Code of Massachusetts Regulations 201 CMR - OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS REGULATION
Here’s a comprehensive overview of 201 CMR – Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation:
📘 What is 201 CMR?
This title of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations governs a variety of consumer protection rules overseen by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) (mass.gov).
✅ Major Sections (201 CMR 10.00 – 19.00)
Work areas include:
10.00: Weighing, sorting, and culling fish
11.00: New & used motor vehicle arbitration
12.00: “Do Not Call” registry enforcement – e.g., calling hours, FCC compliance (sec.state.ma.us, regulations.justia.com, mass.gov, law.cornell.edu)
14.00: Home improvement contractor arbitration & guaranty fund (mass.gov)
16.00: Security freeze rules (credit reporting)
17.00: Protection of personal information/privacy standards (regulations.justia.com)
18.00: Home improvement contractor registration & enforcement
19.00: Customized wheelchair arbitration
🔍 Focus on Key Regulations
• 201 CMR 12.00 – Massachusetts Do Not Call Registry
Bars unsolicited calls to numbers on the state Do‑Not‑Call list.
Prohibits calls before 8 AM or after 8 PM local time.
Requires disclosure of identity, seller, and accurate details within the first minute of the call (mass.gov, law.cornell.edu).
• 201 CMR 14.00 – Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration
Sets procedures for binding arbitration between homeowners and registered contractors.
Establishes a Guaranty Fund to compensate homeowners (up to $25,000).
Covers eligibility, hearing processes, arbitrator selection/ethics, and fund disbursement rules (mass.gov).
• 201 CMR 17.00 – Protection of Personal Information
Requires any entity holding personal info about MA residents to adopt written, regularly audited security programs.
Specifies encryption, firewall, access control, and data disposal standards.
Enforced since March 1, 2010, under M.G.L. c. 93H; businesses face fines of $5,000 per violation and up to $50,000 per improper disposal (regulations.justia.com, tbgsecurity.com).
📅 Updates & Effective Dates
The Master compilation (“201 CMR”) was last updated June 6, 2025 (mass.gov).
201 CMR 17.00 took effect March 1, 2010 (tbgsecurity.com).
Other sections are updated quarterly via official registers .
💡 Why It Matters
These regulations shape how consumers are protected—covering unfair trade practices, telemarketing, data privacy, contractor disputes, and more. If you're a business or a resident in Massachusetts, it’s important to:
Review sections relevant to your activity.
Ensure compliance—especially with privacy (17.00) and telemarketing (12.00).
Follow procedures under 14.00 before filing or responding to contractor disputes.
📚 Where to Read the Regulations
Mass.gov provides the official 201 CMR PDF and web versions (tbgsecurity.com, mass.gov).
Other legal libraries like Cornell LII and Justia mirror the text (law.cornell.edu).
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