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Mass. General Laws c.121B

Housing and urban renewal

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 121B.

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§ 1 Definitions 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 253-254, effective May 30, 2023

§ 2 Severability 
§ 3 Housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 3A Regional housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 4 Redevelopment authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 5 Housing and redevelopment authorities; membership; appointment; election; term of office 
§ 5A Waiver of requirement to appoint tenant member to housing authority board 
§ 5B Comprehensive training program for members of a housing or redevelopment authority; technical assistance training for tenant members 
§ 6 Housing and redevelopment authorities; charges against members; hearing; removal; resignation; suspension 
§ 7 Officers and executive director of housing and redevelopment authorities; compensation of members 
§ 7A Guidelines for contracts to be executed by housing authority and executive director 
§ 8 Operating agencies; housing authorities 
§ 9 Urban renewal agencies 
§ 10 Operating agencies; designation of authorities 
§ 11 Powers of operating agencies 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 150, § 30, effective August 6, 2024

§ 12 Operating agencies; wages; labor requirements; social security 
§ 13 Operating agencies; contract and tort liability; member's personal liability; relocation of utility facilities 
§ 14 Operating agencies; federal loans; conveyance upon default 
§ 15 Operating agencies; bonds, notes, certificates; negotiable instruments 
§ 16 Exemption from taxation for real estate and tangible personal property of operating agency; revaluation or reassessment of real property; payments in lieu of taxes 
§ 17 Liability of commonwealth or political subdivisions for debts of housing authority 
§ 18 Preparation of master plans, etc. by city or town; appropriation and payment 
§ 19 Initial costs and annual operating expenses of operating agencies; appropriations and payment by city 
§ 20 Development, acquisition and operating costs; relocation payments; losses; appropriation and payment by city 
§ 21 Indebtedness limitation 
§ 23 Municipal powers 
§ 24 Agreement to bear acquisition loss 
§ 25 Housing programs; statement of emergency 
§ 26 Powers of a housing authority 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 255, effective May 30, 2023

§ 26A Powers of department in city without housing authority; financing of projects; bonds and notes; issuance and sale; approval of city or town 
§ 26B Performance-based monitoring program; assessment standards 
§ 26C Best practices program for allowing authorities to work collaboratively; provisions of program; capital assistance team; director; members 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 150, §§ 31-32, effective August 6, 2024

§ 26D Names and contact information of all members and senior staff to be posted on wall of community center and on website 
§ 27 Rural housing authority; additional powers 
§ 28 Application of laws, ordinances, and regulations of cities or towns relating to buildings, planning, zoning and public health 

Amended by St.2021, c.39, § 73, August 5, 2021

§ 28A Annual plan; availability to public for review and comment 
§ 29 Accounts and reports of housing authorities; review of financial records; availability to public; audit; investigations by department; rules and regulations of department 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 150, §§ 33-34, effective August 6, 2024

§ 30 Contract with federal government; acquiring federally owned project 
§ 31 Submission of plans for low-rent housing project to department; application; hearing; disposition 
§ 32 Maintenance and operation of project; rentals; tenant selection; eligibility for continued occupancy; hearings; waiver 
§ 32A Parking areas; rules and regulations; towing 
§ 32B Definitions 
§ 32C Unlawful conduct by tenant, members or non-members of tenant household; civil action by landlord for injunctive or other equitable relief 
§ 32D Actions by tenants or tenants' organizations 
§ 32E Jurisdiction over civil actions; appellate review 
§ 32F Restraining orders and injunctions; form; service; enforcement; violations; effect; modification and vacation 
§ 32G Temporary absences from commonwealth; presumption of abandonment of residency and eligibility for assistance 
§ 33 Equivalent elimination of substandard dwelling units 
§ 34 State and federal financial assistance; general provisions 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 150, § 35, effective August 6, 2024

§ 34A Contracts for state financial assistance on leased MHFA projects to provide replacement or relocation housing; annual contributions; limitations 
§ 34B Commonwealth guaranteed temporary notes; authorization and execution; sale and refunding limitations; terms 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 257-259, effective May 30, 2023

§ 35 Contracts for supplementary state financial assistance 
§ 36 Receipt of loans and grants from federal sources or from other sources 
§ 37 Commonwealth grants; guarantee of temporary notes; sale, maintenance, and operation of relocation projects; limitations on eminent domain 
§ 38 Housing for the elderly and the handicapped; declaration of policy 
§ 38A Bureau of housing for the handicapped; director; functions 
§ 38B Housing for the elderly and the handicapped; service coordinator program 
§ 38C Program to conduct annual surveys of public housing residents 
§ 38D Regional public housing innovation program; goals; application for participation in program; funds; powers and projects 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 260, effective May 30, 2023

§ 39 Power to provide housing for elderly and handicapped persons of low income; priorities in placement 
§ 40 Provisions applicable to housing for elderly and handicapped persons of low income 
§ 41 State financial assistance; housing for elderly persons of low income 
§ 41A State financial assistance; housing for handicapped persons of low income 
§ 42 Rental assistance program; declaration of necessity 
§ 43 Contracts to rent, lease or provide financial assistance to housing units by housing authorities 
§ 43A Rental assistance program; relocation of residents; leased housing units 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 261, effective May 30, 2023

§ 44 Rental assistance program; rentals and tenant selection 
§ 44A Leasing of housing units in MHFA projects for replacement or relocation housing authorized 
§ 45 Urban renewal programs declaration of necessity 
§ 46 Powers of urban renewal agency 
§ 47 Urban renewal programs; acquisition by eminent domain; notice; petition 
§ 48 Public hearing; notice; urban renewal plans; approval; acquisition of property 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 262-264, effective May 30, 2023

§ 49 Sale or lease of property acquired for urban renewal project 
§ 50 Delegation of power to municipality to plan and undertake project 
§ 51 Redevelopment authority taking over project initiated by housing authority 
§ 52 Accounts and reports of urban renewal agencies; civil service rules 
§ 53 Application for urban renewal assistance grant or urban revitalization and development grant 
§ 54 State aid for urban renewal; determination of compliance and final approved cost; notice 
§ 55 State aid for urban renewal; certification and payment of grants 
§ 56 State aid for urban renewal; contract to provide financial assistance 
§ 57 State aid for urban renewal; advance of funds; amount; payments 
§ 58 Other urban renewal programs; declaration of necessity 
§ 59 Contracts for state financial assistance; rehabilitation projects 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 265, effective May 30, 2023

§ 60 Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 266-267, effective May 30, 2023

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