Twelve Massachusetts towns missed the deadline to comply with the MBTA Communities zoning law, leaving them facing a precarious future marked by uncertainty. As of December 31st, 2025, only 165 out of 177 eligible towns had submitted their zoning plans as required by the 2021 law.
The noncompliant communities include Carver, Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Holden, Marblehead, Middleton, Rehoboth, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Winthrop. These municipalities now risk facing enforcement lawsuits from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and losing certain state grant funding.
While town officials claim they are working towards compliance, their efforts have been met with skepticism by residents. In some towns, like Holden and Dracut, local leaders have formed committees to identify areas that meet state requirements while addressing resident concerns. However, their progress has been slow due to deep-seated resistance from the community.
Some towns have tried to avoid the issue altogether by passing so-called "paper zoning," which technically allows multifamily housing but is unlikely to be developed. Nevertheless, residents remain wary of this approach, demanding more information on potential impacts and costs before making a decision.
The lack of clarity surrounding enforcement has also contributed to the uncertainty. Despite Attorney General Andrea Campbell's warning that her office could pursue enforcement against noncompliant towns in January 2026, town officials have heard little from the state since the deadline passed.
In some cases, the consequences are already being felt. Middleton lost a $2 million MassWorks grant and funding for a Council on Aging passenger van, while Winthrop lost $1.2 million in climate resiliency funding. The tension between local control and state mandates has become increasingly apparent, with towns like Middleton refusing to bring MBTA Communities zoning back to voters after residents rejected it twice.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: Massachusetts' noncompliant MBTA Communities are facing an uncertain future, marked by deep skepticism from residents, lack of clarity on enforcement, and unpredictable grant losses. The state's Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus remains focused on supporting these communities in passing zoning that meets their needs, but it remains to be seen whether progress can be made before the situation spirals further out of control.
The noncompliant communities include Carver, Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Holden, Marblehead, Middleton, Rehoboth, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Winthrop. These municipalities now risk facing enforcement lawsuits from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and losing certain state grant funding.
While town officials claim they are working towards compliance, their efforts have been met with skepticism by residents. In some towns, like Holden and Dracut, local leaders have formed committees to identify areas that meet state requirements while addressing resident concerns. However, their progress has been slow due to deep-seated resistance from the community.
Some towns have tried to avoid the issue altogether by passing so-called "paper zoning," which technically allows multifamily housing but is unlikely to be developed. Nevertheless, residents remain wary of this approach, demanding more information on potential impacts and costs before making a decision.
The lack of clarity surrounding enforcement has also contributed to the uncertainty. Despite Attorney General Andrea Campbell's warning that her office could pursue enforcement against noncompliant towns in January 2026, town officials have heard little from the state since the deadline passed.
In some cases, the consequences are already being felt. Middleton lost a $2 million MassWorks grant and funding for a Council on Aging passenger van, while Winthrop lost $1.2 million in climate resiliency funding. The tension between local control and state mandates has become increasingly apparent, with towns like Middleton refusing to bring MBTA Communities zoning back to voters after residents rejected it twice.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: Massachusetts' noncompliant MBTA Communities are facing an uncertain future, marked by deep skepticism from residents, lack of clarity on enforcement, and unpredictable grant losses. The state's Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus remains focused on supporting these communities in passing zoning that meets their needs, but it remains to be seen whether progress can be made before the situation spirals further out of control.
I'm really surprised by how many towns are struggling with this new law. It's not like they're trying to avoid change, but rather, some folks just aren't ready for multifamily housing in their neighborhoods. Meanwhile, towns that have already started working on compliance plans seem to be making progress 
But it's frustrating when you see a $2 million grant being lost because of uncertainty around the law. And with residents getting skeptical and local leaders struggling to make things work, it feels like we're stuck in limbo. The state is trying to support these towns, but I wonder how much longer they can keep pushing for compliance without making some real headway 
So, like, I'm seeing this news about Massachusetts towns not meeting the deadline for the MBTA Communities zoning law 
and now they're all stuck in limbo 
. It's kinda wild how some towns are trying to just "paper zone" 
which sounds like a total cop-out 
but honestly, I can see why residents would be skeptical.
and that's not helping the situation at all 
. And what's up with the state just kinda... not communicating much 
? Like, Andrea Campbell said she'd pursue enforcement in Jan 2026 but now? crickets 
.
. Middleton lost like $2 million 
which is a big deal 
. And Winthrop's climate resiliency funding too 
. It's not just about the money, though; it's also about how these towns can make their own decisions 
.
but still end up being super uncertain 
. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Ed Augustus can help them figure this out 
.
They're gonna face a lot of pressure now, and it's not just about meeting state requirements, it's also about keeping their residents happy. I think the state needs to step in a bit more and offer some guidance on how to navigate this situation. It's not just about enforcement lawsuits, but also about finding solutions that work for everyone. Some towns are trying to address concerns and make adjustments, but it's slow going... 
. Like, who needs the state breathing down their necks? It's more than just about zoning laws, it's about local control and letting towns do what they want to do without some distant AG telling them how to run their own show 
.
. Who knows, maybe these noncompliant towns will surprise us and figure out their own solutions (fingers crossed)!
. They're supposed to submit plans by 2021 and now most of 'em missed it. It's like they thought nobody would care, but here we are... Still getting grants taken away from some places, and people are all confused about what's going on. Massachusetts is like "come together" but towns are all "no thanks". 
. Like, what even is going on? They're facing some serious uncertainty and it's not looking good for them 
. It feels like a total lack of transparency from the state, especially with that Attorney General Andrea Campbell's warning going totally unheeded 
.
. This whole situation is just so... uncertain 
. Fingers crossed that Ed Augustus can magically make everything better before it spirals further out of control 
. If they don't get their act together, they'll be facing some serious consequences, from fines to losing out on grants 
The state is trying to support these communities, but it feels like a case of "too little, too late" 
. I hope they can figure out a way to make this work before things get even more complicated 
.
. And what's with all these grants and funding that could be lost if they don't comply 
. Until then, these towns are just sitting in limbo, not knowing what to do or where to turn 
. It's a mess, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can find a way out of it 
.