Massachusetts Heating Law 2026: 68°F by Day, 64°F by Night, Starting September 15

Massachusetts heating season begins September 15 and runs through May 31. Under 105 CMR 410.180, the State Sanitary Code, the owner of a rental unit must provide heat in every habitable room and every room with a toilet, shower or bathtub: at least 68°F between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., and at least 64°F between 11:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. This applies to apartments in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton and the rest of the state.

Where the temperature is measured

The regulation is specific: the reading is taken five feet above the floor and five feet from an exterior wall. A draft by the window is not a violation on its own. The center of the room is what counts. A basic thermometer placed there and photographed with the date and time visible is the evidence that settles most disputes.

If your heat is not working

• Photograph the thermostat or a thermometer with the date and time visible.
• Notify the landlord in writing. A text or email creates a record; a phone call does not.
• If there is no reply by the next morning, call Boston 311 and ask for Inspectional Services, which enforces the Sanitary Code.
• Keep every message and photo until the issue is closed.

For owners and landlords

September is when heating contractors’ calendars fill. Booking the boiler or furnace service in late August, replacing filters, bleeding radiators once, and checking each unit’s thermostat against a real thermometer avoids the first-cold-night call.

What I tell tenants

Heat disputes get resolved fastest when there is one dated photo and one written message. Tenants who document on day one rarely need a second call. Diana Kim, REALTOR®, eXp Realty.