@wbur: If you’ve looked for housing in Massachusetts lately, you know: it’s really expensive to buy a home here. Question 7 on this year’s ballot aims to tackle that problem by proposing a law change that would make it easier to build single-family homes on smaller plots of land. If passed, the measure would amend the state’s Chapter 40A law and override local zoning rules. About half the land zoned for residential housing today requires a minimum of 40,000 square feet for a single-family home plot; Question 7 would set a new minimum of 5,000 square feet for all cities and towns — except for Boston, which has its own zoning rules. Supporters of the ballot question say it will incentivize the construction of more modest so-called “starter homes.” But critics say the change would take away local control over housing, and that local officials know what best suits their communities. Read more at the link. 📝 Zeninjor Enwemeka/WBUR 🎥 Meghan B. Kelly/WBUR and Hadley Green for WBUR

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Friday 16 October 2026 16:28:39 GMT

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Comments

eyelola421 :

I don't see how that would help the cost of the house. Single family starter homes should be a max, $250k. I can't imagine any contractor would build a house for that price.

2026-10-16 22:22:36

LD 🔻 :

Why do we get smaller lots and not just affordable regular sized lots!?

2026-10-16 19:38:49

Valerie Vorpal 🏳️‍⚧️ :

We don't need lawns, we need houses. The only reason to oppose this is if you're a mega Corp that owns thousands of properties

2026-10-16 17:29:33

BaroundDMV :

sounds great but obnoxious to exclude Boston

2026-10-16 17:24:11

Liam :

My house is on like a 2500 sq ft lot and it’s the only reason I could afford it

2026-10-16 20:28:05

Gabe Brown :

Vote yes on 7!!

2026-10-16 20:57:51

Cellbone77 ❌ :

Vote NO!!! Although this sounds good it’s going to override local zoning. The problem is, not one size fits all but this will force one size on everyone. It also will not guarantee lower priced housing. In fact it could have the opposite effect and could severely raise property taxes for everyone else. Think of a developer buying an already small house\lot then subdividing it and developing two or more “luxury” houses like “luxury” condos for close to the same price as what the original house cost. Then what happens within already dense city and towns, how much more density will this add, how much more strain will it put on that city or town services, how much more traffic will there be and so on. If this was not forced on each city or town but the city or town could adopt it if they wanted then that would be one thing but that is not what this does. This is appropriate for some areas but not others!! So again vote NO!

2026-10-16 21:47:29

JimnyPickett :

Why leave out the city this is most needdd for?

2026-10-16 18:12:46

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