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Streamlined Process for Qualifying Housing Projects

Starting with the February 3-17, 2026 filing cycle, new projects will be eligible to seek streamlining under qualifying housing criteria in new 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1. & 2.
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Qualifying Housing Criteria

Effective January 30, 2026, MEPA regulatory amendments at 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.& 2.  provide a new streamlining option for qualifying housing projects meeting the specified criteria. The MEPA Office will begin accepting ENFs seeking to proceed under the new rules with the February 3-17, 2026 filing cycle.

Fact sheet is available here

Note that the ENF form has been revised (effective February 3, 2026) to include a new Qualifying Housing Section and checklist to be used to demonstrate compliance with eligibility criteria. Notice of the ENF form revision was posted in the January 23, 2026 Environmental Monitor (Public Notice section), and is available on the MEPA Forms page here.

The following additional mapping tool and guidance are available for qualifying housing projects, and are posted on the MEPA Resources page here:

Upon review of the ENF filing, the Secretary will determine whether an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required, in accordance with 301 CMR 11.06(7)(a). However, an EIR is not mandatory, notwithstanding the application of MEPA review thresholds at 301 CMR 11.03 or operation of 301 CMR 11.06(7)(b) for projects within a Designated Geographic Area (DGA) of Environmental Justice (EJ) Populations. Note that EJ related requirementswill continue to apply for projects previously subject to 301 CMR 11.06(7)(b).

A summary of qualifying housing criteria in 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.& 2. and required documentation for inclusion in the ENF is as follows:

CriterionMetricRequired Documentation (in ENF)
  1. Housing-centered
Devotes 67% or more of the gross floor area of the Project to residential uses, with the remainder devoted to supportive commercial, cultural, educational, community and/or civic uses. For the purpose of this 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.a., gross floor area shall not include parking, utility space, and other ancillary spaces not intended for exclusive occupancy by the user or tenant.

Provide total gross floor area (GFA) of project and % residential (must be ≥67%).

Specify types of proposed uses, including exclusions.

  1. Dense

Achieves density of:

  • at least 8 units per acre for single-family;
  • at least 12 units per acre for two- or three-family buildings; and
  • at least 15 units per acre for multi-family housing of more than three-family residential uses

Provide breakdown of units by building type (single family, 2- or 3- family, and over 3-family multifamily) and units/acre.

Note: The Proponent should provide units/acre consistent with local zoning requirements, and provide citations to such requirements and any approvals received.

Note: Projects seeking to proceed under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2. may qualify if either criterion (b) or (c) is met.

  1. Infill

Alters up to 5 acres of previously undeveloped land. Redevelopment of previously developed land, or redevelopment of land within or appurtenant to an office or industrial park or large institutional property, shall not be defined as alteration of previously undeveloped land.

OR

Alters up to 10 acres of previously undeveloped land and the Project proposes a tree retention and replanting plan that demonstrates measures to minimize tree removal and replace removed trees to the maximum extent practicable.

Redevelopment of previously developed land, or redevelopment of land within or appurtenant to an office or industrial park or large institutional property, shall not be defined as alteration of previously undeveloped land.

AND

No portion of the Project site shall include any land where projected total ecosystem carbon stocks are in the top quintile statewide, as defined by the Massachusetts Forest Carbon Top Quintile data layer issued by EEA; any designated priority habitat, as defined in 321 CMR 10.02; or any land with soils classified as prime farmland by the United States Department of Agriculture which is currently in active agricultural use or was in active agricultural use within the past five years.

  1. Provide # of acres of alteration of previously undeveloped land (must be ≤10 acres). If alteration is >5 acres but ≤10 acres, describe tree retention and replanting plan and specify # or acreage of trees/replaced.
  2. To demonstrate location of Project site outside the 3 natural resource areas specified in this criterion, attach a locus map showing the site in relation to these areas (this should be combined with map of highest hazard areas for flood and erosion criterion), using the MEPA Qualifying Housing Map Viewer.
  3. Specify whether the site is currently, or has been in the past five years, in active agricultural use.

Note: all layers on the MEPA Qualifying Housing Map Viewer must be turned on, even if the site has not been in active agricultural use in the past 5 years.

Note: this locus map must be provided for all Projects, even if seeking to proceed under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2.

  1. Flood and Erosion

For Any Project: Located outside highest hazard areas and outside the Special Flood Hazard Area as defined by the Wetlands Protection Act regulations at 310 CMR 10.00.

OR

If Redevelopment: Located outside highest hazard areas and complies with the American Society of Civil Engineers Guidance on Structural Safety in Flood Areas (ASCE 24-24).

OR

If Redevelopment and does not exceed any mandatory EIR threshold: Complies with the American Society of Civil Engineers Guidance on Structural Safety in Flood Areas (ASCE 24-24) and demonstrates absence of off-site flood impacts.

Redevelopment means replacement, rehabilitation, or expansion of existing structures, improvement of existing roads or reuse of degraded or previously developed areas.

Highest hazard areas shall be those areas subject to high erosion or with exposure to flooding characterized by factors such as high-velocity flows, high-velocity wave action, breaking wave heights, sheet flow and scour and flash flooding. Such highest hazard areas shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency: V, Coastal A and AO zones on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and floodways and A zones along the banks of waterbodies. The Secretary shall set forth in guidance methodology for delineating highest hazard areas.

  1. Specify whether the Project is considered “redevelopment.”

    Note: if any portion of the Project does not qualify as redevelopment, the entire project must be considered “new.”

