An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline

By Amy Dain

January 28, 2026

Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities zoning law required cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing as of right in reasonably sized districts, near transit where feasible, and without restrictions that exclude families with children. This report, An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline, examines a state-compiled list of more than 90 developments, totaling over 6,000 homes, that have entered the permitting pipeline in these new zones as of late 2025, or moved beyond it. The report looks at how many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy; where housing is being built relative to transit and walkable centers; how effectively as-of-right zoning is reducing permitting risk and delay; and what these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts.

Use the interactive map below to look at individual project locations across the region (best viewed in a desktop or laptop browser window).