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Question 7

Question 7: Allow Single-Family Homes on Small Lots in Areas with Adequate Infrastructure Initiative

On the ballot

Massachusetts · November 2026 general election · Citizen initiative · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Housing

In plain language

Question 7 would require Massachusetts cities and towns to allow single-family homes on residentially zoned lots of at least 5,000 square feet that have at least 50 feet of frontage on a street or public way and access to public water and sewer service. Municipalities could not require a special permit or discretionary approval for such homes in residential districts. The state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities could issue guidelines on matters such as setbacks, building size and height, and short-term rentals. Many Massachusetts residential districts currently set minimum lot sizes between half an acre and two acres.

Fiscal impact

No official fiscal note has been issued for this measure yet.

When the state publishes a fiscal analysis, it will appear here and be listed in the sources below.

What supporters and opponents say

These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.

What supporters say

  • Legalize Starter Homes, the campaign behind the measure, says it was drafted from existing state law and from research finding that large minimum lot sizes make Massachusetts homes scarcer and more expensive.
  • Andrew Mikula, senior housing fellow at the Pioneer Institute, says allowing homes on smaller lots facilitates construction of smaller, lower-cost houses and more of them, which he ties to outmigration of young people.
  • Abundant Housing Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D) support the measure.

Attributed to Legalize Starter Homes, Abundant Housing Massachusetts.

What opponents say

  • Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, says zoning decisions are inherently local and that a one-size-fits-all state rule strips local residents and officials of their role.
  • The Massachusetts Municipal Association says the petition requires access to public water and sewer but not available capacity, and that many municipal systems are already at or near capacity; it also notes the measure does not require the new homes to be affordable.

Attributed to Massachusetts Municipal Association.

Official ballot language

The certified ballot text is not yet available for this measure. Once the state certifies it, the verbatim wording will appear here.

Sources

Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.

Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.