Eligibility Requirements

(1) Application Requirements. All Prioritized and Substitute Communities must meet each the following requirements prior to submissions of application to the Department: (a) Home Rule Petition filed with the general court on the subject matter of 225 CMR 25.00; and (b) Local Approval received of Home Rule Petition. Housing Eligibility Thresholds. On or before February 11, 2024, the applicant must demonstrate that it has achieved one of the following housing eligibility thresholds: (a) The municipality has met the 10% housing affordability threshold set under M.G.L. c. 40B as of December 21, 2020 or in a subsequent update from DHCD; or (b) The municipality has been granted safe harbor status through a valid Housing Production Plan that DHCD has certified in accordance with 760 CMR 56.03(4); or (c) The municipality has approved a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; provided, that such multi-family housing shall be without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children, as evidenced by a determination of district compliance issued by the department of housing and community development pursuant to its guidelines implementing M.G.L. c. 40A, § 3A.