Inclusionary Zoning

Inclusionary zoning by-laws require developers to either include affordable units in their buildings or pay into a trust that develops affordable housing.

As a result of a recent amendment to Brookline’s inclusionary zoning by-laws, passed at Town Meeting in May 2023, buildings with at least 11 housing units must include affordable housing units on site.

For buildings with 4 to 10 units, developers are allowed to pay into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in lieu of creating affordable housing. However, in the MBTA-CA Consensus Warrant Article, this option will not be allowed along Harvard Street; all affordable units must be on site.

According to the MBTA Communities Act, Brookline can’t require more than 10% of units for a building be affordable for residents at 80% of the area median income (AMI) in its MBTA-CA compliant zoning district. However, by documenting its economic feasibility of stricter inclusionary zoning town-wide, we can require stricter inclusionary zoning: 15% of units for a building must be affordable for residents at 50% AMI. As of August 2023, we are in the process of documenting such economic feasibility.