Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities zoning law requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing by right in “reasonably sized” districts, at moderate densities, near transit stations where feasible, and without restrictions on the ages of occupants. Now, under MBTA Communities zoning, more than 100 projects containing almost 7,000 homes across 34 communities are in the permitting, construction, or occupancy stages—most in permitting. The law helps advance housing options for people of all ages close to transit.

Boston Indicators explored these trends in a new report, “An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline.” 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.

The full report is available here along with an interactive map available on the report webpage here.