Local landlord and tenant rules in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts has local rules on other landlord obligations (Cambridge Municipal Code ch. 8.71 (Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance)), on top of Massachusetts law.
Local rules in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Other landlord obligations
A Cambridge landlord must give the tenant the City’s Tenants’ Rights and Resources guide at the start of every tenancy and again when taking a legal step to end one, such as a notice to quit or a summary process case — the owner of a single unit in the building they live in included. Short-term rentals are exempt.
Source: Cambridge Municipal Code ch. 8.71 (Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Massachusetts rules that apply in Cambridge
| Rule | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 1 month of rent |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 5% a year, or the lower rate the bank actually paid, on a deposit held a year or longer, paid at the end of each year of the tenancy. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Massachusetts? | 14 days |
| Is there a grace period for paying rent in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Massachusetts? | Not permitted |
Every Massachusetts rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Cambridge
66.5% of the occupied homes in Cambridge are rented, about 32,897 households, a share higher than across Massachusetts (37.5%).
The median gross rent is $2,787 a month, higher than across Massachusetts ($1,762); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
44.9% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
67.9% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Cambridge | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 66.5% (±1.1 points) | 38.7% | 37.5% |
| Median gross rent | $2,787 (±$48) | $2,201 | $1,762 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 44.9% (±2.0 points) | 47.1% | 51.8% |
| Median income of renter households | $112,497 (±$5,142) | $84,135 | $60,987 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 67.9% (±2.0 points) | 68.2% | 67.4% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 54.6% (±1.8 points) | 25.5% | 22.2% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% (±1.0 points) | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 40.5% (±1.5 points) | 24.7% | 22.5% |
All housing figures for Cambridge: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Cambridge. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Questions about Cambridge’s local rules
What else does Cambridge require of landlords?
A Cambridge landlord must give the tenant the City’s Tenants’ Rights and Resources guide at the start of every tenancy and again when taking a legal step to end one, such as a notice to quit or a summary process case — the owner of a single unit in the building they live in included. Short-term rentals are exempt. (Cambridge Municipal Code ch. 8.71 (Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance))
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.