Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 84, § 7 (2026)

Duties of surveyors of highways and road commissioners

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 7. Surveyors of highways and road commissioners shall remove whatever obstructs the public ways within their respective towns or districts, or endangers, hinders or incommodes persons traveling thereon; and shall forthwith cause snow to be removed or trodden down so as to make such ways reasonably safe and convenient. If a town neglects to vote a sufficient amount for the proper repair of ways therein, or does not otherwise effectually provide therefor, each surveyor, in his district, or the road commissioners, may employ persons to make such repairs, who shall be paid by the town; and towns may authorize their surveyors or road commissioners or any other person to enter into contracts for making or repairing the ways therein.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1921–2021 · leading case: Sturdy v. Plan. Bd., 586 N.E.2d 11 (Mass. App. Ct. 1992).

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Sturdy v. Plan. Bd., 586 N.E.2d 11 (Mass. App. Ct. 1992). “129 (1869), and, in addition, under G. L. c. 84, § 7, 13 surveyors of highways and road commissioners have the burden to see that the town performs its duty of repair.”

Robert D. Fratus, Jr. v. Town of Harwich & Others., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 27 (Mass. App. Ct. 2021). “" In addition, surveyors of highways and road commissioners have the burden of ensuring that public ways remain clear and in repair, and may hire persons to make such repairs even if the town has failed to vote sufficient funds.”

Tiffany v. F. Vorenberg Co., 130 N.E. 193 (Mass. 1921). “In Boston the authority so conferred is exercised through the proper department of that city.”

Twombly v. Billerica, 159 N.E. 630 (Mass. 1928). “G. L. c. 84, § 7. Hawks v. Charlemont, 107 Mass.”

Dus v. Town of Hancock, 95 N.E.3d 300 (Mass. App. Ct. 2017). “84, § 15 ; (2) persons hired by the surveyor or road commissioners to maintain ways where the municipality has failed to provide funds prior thereto, G. L. c. 84, § 7 ; or (3) the Commonwealth for payment of fines for failure to maintain the road, G.”

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