1. Introduction

Massachusetts association law splits between condominiums and noncondominium homeowners' associations. The Massachusetts Condominium Act, G.L. c. 183A, principally governs condominiums.¹ Chapter 183A defines an organization of unit owners as the corporation, trust, or association owned by unit owners and used to manage and regulate the condominium.²

Noncondominium HOAs do not sit under a single state HOA act. Their baseline sources include recorded covenants and land-use restrictions under G.L. c. 184, entity law such as G.L. c. 180 when the association organizes as a nonprofit corporation, and the association's own governing documents.^3,4

Massachusetts has no state condominium regulatory oversight, and Mass.gov states that condominiums are privately owned and managed.⁵ Litigation usually begins in trial courts, including Superior Court for general civil jurisdiction and the Land Court for statewide real estate and land-use matters.^6,7 Appeals generally move to the Massachusetts Appeals Court, with further review by the Supreme Judicial Court.^8,9

Recent activity is targeted: 2024 amendments on electronic condominium governance and EV charging, plus recent Appeals Court decisions on disability modification costs and association contract rights.^10,11,12,13 Massachusetts therefore sits between detailed condominium regulation and document-driven noncondominium HOA governance.

2. Primary statute and key resources

• Noncondominium HOA baseline, G.L. c. 180 and G.L. c. 184. Chapter 180 supplies nonprofit corporate law where applicable, and chapter 184 addresses property restrictions that may form community covenants.^14,15
• Massachusetts Condominium Act, G.L. c. 183A. The Act governs condominium creation and unit-owner organizations, including trusts, corporations, or associations.^16,17
• Massachusetts court system. Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, Land Court holds statewide real estate jurisdiction, and appellate review runs through the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court.^18,19
• State oversight and manager licensing. Mass.gov states that Massachusetts has no condominium regulatory oversight; the broker board licenses real estate brokers and salespersons, not HOA boards.^20,21
• Attorney General consumer complaints. The Attorney General's Office runs a consumer complaint process for business and consumer disputes.²²

Footnotes

1. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, Condominiums ↩
2. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, §1, definitions ↩
3. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 184, §26, restrictions on land use and construction ↩
4. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 180, corporations for charitable and certain other purposes ↩
5. Mass.gov, Condominiums ↩
6. Mass.gov, Superior Court ↩
7. Mass.gov, Land Court ↩
8. Mass.gov, Appeals Court ↩
9. Mass.gov, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ↩
10. Massachusetts General Court, Bill H.4977, 193rd General Court ↩
11. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, §10A, electric vehicle charging stations ↩
12. Geezil v. White Cliffs Condominium Four Association, 105 Mass. App. Ct. 103 (2024) ↩
13. Blackman's Point Homeowners' Association, Inc. v. Call, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 711 (2024) ↩
14. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 180 ↩
15. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 184 ↩
16. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A ↩
17. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, §1 ↩
18. Mass.gov, Massachusetts Court System ↩
19. Mass.gov, Land Court ↩
20. Mass.gov, Condominiums ↩
21. Mass.gov, Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons ↩
22. Mass.gov, File a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Office ↩
23. Massachusetts General Court, H.4977, An Act relative to the Affordable Homes Act ↩
24. Massachusetts General Court, Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 ↩
25. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, §24, electronic meetings and voting ↩
26. Massachusetts General Court, S.2967, An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers ↩
27. Massachusetts General Court, Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024 ↩
28. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 183A, §10A, electric vehicle charging stations ↩
29. Massachusetts General Court, H.3496, An Act ensuring solar energy access ↩
30. Massachusetts General Court, H.3496 bill text ↩
31. Mass.gov, Published opinions of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court ↩
32. Geezil v. White Cliffs Condominium Four Association, 105 Mass. App. Ct. 103 (2024) ↩
33. Blackman's Point Homeowners' Association, Inc. v. Call, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 711 (2024) ↩
34. Mass.gov, Land Court memorandum on Guideline 63 and Guideline 64 ↩
35. Massachusetts General Court, G.L. c. 185, §52, voluntary withdrawal from registration ↩
36. Massachusetts General Court, H.1523, An Act establishing the office of condominium ombudsman ↩
37. Massachusetts General Court, H.1523 bill text ↩
38. Massachusetts General Court, S.980, An Act relative to the rights of condominium owners ↩
39. Massachusetts General Court, S.980 bill text ↩
40. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing Act overview ↩
41. ADA.gov, Americans with Disabilities Act law and regulations ↩
42. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Regulation F debt collection rule ↩
43. U.S. Department of Justice, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ↩
44. Federal Communications Commission, Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule ↩