This page includes Compliance Guidelines on new Section 3A of MGL c. 40A and related materials.
- This page, Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities, is offered by
- Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities
This new law requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria set forth in the statute:
- Minimum gross density of 15 units per acre
- Located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station, if applicable
- No age restrictions and suitable for families with children
On December 15, 2021, the Department of Housing and Community Development (now EOHLC) issued draft guidelines on how to comply with the law. After the release of the draft guidelines, the Baker-Polito Administration held a public comment period until March 31, 2022. During the public comment period, there were over 24 engagement sessions and DHCD (now EOHLC) received nearly 400 comments through an online portal. The public comment process served to inform the revised guidelines.
On August 10, 2022, DHCD (now EOHLC) issued the final guidelines to determine if an MBTA community is in compliance with Section 3A. Read the letter sent to each MBTA Community from Secretary Mike Kennealy and Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox. We encourage you to visit this page often as it will be updated from time to time.
Table of Contents
What is an "MBTA Community"?
“MBTA community” is defined by reference to Section 1 of MGL c. 161A:
- one of the “14 cities and towns” that initially hosted MBTA service;
- one of the “51 cities and towns” that also host MBTA service but joined later;
- other “served communities” that abut a city or town that hosts MBTA service; or
- a municipality that has been added to the MBTA under G.L. c. 161A, sec. 6 or in accordance with any special law relative to the area constituting the authority.
In total, 177 MBTA communities are subject to the new requirements of Section 3A of the Zoning Act. While served by the MBTA, Boston is exempted from the Zoning Act, including section 3A. This is illustrated in the map below.
Why is multi-family zoning near transit and in neighboring communities important?
Massachusetts is in a housing crisis.
- Massachusetts has among the highest, and fastest growing, home prices and rents of any state in the nation.
- Rising costs have dramatically increased financial pressures on low- and middle-income families, forcing them to sacrifice other priorities in order to pay housing costs. High housing costs are a primary driver of homelessness.
- These high costs are a disadvantage as we compete economically against peer states. The risk of future job growth moving outside Massachusetts is rising due to the high costs of living.
How does creating zoning for multi-family housing help the housing crisis?
The lack of zoning for multi-family housing is a barrier for new housing development in Massachusetts. By allowing multifamily housing near transit, we can create new housing in walkable neighborhoods closer to transit. This is not just good housing policy, it is good climate and transportation policy, too. The result of transit-oriented development is:
- More housing closer to the places that we go every day, such as local shops, jobs, schools, restaurants, parks, etc.
- Better access to work, services, and other destinations by increasing mobility and utilization of public transit
- Reduced reliance on single occupancy vehicles, which helps in our larger effort to confront the climate crisis
What is the law?
The requirement is codified as Section 3A of MGL c. 40A:
Section 3A. (a)(1) An MBTA community shall have a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; provided, however, that such multi-family housing shall be without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children. For the purposes of this section, a district of reasonable size shall: (i) have a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, subject to any further limitations imposed by section 40 of chapter 131 and title 5 of the state environmental code established pursuant to section 13 of chapter 21A; and (ii) be located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station, if applicable.
(b) An MBTA community that fails to comply with this section shall not be eligible for funds from: (i) the Housing Choice Initiative as described by the governor in a message to the general court dated December 11, 2017; (ii) the Local Capital Projects Fund established in section 2EEEE of chapter 29; or (iii) the MassWorks infrastructure program established in section 63 of chapter 23A.
(c) The department, in consultation with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall promulgate guidelines to determine if an MBTA community is in compliance with this section.
Attorney General Advisory
On March 15, 2023, Massachusetts’ Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued an Advisory concerning the enforcement of the requirements imposed on cities and towns by Chapter 40A, Section 3A.
The law requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right, and that meets other criteria set forth in the statute. Failure to comply with the law results in a loss of eligibility for the community, for certain funding programs.
The Attorney General’s Advisory states “All MBTA Communities must comply with the Law.” The Advisory further states that “MBTA Communities cannot avoid their obligations under the Law by foregoing this funding.”
In addition, the Advisory cautions that “Communities that fail to comply with the Law may be subject to civil enforcement action” and, “Communities that fail to comply with the Law’s requirements also risk liability under federal and state fair housing laws. The Law requires that MBTA Communities “shall have” a compliant zoning district and does not provide any mechanism by which a town or city may opt out of this requirement.”
The Attorney General’s press release and the text of the Advisory are available here:
Section 3A Guidelines
Below you will find a link to the guidelines for determining compliance with Section 3A of MGL c. 40A and summary of revisions made on 10/21/2022.
MBTA Community Categories
All communities served by the MBTA must zone to allow for multifamily housing as of right, with a greater obligation for communities with better access to transit stations.
Appendix 1 MBTA Community Categories and Requirements
* Minimum multi-family unit capacity for most communities will be based on the 2020 housing stock and the applicable percentage for that municipality's community type. In some cases, the minimum unit capacity is derived from an extrapolation of the required minimum land area multiplied by the statutory minimum gross density of 15 dwelling units per acre. In cases where the required unit capacity from these two methods would exceed 25% of the community's housing stock, the required unit capacity has instead been capped at that 25% level.
