ADU Pulse

Consistency Tracker

28 Communities

How consistent are local ADU bylaws and ordinances with Massachusetts Chapter 150 and 760 CMR 71.00? Inconsistent provisions are preempted by state law — we read the rules so you don't have to.

Towns — AG Reviewed

Town bylaws are subject to Attorney General review. Inconsistencies below reflect AG disapprovals and our independent analysis.

Falmouth4 AG DISAPPROVALS

Barnstable County

5/2/3
Wilbraham4 AG DISAPPROVALS

Hampden County

4/2/4
Sudbury3 AG DISAPPROVALS

Middlesex County

4/2/4
Weston3 AG DISAPPROVALS

Middlesex County

3/2/4
Leicester3 AG DISAPPROVALS

Worcester County

3/0/4
East Bridgewater2 AG DISAPPROVALS

Plymouth County

2/2/3
Upton2 AG DISAPPROVALS

Worcester County

2/2/3
PlymouthNOT UPDATED

Plymouth County

3/2/5
NantucketNOT UPDATED

Nantucket County

4/1/2
Brookline2 AG DISAPPROVALS

Norfolk County

2/1/4
MiltonNOT UPDATED

Norfolk County

3/2/5
DuxburyNOT UPDATED

Plymouth County

2/3/3
BostonNOT UPDATED

Suffolk County

2/3/5
AmesburyNOT UPDATED

Essex County

4/1/0
NeedhamNOT UPDATED

Norfolk County

4/0/4
Canton1 AG DISAPPROVAL

Norfolk County

1/1/5
Hanson1 AG DISAPPROVAL

Plymouth County

1/1/4
New BedfordUPDATED

Bristol County

0/3/7
NewtonUPDATED

Norfolk County

0/3/7
AndoverUPDATED

Essex County

0/3/5
BarnstableUPDATED

Barnstable County

0/3/7
SomervilleUPDATED

Middlesex County

0/3/5
NewburyportUPDATED

Essex County

0/2/5
Southborough1 AG DISAPPROVAL

Worcester County

1/0/0

Cities — Independent Analysis

City ordinances are not reviewed by the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Unlike town bylaws, city ordinances are not reviewed by the Massachusetts Attorney General. These inconsistencies were identified through ADU Pulse's independent analysis against G.L. c. 40A §3 and 760 CMR 71.00.

WorcesterADU PULSE IDENTIFIED

Worcester County

2/2/6
QuincyADU PULSE IDENTIFIED

Norfolk County

3/1/2
RevereLEGISLATIVE CHALLENGE

Suffolk County

4/0/0
SalemCONSISTENT

Essex County

0/1/2

Special Cases

Cities with unique ADU policy situations that don't fit the standard provision-by-provision analysis.

Fall RiverADMIN. FRICTION

Mayor publicly opposed ADU law (CommonWealth Beacon, Feb 2025). ZBA has attached “no ADU” conditions to unrelated permits.

LowellNO LOCAL ORDINANCE

Council defeated ADU ordinance 7-4, but city is 4th in state for ADU permits (26).

MedfordSTALLED

Council withdrew ADU proposal Dec 16, 2025. Old ordinance predates state law.

59

Inconsistent Provisions

26

AG Disapprovals

21

w/ Inconsistencies

28

Communities Tracked

Methodology

This analysis compares each community's published ADU zoning bylaw or ordinance against Massachusetts Chapter 150 (2024), MGL c.40A §3, and 760 CMR 71.00. Town bylaws are subject to AG review; city ordinances are analyzed independently by ADU Pulse. Per EOHLC guidance, communities are not “inconsistent” simply because their local zoning has not been updated — however, any local provisions inconsistent with the ADU statute are preempted by state law as of February 2, 2025. Attorney General disapproval data sourced from published AG Municipal Law Unit decisions. This is not legal advice — consult a zoning attorney for project-specific guidance.