Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community Designation Application

The Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community (RST-HCC) Designation is available to all Massachusetts Rural and Small Towns, defined as communities with a population under 7,000 or with a population density of under 500 persons per square mile.

Communities Applying for First-Time Designation or Re-Designation

All communities applying for first-time designation or to renew an existing or previous designation should complete the entire application, including:

  • Confirm your community is a Rural and Small Town
  • Building permits issued in the past 5 years
  • Select the RST-HCC eligibility criteria your community meets
  • Select all best practices your community currently meets

RST-HCC Designation Criteria and Best Practices

Before submitting your form, please review the 2026 Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community Designation Criteria and Best Practices.

Applications due by 5:00PM on February 27, 2026.

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