Massachusetts AG Sues 9 Towns for Defying MBTA Housing Law

Andrea Campbell files lawsuit against communities that have resisted new zoning requirements

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has filed a lawsuit against nine towns in the state for failing to comply with the MBTA Communities Law, which requires communities in eastern Massachusetts to create new zoning for multifamily housing. The lawsuit names Dracut, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Holden, Marblehead, Middleton, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Winthrop as defendants, as these towns have resisted the new zoning requirements despite a 2021 state law and multiple missed deadlines.

Why it matters

The MBTA Communities Law is aimed at addressing the state's housing crisis by requiring 177 communities to create new zoning for multifamily housing. With most towns now in compliance, the lawsuit against these nine holdouts highlights the ongoing tensions between state and local control over housing policy as Massachusetts struggles to build enough affordable homes.

The details

The lawsuit seeks to force the nine towns to implement the required zoning changes, which would allow for the construction of thousands of new homes. Several of the towns, including Dracut, Tewksbury, and Wilmington, have already rejected the new zoning at local town meetings. Campbell said her office would work with the noncompliant towns to bring them into compliance, but warned that the lawsuit would continue if they do not pass the required zoning.

  • The MBTA Communities Law was passed in 2021.
  • The original compliance deadline was December 31, 2024, later extended to July 14, 2025.
  • The lawsuit was filed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell on January 29, 2026.

The players

Andrea Campbell

The Massachusetts Attorney General who filed the lawsuit against the nine towns for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Law.

Dracut

One of the nine towns named in the lawsuit, which has rejected the new zoning requirements at local town meetings.

Tewksbury

One of the nine towns named in the lawsuit, which has also rejected the new zoning requirements at local town meetings.

Wilmington

One of the nine towns named in the lawsuit, which has rejected the new zoning requirements at local town meetings on multiple occasions.

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What they’re saying

“When local communities refuse to allow new housing, housing prices everywhere across the commonwealth increase and thwart the ability for families to access the benefits stable housing provides.”

— Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General (lowellsun.com)

“If any town passes compliant zoning, the lawsuit goes away.”

— Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General (lowellsun.com)

What’s next

The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring the nine towns out of compliance and requiring them to implement the new zoning. The towns will have the opportunity to pass compliant zoning, which would resolve the lawsuit.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between state efforts to address the housing crisis and local control over zoning. The outcome could set an important precedent for how the state enforces housing laws against resistant communities.