Massachusetts voters to decide on single-family home zoning reform

Massachusetts voters will decide on Question 7 this November, a ballot measure that seeks to reform statewide zoning laws regarding single-family homes. If approved, the measure would amend Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish a 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size and a 50-foot minimum street frontage for single-family homes in municipalities with public water and sewer systems.

The measure would apply to all Massachusetts municipalities except Boston. While it would limit the ability of cities and towns to impose large minimum lot sizes that often restrict development, local authorities would retain control over other zoning matters such as building height, setbacks, parking, and short-term rental regulations. Areas relying on private wells and septic systems would not be affected.

Supporters, including the committees ‘Legalize Starter Homes’ and ‘Abundant Housing Massachusetts’, argue the reform is necessary to address the state's housing crisis. With Massachusetts ranked among the least affordable states and an estimated need for 220,000 new homes, proponents suggest the change could facilitate the construction of between 2,200 and 5,700 new homes annually by making it easier to build ‘starter homes’ on smaller lots.