How long does a homeowner have to cancel a home improvement contract in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, a buyer may cancel an agreement for household goods or services over $25 signed somewhere other than the seller’s address by written notice no later than midnight of the third business day after signing, and the seller of services may not start work during those three business days. The agreement must be in writing, signed by the seller, with the seller’s address, the date and all terms, and must carry a boldface cancellation statement next to the buyer’s signature and an attached, easily detachable "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION" form in duplicate; the period does not start until a missing term is supplied or a signed copy is delivered. The buyer cancels in writing to the seller’s place of business by ordinary mail, telegram or delivery. Within ten business days of a valid notice the seller must refund all payments, return any trade-in, cancel and return the agreement and any negotiable instrument, and end any security interest. The section does not apply when the buyer initiated the transaction for a bona fide immediate personal emergency and gives the seller a separate dated and signed statement in the buyer’s handwriting describing the emergency and waiving the right to cancel; a home improvement contract over $1,000 must also give a clear and conspicuous notice of these three-day cancellation rights. The federal cooling-off rule separately gives three business days to cancel many sales made at the buyer’s home. This is M.G.L. c. 93, § 48; M.G.L. c. 142A, § 2.

WhatMassachusetts
Right to cancel3 business days for sales made away from the seller

What the statute says

“… provided the buyer, not later than midnight of the third business day following execution of the agreement, notifies the seller or lessor that he is canceling, and such cancellation shall be effective thereupon …”

Quoted word for word from the section’s text.

Source

M.G.L. c. 93, § 48; M.G.L. c. 142A, § 2

Read the statute in the General Laws of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Legislature): malegislature.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

An estimate on Seayora carries its own terms and contract text, and the customer’s approval is recorded with its date, so the day a cancellation period starts is on file for both the contractor and the homeowner.

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