Cal. Civ. Code § 127O
Conveyance of real estate with intent to evade nuisance provisions; penalty
Operative Text
Section 127O. Any person who conveys a parcel of real estate with the intent to evade a notice or order, issued pursuant to sections one hundred and twenty-two to one hundred and twenty-seven B, inclusive, and sections one to three A, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and thirty-nine, section six to nine, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and forty-three, the state sanitary code, the state building code, or chapter forty A, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction or jail for not more than one year, or both. The amount of consideration or the relationship of the grantor to the grantee shall be evidence of such intent to evade a notice or order under the provisions of this section.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127O makes it a criminal offense to transfer ownership of real property for the purpose of dodging an outstanding housing, sanitary, building, or zoning violation notice or order. A conviction can result in a fine of up to $2,000, up to one year in a house of correction or jail, or both. Notably, the law treats the sale price and the relationship between the seller and buyer as potential evidence of evasive intent, meaning below-market transfers or sales to relatives or associates may draw scrutiny.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127O, property owners who are subject to an outstanding code, sanitary, or zoning violation order are expected to resolve those violations rather than transfer the property to sidestep compliance obligations. Compliant operators typically disclose open orders to prospective buyers and ensure that any sale is conducted at arm's length and for fair market value, since unusual consideration or close personal relationships between seller and buyer can be treated as evidence of evasive intent. Maintaining clear documentation of good-faith remediation efforts before and during any sale transaction is a practice consistent with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 111 § 127O gives tenants and housing authorities a legal basis to challenge property transfers that appear designed to wipe out existing violation orders affecting a rental unit. If a building is sold shortly after a code or sanitary order is issued—particularly at an unusual price or to a related party—tenants may raise this provision when engaging with local inspectional services, a rent board, or a tenant-rights organization to ensure outstanding orders remain enforceable against the new owner. Tenants who believe a transfer was made with evasive intent can report the circumstances to the local board of health or inspectional services department, which has authority to pursue enforcement under this section.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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