  2. Specify whether Project site is located outside the Special Flood Hazard Area as defined by the Wetlands Protection Act regulations at 310 CMR 10.00.

    Note: this must be documented by attaching a FEMA FIRMette from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center website, as part of required attachment #4 to the ENF. If the Proponent intends to rely on other information, must specify.

  3. To demonstrate location of Project site outside highest hazard areas as designated by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, attach locus map showing the Project site in relation to such areas (should be combined with map of 3 layers for infill criterion), using the MEPA Qualifying Housing Map Viewer. Additional details regarding FEMA zones and wetland delineations are also required in ENF.

    Note: If the Proponent intends to rely on information other than the MEPA Qualifying Housing Map Viewer to demonstrate eligibility under this criterion (e.g., alternative documentation of FEMA flood zones), provide detailed justification. However, the “high erosion areas” as mapped in the Viewer shall be definitive.

    Note: this locus map must be provided for all Projects, even if seeking to proceed under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2.

  4. To demonstrate compliance with ASCE 24-24, provide a certification by a qualified professional and a narrative description of key project components, including building elevations relative to established base flood elevations.
  5. If applicable, provide documentation to demonstrate the absence of off-site flood impacts from the Project (provide information consistent with Section IV. of Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency Section, including flow path analysis or topographic maps as applicable).
  1. Energy Efficient
Complies with the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008Specify whether the Project complies with the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code and provide additional details about project design.
  1. Adequately served by utilities
  1. Does not require approval of a new interbasin transfer of water or wastewater, other than a transfer determined to be insignificant pursuant to the Interbasin Transfer Act and implementing regulations at 313 CMR 4.00.

AND

  1. Does not require a new or expanded gas main

Note: this criterion is not applicable to Projects seeking to qualify under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2.

  1. Specify whether the Project will require approval of a new interbasin transfer of water or wastewater, other than a transfer determined to be insignificant.
  2. Specify whether the Project will require a new or expanded gas main (not individual hookups).
  1. Accessible
  1. Generates fewer than 3,000 New unadjusted average daily trips (adt) on roadways leading to a single location.

OR

  1. Generates fewer than 6,000 New adt of traffic on roadways providing access to a single location if the Project is located within one-half mile of a public transit stop with an existing or proposed safe and accessible path of travel to the Project site. Projects with 3,000 or more New adt, prior to filing the ENF, must consult with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or applicable local or regional transit authority established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 161B, § 3 or § 14.

Note: this criterion is not applicable to Projects seeking to qualify under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2.

  1. Specify New unadjusted average daily trips (adt) for Project (must be <6,000).
  2. If New unadjusted adt if ≥3,000 but <6,000, specify if Project site is located within ½ mile of a transit stop with existing or proposed safe and accessible path of travel to transit stop. Specify any new access proposed as part of Project.

  3. If New unadjusted adt if >3,000 but ≤6,000, specify whether the Proponent conducted consultation with MassDOT and MBTA/relevant transit authority and the results of said consultation.

    Note: “Transit stop” shall be defined to include a commuter rail station, subway station, transit station, ferry terminal or bus station serviced by MBTA or local or regional transit authority established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 161B, § 3 or § 14.

  4. For Projects requiring MassDOT permitting, attach Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) if required by MEPA/MassDOT Guidelines. For other Projects, attach traffic study if completed for local permitting.

Environmental Justice Requirements

For projects located within a Designated Geographic Area (DGA), as defined in 301 CMR 11.02, of Environmental Justice (EJ) Populations and requesting streamlining under qualifying housing criteria, all outreach and engagement requirements will continue to apply, including advance notification requirements under 301 CMR 11.05(4)(b). More detailed guidance and information related to EJ outreach and engagement are available here.

As noted, the ENF form has been revised (effective February 3, 2026) to include a new Qualifying Housing Section and checklist to be used to demonstrate compliance with eligibility criteria. The revised ENF form is available on the MEPA Forms page here, and includes updates to the Environmental Justice Section.

Any project located within a DGA of EJ Populations and exceeding mandatory EIR thresholds in 301 CMR 11.03 must meet all qualifying housing criteria to be streamlined. However, if any such project does not exceed mandatory EIR thresholds in 301 CMR 11.03, it may proceed under 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)2. and is eligible for streamlining based on modified criteria listed below:

  • Must meet criteria 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.a., d., & e.
  • Must meet either criterion 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.b. or c., but both are not required
  • May be proposed within highest hazard areas under criterion 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.d., provided that documentation of ASCE 24-24 compliance and absence of off-site flood impacts are provided
  • Not required to meet criteria 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.f. & g.

Note: these modified criteria are reflected in the summary table in the Qualifying Housing Criteria Section above. All projects must still attach to the ENF filing the required locus maps for criteria 301 CMR 11.01(2)(c)1.c. & d., generated from the MEPA Qualifying Housing Map Viewer.

In addition to meeting qualifying housing criteria, projects located within a DGA of EJ Populations must provide additional information in the Environmental Justice Section of the ENF form, including the following:

  • Listing of each municipality or census tract meeting the definition of “vulnerable health EJ criteria” in the DPH EJ Tool located in whole or in part within DGA of project site
  • Identification of sources of potential pollution within the boundaries of the identified EJ populations within the DGA, using the mapping layers available in the DPH EJ Tool.
  • Description of benefits specifically provided by the project for the identified EJ populations within the DGA

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