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This page, Mass. General Laws c.121B, is offered by

Mass. General Laws c.121B

Housing and urban renewal

This page links to the current, accurate version of each section of G.L. c.121B.

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Table of Contents

§ 1 Definitions 

Amended by St.2020, c.358, § 70, effective May 14, 2021

§ 2 Severability 
§ 3 Housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 3A Regional housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 4 Redevelopment authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 5 Membership; appointment; election; term of office 

Amended by St.2020, c.358, § 71, effective May 14, 2021

§ 5A Waiver of requirement to appoint tenant member to housing authority board 

Amended by St.2020, c.358, § 72, effective May 14, 2021

§ 5B Comprehensive training program for members of a housing or redevelopment authority; technical assistance training for tenant members 
§ 6 Charges against members; hearing; removal; resignation; suspension 
§ 7 Officers and executive director of 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 Designation of authorities 
§ 11 Powers of operating agencies 
§ 12 Wages; labor requirements; social security 
§ 13 Contract and tort liability; member's personal liability; relocation of utility facilities 
§ 14 Federal loans; conveyance upon default 
§ 15 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 Statement of emergency 
§ 26 Powers of a housing authority 

Amended by St.2021, c.39, § 72, August 5, 2021

§ 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 
§ 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 
§ 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 
§ 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 
§ 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 Declaration of policy 
§ 38A Bureau of housing for the handicapped; director; functions 
§ 38B 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 
§ 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 Declaration of necessity 
§ 43 Contracts to rent, lease or provide financial assistance to housing units by housing authorities 
§ 43A Relocation of residents; leased housing units 
§ 44 Rentals and tenant selection 
§ 44A Leasing of housing units in MHFA projects for replacement or relocation housing authorized 
§ 45 Declaration of necessity 
§ 46 Powers of urban renewal agency 
§ 47 Acquisition by eminent domain; notice; petition 
§ 48 Public hearing; notice; urban renewal plans; approval; acquisition of property 
§ 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 Determination of compliance and final approved cost; notice 
§ 55 Certification and payment of grants 
§ 56 Contract to provide financial assistance 
§ 57 Advance of funds; amount; payments 
§ 58 Declaration of necessity 
§ 59 Contracts for state financial assistance; rehabilitation projects 
§ 60 Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund 

Amended by St.2018, c. 154, § 42, effective July 1, 2018

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