass. App. Ct. 1985).
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 897 N.E.2d 992 (Mass. 2008).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7) — 406 cases
Sch. Comm. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 830 N.E.2d 1090 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005).
Ne. Metro. Reg'l Vocational Sch. Dist. Sch. Comm. v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 626 N.E.2d 884 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994).
Comm'r of the Div. of Unemployment Assistance v. Town Taxi of Cape Cod, Inc., 862 N.E.2d 430 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
B.K. v. Dep't of Child. & Families, 950 N.E.2d 446 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Davidson v. Howe, 749 F.3d 21 (1st Cir. 2014).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(1) — 1 case
Hilse v. Bd. of Reg. in Pharmacy, 12 Mass. L. Rptr. 82 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2000).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(2001) — 1 case
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 30 Mass. L. Rptr. 441 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2012).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(6) — 2 cases
Hamilton v. Conservation Comm'n of Orleans, 425 N.E.2d 358 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981).
Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 970 N.E.2d 336 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(E) — 1 case
Anderson v. Commonwealth Emp. Relations Bd., 899 N.E.2d 901 (Mass. App. Ct. 2009).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(a) — 40 cases
Coggeshall v. Massachusetts Bd. of Reg. of Psychologists, 604 F.3d 658 (1st Cir. 2010).
Dalbec's Case, 867 N.E.2d 792 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
Arnone v. Comm'r of the Dep't of Soc. Servs., 680 N.E.2d 945 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997).
Coggin v. Massachusetts Parole Bd., 678 N.E.2d 1206 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997).
New England Survey Sys., Inc. v. Dep't of Indus. Accidents, 53 N.E.3d 675 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(b) — 4 cases
Bd. of Selectmen v. Smith, 792 N.E.2d 1050 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003).
Town of Milton Zoning Bd. of Appeals v. the Massachusetts Hous. Appeals Comm. (2021).
Tartarini v. Dep't of Mental Retardation, 972 N.E.2d 33 (Mass. App. Ct. 2012).
Hussey v. Registry of Motor Vehs., 32 Mass. L. Rptr. 712 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2015).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(c) — 52 cases
Green v. Town of Brookline, 757 N.E.2d 731 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001).
Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of the Trial Court v. Commonwealth Emp. Relations Bd., 946 N.E.2d 704 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Herrick v. Essex Reg'l Ret. Bd., 933 N.E.2d 666 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010).
Wilson's Case, 50 N.E.3d 213 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016).
Tri-Cnty. Youth Programs, Inc. v. Acting Deputy Dir. of the Div. of Emp. & Training, 765 N.E.2d 810 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(c)(d) — 1 case
Bisceglia v. Comm'r, Massachusetts Div. of Med. Assistance, 6 Mass. L. Rptr. 168 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(c)(d)(g) — 1 case
Bisceglia v. Comm'r, Massachusetts Div. of Med. Assistance, 6 Mass. L. Rptr. 168 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(d) — 9 cases
M.D. v. Dep't of Developmental Servs., 985 N.E.2d 863 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013).
New Palm Gardens, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 420 N.E.2d 8 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981).
Whitman's Case, 952 N.E.2d 983 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
BAA Massachusetts, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 733 N.E.2d 564 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000).
Rivas v. Chelsea Hous. Auth., 952 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(e) — 56 cases
Merisme v. Bd. of Appeals on Motor Veh. Liab. Policies & Bonds, 539 N.E.2d 1052 (Mass. App. Ct. 1989).
Doe, Sex Offender Registry Bd. No. 356011 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 35 N.E.3d 788 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015).
Lisbon v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 670 N.E.2d 392 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996).
Faith Assembly of God of South Dennis & Hyannis, Inc. v. State Bldg. Code Comm'n, 416 N.E.2d 228 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981).
Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of the Trial Court v. Commonwealth Emp. Relations Bd., 946 N.E.2d 704 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(f) — 1 case
Swartz v. Comm'r, 3 Mass. Supp. 480 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1982).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(g) — 24 cases
Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of the Trial Court v. Commonwealth Emp. Relations Bd., 946 N.E.2d 704 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
Chief of Police of Shelburne v. Moyer, 453 N.E.2d 461 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983).
Dalbec's Case, 867 N.E.2d 792 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007).
Eady's Case, 893 N.E.2d 1258 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008).
Hickey v. Comm'r of Pub. Welfare, 647 N.E.2d 62 (Mass. App. Ct. 1995).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(o) — 1 case
Meyer v. Town of Nantucket, 937 N.E.2d 990 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(7)(ti) — 1 case
Wadsworth's Case, 935 N.E.2d 333 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(8) — 7 cases
Dohoney v. Dir. of the Div. of Emp. Sec., 386 N.E.2d 10 (Mass. 1979).
Roberts-Haverhill v. City Coun. of Haverhill, 319 N.E.2d 916 (Mass. App. Ct. 1974).
Norway Cafe, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Comm'n, 386 N.E.2d 32 (Mass. App. Ct. 1979).
New England Milk Dealers Ass'n, Inc. v. Dep't of Food & Agric., 22 Mass. App. Ct. 705 (Mass. App. Ct. 1986).
Wannacomet Water Co. v. Dep't of Pub. Utils., 194 N.E.2d 109 (Mass. 1963).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(8)(e) — 1 case
Franclemont v. Comm'r of Dep't of Emp. & Training, 676 N.E.2d 1147 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(b) — 1 case
Tierney v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 5 Mass. L. Rptr. 585 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(c) — 1 case
Wald's Catering, Inc. v. Commonwealth Exec. Off. of Elder Affairs, 4 Mass. L. Rptr. 134 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1995).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(e) — 1 case
Doe, Sex Offender Registry Bd. No. 95318 v. Sex Offender Registry Bd., 951 N.E.2d 727 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(g) — 3 cases
North Am. Assurance Co. of Am. v. Payzant, 27 Mass. L. Rptr. 226 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2010).
Boyette v. Registry of Motor Vehs., 4 Mass. L. Rptr. 19 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1995).
Condon v. Registrar of Motor Vehs., 6 Mass. L. Rptr. 605 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(i) — 1 case
United States v. Metro. Dist. Comm'n, 528 F. Supp. 2d 7 (D. Mass. 2008).
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A, § 14(l) — 1 case
Costa v. Fall River Hous. Auth., 881 N.E.2d 800 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008).
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