** Minimum land area is 50 acres for all communities in the rapid transit, commuter rail and adjacent community types. There is no minimum land area requirement for adjacent small towns. Where 50 acres exceeds 1.5% of the developable land area in a town, a cap has been instituted that sets minimum land area to 1.5% of developable land area in the town.
*** Developable station area is derived by taking the area of a half-mile circle around an MBTA commuter rail station, rapid transit station, or ferry terminal and removing any areas comprised of excluded land.
Additional Resources
Compliance Model
The compliance model is the primary tool for measuring a zoning district for compliance with Section 3A of M.G.L. Chapter 40A. There are several zoning requirements in Section 3A related to district size and location, multi-family unit capacity, gross density, and other benchmarks. The compliance model ensures a standard way of evaluating and estimating multi-family zoning districts on these metrics across all MBTA communities.
The compliance model was developed to create reasonable estimates that can be used to verify compliance with Section 3A. It is not intended to be as rigorous as a full, detailed build out analysis. Therefore, while the outputs from the model provide good estimates relative to the compliance metrics, they do not provide absolute measures of development potential. The development of the model was completed with the input and assistance of consultants and other experts and key stakeholders.
There is technical assistance available for municipalities seeking support as they use the model. Additional resources, guides, and examples will be posted to this page as they become available.
Complying with Section 3A Guidelines
The Guidelines establish timelines for municipalities to adopt compliant zoning districts. MBTA communities that are noncompliant with Section 3A are ineligible for funding from certain funding sources provided by the Commonwealth. There are two forms of compliance, district (or “full compliance”) and interim compliance.
District Compliance
District Compliance is achieved when an MBTA community adopts a multi-family zoning district that meets all the requirements of the compliance guidelines and is certified by DHCD. The deadline to submit a compliance application to DHCD varies by community category as shown in the table below.
| Community Category | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Rapid transit community | 12/31/2023 |
| Commuter rail community | 12/31/2024 |
| Adjacent community | 12/31/2024 |
| Adjacent small town | 12/31/2025 |
The District Compliance Application must be submitted online at the link below. Instructions for completing the form are provided by separate document below. Please read the instructions and the form in their entirety before completing the District Compliance Application.
MBTA Communities seeking assurance that proposed zoning will meet Section 3A requirements before bringing that zoning to a local legislative session may submit a pre-adoption review application. Please be advised that pre-adoption review applications must be submitted at least 90 days prior to a local legislative session to allow for a timely DHCD review.
Interim Compliance – Action Plan
An MBTA community that does not have zoning in place that complies with Section 3A must take active steps towards achieving compliance in order to remain eligible for certain annual funding rounds. The Guidelines allow communities to create and complete an online Action Plan form that outlines the municipality’s process for adopting compliant zoning. When DHCD approves the Action Plan, then the community will achieve “interim compliance” and will retain eligibility for the funding sources that require compliance with Section 3A.
- To remain eligible for the calendar year 2023 round of MassWorks and Housing Choice grants, as well as the Local Capital Projects Fund, an MBTA community must submit an Action Plan no later than January 31, 2023.
- No MBTA community may remain in interim compliance after its district compliance deadline has passed.
- A copy of the Action Plan form and access to the online Action Plan form are available below
Action Plan Submission Statuses
The status of MBTA communities’ Action Plan submissions is available in the link below. An MBTA community may have an Action Plan that has been submitted and approved, submitted and under review, or not submitted. This list will be updated as additional Action Plans are approved or submitted.
Please note, submitting an Action Plan is not the same as achieving Interim Compliance which occurs when DHCD makes such an affirmative determination.
Technical Assistance for Municipalities
Technical Assistance with Section 3A compliance is available from many sources, including the Community One Stop for Growth (Community Planning, Rural and Small Town Development Fund and Housing Choice Grants), and Energy and Environmental Affairs Land Use Grants. If you do not know which type of technical assistance is right for your situation, fill out the “Technical Assistance Inquiry Form” below and DHCD will respond with suggestions.
Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP):
MHP Technical Assistance for MBTA Communities
MHP is currently offering free direct technical assistance from pre-qualified consultants to municipalities for activities directly related to compliance with the multi-family zoning requirement. Eligible activities will include siting and mapping the district, developing appropriate use and intensity requirements; calculating capacity yield, drafting zoning by-law/ordinance; and community engagement. Apply at MHP 3ATA.
Online Workshop Series for MBTA Communities
MHP will be offering a series of trainings during the fall 2022 on topics communities should consider when planning their multi-family districts. The working title is More than Compliance: Multi-Family Districts that Work for Your Community and will address related topics ranging from infrastructure basics to community engagement and messaging strategies. Registration details will be available soon on our website at MHP 3A-TA.
Regional Planning Agencies
We encourage communities to consult with your RPA staff during this process as well. District Local Technical Assistance is available from every RPA and is typically offered in the beginning of the calendar year.
Resources
As we create and present webinars, slide decks, tutorials, sample tools, guides and other materials to assist MBTA Communities understand and comply with Section 3A, we will provide communities with those resources in the page below.