# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 4: Sittings of court > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S4 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 4 - **Heading:** Sittings of court - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part II / Title I / Chapter 185C / Section 4 ## Text Section 4. The western division of the housing court department shall hold its sittings in the city of Springfield in Hampden county and at least 1 sitting each week in courthouse facilities in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court may consider expedient or convenient. The eastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Suffolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The central division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in the city of Worcester, at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county, at least 1 sitting each week in northern Worcester county and at least 1 sitting each week in southern Worcester county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The northeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 2 sittings each week in Essex county and at least 2 sittings each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The southeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 3 sittings each week in Bristol county, at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county and at least 1 sitting each week in Barnstable county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The metro south division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Norfolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. Section 4. The western division of the housing court department shall hold its sittings in the city of Springfield in Hampden county and at least 1 sitting each week in courthouse facilities in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court may consider expedient or convenient. The eastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Suffolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The central division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in the city of Worcester, at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county, at least 1 sitting each week in northern Worcester county and at least 1 sitting each week in southern Worcester county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. city of Worcester, at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county, at least 1 sitting each week in northern Worcester county and at least 1 sitting each week in southern Worcester county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The northeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 2 sittings each week in Essex county and at least 2 sittings each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The southeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 3 sittings each week in Bristol county, at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county and at least 1 sitting each week in Barnstable county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. The metro south division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Norfolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 1 Housing court department; composition; definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 2 Superior and general jurisdiction; presumption; processes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 3 Concurrent jurisdiction; powers of superior court department; enforcement authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 4 Sittings of court](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S4.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 5 Time for transaction of business](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 6 Seal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 7 Rules and forms of procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S7.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 8 Justices; appointment; disputes between justices and clerks; appeals; removal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 8A Chief justice authority and responsibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S8A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 8B Deputy court administrator](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S8B.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 9 Clerks; appointment; disputes between justices and clerks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S9.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 9A Salaries of clerks and assistant clerks; practice of law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S9A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 10 Temporary clerks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S10.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 185C, sec. 11 Assistant clerks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S11.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PII_TI_C185C_S4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.