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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3172 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1484
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mark J. Cusack
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to accessory dwelling units.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mark J. Cusack5th Norfolk1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3172 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1484
By Representative Cusack of Braintree, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1484) of
Mark J. Cusack relative to accessory dwelling units. Housing.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to accessory dwelling units.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing in the 2024 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking the eleventh paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following
3paragraph:-
4 No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit, unreasonably restrict or require a special
5permit or other discretionary zoning approval for the use of land or structures for a single
6accessory dwelling unit, or the rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district;
7provided, that the use of land or structures for such accessory dwelling unit under this paragraph
8may be subject to reasonable regulations, including, but not limited to, 310 CMR 15.000 et seq.,
9if applicable, site plan review, regulations concerning dimensional setbacks and the bulk and
10height of structures and may be subject to restrictions and prohibitions on short-term rental, as
11defined in section 1 of chapter 64G. Any city or town may, by local option, require owner
12occupancy of either the accessory dwelling unit or the principal dwelling unit under this
13paragraph; provided, that not more than 1 additional parking space shall be required for an 2 of 2
14accessory dwelling unit; and provided further, that no additional parking space shall be required
15for an accessory dwelling located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway
16station, ferry terminal or bus station. For more than 1 accessory dwelling unit, or rental thereof,
17in a single-family residential zoning district there shall be a special permit for the use of land or
18structures for an accessory dwelling unit. The executive office of housing and livable
19communities may issue guidelines or promulgate regulations to administer this paragraph