Massachusetts’ current regulations for land use, housing development, and environmental protection often drive up the cost of housing, which, in turn, drives away our workforce, the key to Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness. Just as importantly, current regulations too often help degrade the very environmental, agricultural, and recreational resources they are supposed to protect by making it more feasible to build in areas with natural resources than in locations with pre-existing development. And residents who are displaced from Massachusetts by high housing costs often settle in places with higher per-capita emissions, like New Hampshire, Florida, and Maine.

In the face of this tension between the need for environmental sustainability and more affordable housing, Pioneer seeks practical solutions that both bolster the state’s economy and preserve its natural resources.

Recent Housing Policy Papers, Podcasts, and Webinars

• Study documenting the housing supply shortage in Greater Boston
• Public Statement in support of accessory dwelling units
• Hubwonk podcast episode detailing the inefficiencies of the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits program

Pioneer’s Housing Regulations Database

In 2005, Pioneer compiled the housing regulations for 187 cities and towns in eastern and central Massachusetts, including rules protecting wetlands and ensuring sanitary and efficient septic systems. To view your own town’s regulations or to compare specific regulations across cities and towns, please visit masshousingregulations.com

Coming Up

In 2024 and 2025, Pioneer is set to release a series of policy briefs and white papers analyzing existing housing market trends and policies in Massachusetts, from inclusionary zoning and rent control to the MBTA Communities Act. Pioneer will continue to engage with and comment on major state legislative efforts that aim to fund affordable housing, expand housing choices, and take environmental actions that affect home prices and development.