On the Nov. 3 ballot, Massachusetts residents will decide a narrow but consequential zoning question: whether to allow a single-family home on a lot just above the size of a professional basketball court.
If approved, Question 7 would create one statewide rule for properties connected to public water and sewer, replacing the mix of town-by-town minimum lot-size requirements.
Here's what to know
Under Question 7, single-family homes could be built on residential lots of at least 5,000 square feet, with 50 feet of frontage and access to public water and sewer. According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, a yes vote would make that the statewide standard in Massachusetts, while a no vote would keep minimum lot sizes in local zoning hands.
The 5,000-square-foot threshold is small, but not unusually so. A professional basketball court covers about 4,700 square feet. Some Northampton zoning districts already permit lots as small as 3,750 square feet for single-family homes, while others require 5,000 square feet. Amherst, by contrast, has a minimum of 12,000 square feet, and most districts require 20,000 square feet or more.
Those competing views surfaced during a ballot-question debate at the Amherst Police Station. Andrew Mikula, chief housing economist at the Pioneer Institute, said the proposal could create openings for seniors who want to downsize and for first-time buyers trying to begin building equity in expensive communities.
Adrienne Nunez, senior legislative director at the Massachusetts Municipal Association, urged voters to reject it, arguing that developers would chase profits rather than affordability.
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More background
Supporters argue that creating a statewide floor could help address the state's housing shortage. Gov. Maura Healey has emphasized the state must add 222,000 homes by 2035 to meet demand, and backers see smaller lot-size requirements as one way to add homes in communities where prices have pushed homeownership out of reach.
Opponents, however, say the effects would not be limited to modest new homes. Nunez warned that in communities such as Amherst, a 12,000-square-foot lot could be split in two after an existing house is demolished, creating room for two larger replacement homes. She argued that this kind of redevelopment could strain water and wastewater systems and limit a town's ability to shape neighborhood scale.
What's being done?
The Legalize Starter Homes campaign, formed in 2025 to support the ballot measure, raised $1.7 million, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Opponents reported no formal campaign fundraising.
Healey has backed the proposal as part of a broader effort to increase housing supply. "Our administration is working every single day to build more homes to lower costs across Massachusetts," Healey said in a statement. "This ballot question will help move that work forward and make the dream of owning a home a reality for more residents."
Backers also say towns would retain tools to manage infrastructure issues. Mikula said municipalities could require developers to address problems such as leaky pipes or improperly connected sump pumps before proceeding with construction. He added that many rural communities in western Massachusetts would likely see little change because they lack public sewer systems; the greatest impact would be in sewer-served communities such as Amherst, Springfield, Longmeadow, Holyoke, Chicopee, and Pittsfield.
Where can I learn more?
Massachusetts isn't alone in wrestling with zoning and housing supply. These stories cover infill legislation, planning fights, tiny-home development, and investor pressure in the housing market.
• In California, lawmakers moved to fast-track infill housing to steer growth into existing communities.
• In Baltimore, tiny homes for families opened a path to stable ownership.
• In Albuquerque, officials built a new housing community that departs from traditional neighborhoods.
• In Michigan, lawmakers targeted big investors buying homes unless they expand supply or offer rent-to-own.
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