In 2021, Massachusetts enacted MBTA Communities, the most significant pro-housing law passed in decades. Now, it’s up to 177 cities and towns to comply with its requirements or risk losing state funding and face potential lawsuits (see if your town is included). 

The law requires communities served by the MBTA to create a reasonably sized zoning district that allows multifamily housing by-right at a density of 15-units per acre. This is modest density that can be satisfied by duplexes, townhomes, carriage houses, and small apartment buildings.

This type of transit oriented development will create mixed-use communities that encourage people to live, work, and shop near transit services which, in turn, offers more choices for transportation, decreases dependency on driving, reduces parking issues, and can help the environment. More than ever, Massachusetts desperately needs to create more housing. 

More housing will HELP our communities:

• Improve the housing market with lower costs and stable rents
• Create more inclusive and diverse communities
• Increase town tax bases to help support schools, infrastructure, and amenities

Noncompliance will HURT communities:

• Lose state infrastructure and affordable housing funding
• Face potential lawsuits
• Prolong decades of underdevelopment, resulting in higher prices and housing instability

Looking for even more info? Check out this video Q&A with 2024 NEAR President Frances Markel and Audrey Hettinger, Government Affairs Manager at the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR).

Referenced Video Links:

• Mass.Gov Resources for MBTA Communities: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/resources-for-mbta-communities
• Interactive Globe article showing how the mandate impacts specific towns: https://apps.bostonglobe.com/2023/10/special-projects/spotlight-boston-housing/zoning-mandate-map/
• Massachusetts Real Estate Community Alliance (MRECA) website: https://www.massrecommunity.org/
• MAR MBTA Communities webpage! Here it is: https://www.marealtor.com/mbta-communities/

Still have questions? Reach out to Audrey Hettinger today.