Cal. Civ. Code § 410.270
Locks
Operative Text
(A) The owner shall provide, install and maintain locks in the following manner and shall
comply with the requirements of 780 CMR: Massachusetts State Building Code and 521 CMR:
Architectural Access Board Regulations, and M.G.L. c. 143 § 3R so that:
(1) Every residence shall be capable of being secured against unlawful entry.
(2) Every entry door of a dwelling unit shall be capable of being secured against unlawful
entry.
(3) The main entry door of a residence containing more than three dwelling units shall be
so designed or equipped so as to close and lock automatically with a lock, including a lock
with an electrically-operated striker mechanism, a self-closing door, and associated
equipment. If two doors enclose an entryway between the common areas of the residence and
the exterior of the residence, only one door must meet this requirement. This requirement
shall not apply to:
(a) Lodging houses, as defined in M.G.L. c. 140, § 22;
(b) Dormitories of charitable, educational or philanthropic institutions;
(c) Housing Authorities, as defined in M.G.L. c. 121B; or
(d) Homeless shelters.
(4) Every exterior door of the residence, except the main entry door listed in 105 CMR
410.270(A)(3), shall be equipped with an operating lock.
(5) All egress doors shall be capable of being opened from the side in which egress is to be
made without use of any key, keypad, or other specialized knowledge in order to avoid
entrapment in the building.
(6) Every openable exterior window shall be capable of being secured.
(B) The owner of a residence, except in a homeless shelter, shall provide a key to the occupant
for:
(1) The main entry door to the residence;
(2) The occupant's dwelling unit or rooming unit; and
(3) Areas common to their unit.Under 105 Mass. Code Regs. § 410.270, Massachusetts law requires that residential properties be secured against unlawful entry at multiple points: every residence and each dwelling unit's entry door must be lockable, and buildings with more than three units must have a self-closing, auto-locking main entry door (with limited exceptions for lodging houses, dormitories, housing authorities, and homeless shelters). All egress doors must be openable from the inside without a key or special knowledge to prevent entrapment. Owners are also required to provide occupants with keys to the main entry, their individual unit, and any common areas associated with their unit, except in homeless shelters.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to 105 Mass. Code Regs. § 410.270 generally ensure that every entry point—from the main building door to individual unit doors and exterior windows—is equipped with functioning, maintained locks that meet state building and accessibility codes. For buildings with more than three dwelling units, compliant operators install a self-closing, auto-locking main entry door system, unless the property qualifies for one of the enumerated exemptions. Compliant operators also provide each occupant with working keys to the main entry, their unit, and relevant common areas at the start of occupancy and whenever locks are changed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 105 Mass. Code Regs. § 410.270, tenants have a right to a properly secured dwelling, including a lockable entry door to their unit, secured exterior windows, and egress doors that open from the inside without a key. Tenants are also entitled to receive keys to the main building entrance, their own unit, and associated common areas. If these conditions are not met, tenants may consider documenting the issue in writing to the owner, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or filing a complaint with the local board of health, which enforces the Massachusetts Sanitary Code.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.