An Act relative to accessory dwelling units
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 11/20/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
| 9/17/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 09/17/2025 from 09:00 AM-11:30 AM in B-1 — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 9/16/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 09/17/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in B-1 — Hearing location changed |
| 9/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/17/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Housing |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J28 | Favorable | 1 entries |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H1493 | An Act allowing movable tiny houses as permanent residential dwellings and accessory dwelling units | Active |
| H4020 | An Act relative to owner occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units | Active |
| H4163 | An Act relative to accessory dwelling units inclusion in the subsidized housing inventory | Active |
| H4707 | An Act allowing movable tiny houses as permanent residential dwellings and accessory dwelling units | Active |
| S1002 | An Act relative to accessory dwelling units on smaller lots | Active |
| S1474 | An Act allowing moveable tiny houses as permanent residential dwellings and accessory dwelling units | Active |
Section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the eleventh paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit, unreasonably restrict or require a special permit or other discretionary zoning approval for the use of land or structures for a single accessory dwelling unit, or the rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district; provided, that the use of land or structures for such accessory dwelling unit under this paragraph may be subject to reasonable regulations, including, but not limited to, 310 CMR 15.000 et seq., if applicable, site plan review, regulations concerning dimensional setbacks and the bulk and height of structures and may be subject to restrictions and prohibitions on short-term rental, as defined in section 1 of chapter 64G. Any city or town may, by local option, require owner occupancy of either the accessory dwelling unit or the principal dwelling unit under this paragraph; provided, that not more than 1 additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling unit; and provided further, that no additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. For more than 1 accessory dwelling unit, or rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district there shall be a special permit for the use of land or structures for an accessory dwelling unit. The executive office of housing and livable communities may issue guidelines or promulgate regulations to administer this paragraph
SECTION 1. Section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the eleventh paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit, unreasonably restrict or require a special permit or other discretionary zoning approval for the use of land or structures for a single accessory dwelling unit, or the rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district; provided, that the use of land or structures for such accessory dwelling unit under this paragraph may be subject to reasonable regulations, including, but not limited to, 310 CMR 15.000 et seq., if applicable, site plan review, regulations concerning dimensional setbacks and the bulk and height of structures and may be subject to restrictions and prohibitions on short-term rental, as defined in section 1 of chapter 64G. Any city or town may, by local option, require owner occupancy of either the accessory dwelling unit or the principal dwelling unit under this paragraph; provided, that not more than 1 additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling unit; and provided further, that no additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. For more than 1 accessory dwelling unit, or rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district there shall be a special permit for the use of land or structures for an accessory dwelling unit. The executive office of housing and livable communities may issue guidelines or promulgate regulations to administer this paragraph