Bill > H1249

This bill allows towns to adopt zoning rules, called by-laws, that require developers of new housing projects with 10 or more units to set aside up to 25% of those units as affordable housing. Affordable housing, in this context, means homes for people whose household income is no more than 120% of the area median income, a figure determined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Instead of building these affordable units on-site, developers can choose to build them elsewhere or contribute money to a special town account dedicated to creating affordable housing. To encourage this, the bill also permits towns to allow developers to build more units than usual by relaxing certain building size or distance rules, specifically one extra unit for every 10 affordable units created. These new powers are in addition to any existing authority towns have to promote inclusionary zoning, which is a planning strategy that encourages or requires a mix of housing types and price points within a development.