2021 Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Title I - Title to Real Property
Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department
Section 3 - Concurrent Jurisdiction; Powers of Superior Court Department; Enforcement Authority
Section 3. The divisions of the housing court department shall have common law and statutory jurisdiction concurrent with the divisions of the district court department and the superior court department of all crimes and of all civil actions arising in the city of Boston in the case of that division, in the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire in the case of the western division and within the cities and towns included in the Worcester county division, northeastern division and southeastern division, in the case of those divisions, under chapter forty A, sections twenty-one to twenty-five, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and eighteen, sections fourteen and eighteen of chapter one hundred and eighty-six and under so much of sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven F, inclusive, and sections one hundred and twenty-seven H to one hundred and twenty-seven L, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven, so much of chapter ninety-three A, so much of section sixteen of chapter two hundred and seventy, so much of chapters one hundred and forty-three, one hundred and forty-eight, and two hundred and thirty-nine, jurisdiction under the provisions of common law and of equity and any other general or special law, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation as is concerned directly or indirectly with the health, safety, or welfare, of any occupant of any place used, or intended for use, as a place of human habitation and the possession, condition, or use of any particular housing accommodations or household goods or services situated therein or furnished in connection there with or the use of any real property and activities conducted there on as such use affects the health, welfare and safety of any resident, occupant, user or member of the general public and which is subject to regulation by local cities and towns under the state building code, state specialized codes, state sanitary code, and other applicable statutes and ordinances. The divisions of the housing court department shall also have jurisdiction of all housing problems, including all contract and tort actions which affect the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or owners thereof, arising within and affecting residents in the city of Boston, in the case of that division, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties, in the case of the western division and within the cities and towns included in the Worcester county division, northeastern division and southeastern division, in the case of those divisions, and shall also have jurisdiction in equity, concurrent with the divisions of the district court department, the divisions of the probate and family court department, the superior court department, the appeals court, and the supreme judicial court, of all cases and matters so arising. The divisions of the housing court department, subject to section 14 of chapter 244, shall also have jurisdiction of defenses or counterclaims by any party entitled to notice of sale under said section 14 of said chapter 244 or by any party entitled to notice of sale and who continues to occupy the mortgaged premises.
In all matters within their jurisdiction, the divisions of the housing court department shall have all the powers of the superior court department including the power to grant temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions as justice and equity may require. The divisions shall have like power and authority for enforcing orders, sentences and judgments made or pronounced in the exercise of any jurisdiction vested in them, and for punishing contempts of such orders, sentences and judgments and other contempts of their authority, as are vested for such or similar purposes in the supreme judicial court or superior court department.
