Question 7Allow single-family homes on 5,000 sq ft lots
Read the full text of the measure: Information for Voters page for this question
In plain words
Allows a single-family home on any residential lot of at least 5,000 square feet that has public water and sewer. (sec.state.ma.us )
Before and after
| Today | If YES wins | |
|---|---|---|
| What the rule is | Each city and town sets its own minimum lot size, and many require larger lots. | A single-family home would be allowed on a residential lot of 5,000 square feet or more with at least 50 feet of street frontage and public water and sewer. Towns could still set reasonable rules on height, setbacks, open space, parking, and short-term rentals. |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see
Example
Illustration only: a town requires one acre per house. Under a YES result, an owner with a 6,000 square foot lot on town water and sewer could build a single-family home there, subject to height and setback rules. (sec.state.ma.us )
Biggest change
- Single-family homes allowed on lots of 5,000 sq ft or more source: sec.state.ma.us
- 50 feet of frontage and public water and sewer required source: sec.state.ma.us
- Local rules on height, setbacks, open space, parking, short-term rentals still allowed source: sec.state.ma.us
- State housing office may issue rules source: sec.state.ma.us
Who it affects most: Home buyers and builders, landowners, local planning boards.
Cost to the state: The Executive Office of Administration and Finance says new housing could bring towns new tax revenue, but the size is hard to predict; no clear material cost.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
Allows single-family homes on residential lots of 5,000 sq ft or more, with some local rules.
No change to the law on building single-family homes.
Our one-line summary. The state's Information for Voters booklet has the official statements of what a YES and a NO vote would do.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
Voters put this on the ballot by signing a petition. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with more YES than NO votes, and YES votes from at least 30% of all voters who cast a ballot.
- On May 4, 2026, the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions recommended no action, citing unclear building-size rules and no guidance on what counts as adequate infrastructure. source: sec.state.ma.us
Why supporters want it
- Official argument by Wesley Lima, Legalize Starter Homes: young adults struggle to buy homes and costs have about doubled since 2014; seniors cannot find places to downsize; large-lot rules raise prices; smaller lots where there is infrastructure would mean more affordable homes. source: sec.state.ma.us
Why opponents object
- Official argument by Adam Chapdelaine, Massachusetts Municipal Association: the state needs more housing but a statewide mandate is the wrong way; it overrides local planning regardless of neighborhood, infrastructure, or environment; one rule ignores the needs of 351 cities and towns. source: sec.state.ma.us
Who backs each side
- Legalize Starter Homes (Wesley Lima) source: sec.state.ma.us
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Information for Voters .
Question 7: Law Proposed by Initiative Petition. Single Family Homes
Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2026?
YES
NO
Official summary by the Attorney General (tap to open)
This proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 square feet, has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services.(sec.state.ma.us )
The proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably regulate certain aspects of those single-family homes, including their height, distance from neighboring buildings, open space, parking requirements, and whether they can be rented out on a short-term basis. The proposed law would also allow the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to issue guidance or regulations to administer the proposed law.
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