Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17 (2026)

Writing requirement; invalidation of contracts; forfeiture; civil actions

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 17. (a) All contracts in the amount of $10,000 or more shall be in writing, and the governmental body shall make no payment for a supply or service rendered prior to the execution of such contract.

(b) Subject to the provisions of section three A of chapter forty, a contract made in violation of this chapter shall not be valid, and the governmental body shall make no payment under such contract. Minor informalities shall not require invalidation of a contract.

(c) A person who causes or conspires with another to cause a contract to be solicited or awarded in violation of a provision of this chapter shall forfeit and pay to the appropriate governmental body a sum of not more than two thousand dollars for each violation. In addition, the person shall pay double the amount of damages sustained by the governmental body by reason of the violation, together with the costs of any action. If more than one person participates in the violation, the damages and costs may be apportioned among them.

(d) The inspector general shall have authority to institute a civil action to enforce paragraph (c) if authorized by the attorney general.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: Prof'l Servs. Grp., Inc. v. Town of Rockland, 515 F. Supp. 2d 179 (D. Mass. 2007).

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Prof'l Servs. Grp., Inc. v. Town of Rockland, 515 F. Supp. 2d 179 (D. Mass. 2007). · cites it 2× “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(d). One Superior Court judge has issued an opinion that a town has a private right of action to pursue a claim under the Uniform Procurement Act, but no Massachusetts appellate court has addressed the issue.”

Lowell Hous. Auth. v. PSC Int'l, Inc., 692 F. Supp. 2d 180 (D. Mass. 2010). “See Mass. Gen. Laws c. 30B §§ 1, 5, 6. 30 . Mass.”

Int'l Salt Co., LLC v. City of Boston, 547 F. Supp. 2d 62 (D. Mass. 2008). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17, requires all contracts over $5,000 to be reduced to writing.”

320 Fall River, LLC & H. Charles Tapalian v. Town of Seekonk, by & through its Bd. of Selectmen; Michelle A. Hines (D. Mass. 2026). · cites it 6× “” (Count IV); and (5) “statutory rescission” pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17 (Count V). Compl.”

320 Fall River, LLC v. Seekonk, Town of (D. Mass. 2025). · cites it 4× “Plaintiffs also sought a declaratory judgment that the Purchase Agreement is void and that the Town’s actions have deprived Plaintiffs of constitutional rights (Count IV), and sought recission of the Purchase Agreement on the ground that the Town violated M.G.L. c. 30B § 17…”

Town of Lunenburg v. Carlson, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 221 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2005). · cites it 6× “30B, §17(d) precludes the Plaintiff, the Town of Lunenburg, from instituting a private action to enforce the Town’s claim under G.L.c. 30B, §17(c), against the Defendants.”

Johnson Turf & Golf Mgmt., Inc. v. City of Beverly, 14 Mass. L. Rptr. 290 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001). “The statute in question, G.L.c. 30B, § 17(a), provides that all municipal contracts of, or in excess of $5,000 shall be in writing.”

Whittier Pharmacist, Inc. v. Geriatric Auth., 15 Mass. L. Rptr. 585 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2002). “G.L.c. 30B, §17 states, in relevant part: “(b) Subject to the provisions of section three A of chapter forty, a contract made in violation of this chapter shall not be valid, and the governmental body shall make no payment under such contract.”

Knott v. Inhabitants of Northbridge, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 255 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2005). “The defendant denies liability therefor and has filed a motion under the provisions of Rule 56 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, to which the plaintiff is opposed, 1 disputing the existence and legality of any contract and any liability therefor, citing violation of several…”

Balyozian v. City of Somerville, 22 Mass. L. Rptr. 303 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2007). “181, 185 (1993); G.L.c. 30B, § 17(b). There is no question that the City’s procurement of Balyozian’s services was subject to Chapter 30B’s protocols and that the City complied with the procedures for procuring a contract for less than $25,000.”

White's Farm Dairy, Inc. v. City of New Bedford, 10 Mass. L. Rptr. 348 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). “G.L.c. 30B, § 17(b); Phipps Products Corp.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(a) — 1 case

Johnson Turf & Golf Mgmt., Inc. v. City of Beverly, 14 Mass. L. Rptr. 290 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001). “The statute in question, G.L.c. 30B, § 17(a), provides that all municipal contracts of, or in excess of $5,000 shall be in writing.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(b) — 2 cases

Balyozian v. City of Somerville, 22 Mass. L. Rptr. 303 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2007). “181, 185 (1993); G.L.c. 30B, § 17(b). There is no question that the City’s procurement of Balyozian’s services was subject to Chapter 30B’s protocols and that the City complied with the procedures for procuring a contract for less than $25,000.”

White's Farm Dairy, Inc. v. City of New Bedford, 10 Mass. L. Rptr. 348 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). “G.L.c. 30B, § 17(b); Phipps Products Corp.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(c) — 3 cases

320 Fall River, LLC v. Seekonk, Town of (D. Mass. 2025). “Plaintiffs also sought a declaratory judgment that the Purchase Agreement is void and that the Town’s actions have deprived Plaintiffs of constitutional rights (Count IV), and sought recission of the Purchase Agreement on the ground that the Town violated M.G.L. c. 30B § 17…”

Town of Lunenburg v. Carlson, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 221 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2005). “30B, §17(d) precludes the Plaintiff, the Town of Lunenburg, from instituting a private action to enforce the Town’s claim under G.L.c. 30B, §17(c), against the Defendants.”

320 Fall River, LLC & H. Charles Tapalian v. Town of Seekonk, by & through its Bd. of Selectmen; Michelle A. Hines (D. Mass. 2026). “” (Count IV); and (5) “statutory rescission” pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17 (Count V). Compl.”

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(d) — 3 cases

Prof'l Servs. Grp., Inc. v. Town of Rockland, 515 F. Supp. 2d 179 (D. Mass. 2007). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17(d). One Superior Court judge has issued an opinion that a town has a private right of action to pursue a claim under the Uniform Procurement Act, but no Massachusetts appellate court has addressed the issue.”

Town of Lunenburg v. Carlson, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 221 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2005). “30B, §17(d) precludes the Plaintiff, the Town of Lunenburg, from instituting a private action to enforce the Town’s claim under G.L.c. 30B, §17(c), against the Defendants.”

320 Fall River, LLC & H. Charles Tapalian v. Town of Seekonk, by & through its Bd. of Selectmen; Michelle A. Hines (D. Mass. 2026). “” (Count IV); and (5) “statutory rescission” pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30B, § 17 (Count V). Compl.”

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