State 40A/3A Zoning Act

The MBTA Communities Act (3A), adopted by the State Legislature in 2021, requires 177 municipalities to adopt a zoning ordinance that creates a streamlined procedure for permitting multi-family development. After a roughly year-long community driven process, the Gloucester City Council adopted the Multi-family Overlay District (MFOD) with a 7 - 0 vote (2 abstained).  

The proposed MFOD is a local zoning ordinance adopted by the City that meets the requirements of the state law. The MFOD makes it easier for property owners to create small multi-family buildings if they choose to. This was already possible in Gloucester but now it can be done more efficiently, saving the City and its residents time and money. 

To view previous meeting recordings, presentations, and additional resources, please visit our resources page here.