Boston Council Hears Case for Legalizing Triple-Deckers and ADUs Across City

BOSTON — November 18, 2025 — Boston City Council committee hears testimony on legalizing triple-deckers and ADUs citywide. The Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation, chaired by Council Member Sharon Durkan and led by sponsors Henry Santana and Enrique J. Pepén, held a November 18 hearing on Dockets 1632 and 1718, which would allow two- to four-unit homes and accessory dwelling units to be built as of right across Boston. Planning Department officials told the committee that 99 percent of small-scale residential properties in Boston cannot be rebuilt without a zoning variance, and that Plan Mattapan — enacted roughly 18 months ago — cut the share of small-scale renovation projects needing zoning board relief from roughly half to about 10 percent. As of September 12, 226 ADUs had been permitted citywide. Jesse Kanson-Beninoff of Abundant Housing Massachusetts noted that Boston remains the only city in Massachusetts where ADUs are not permitted by right after the state's 2024 Affordable Homes Act created a statewide standard Boston was exempted from. Both dockets were kept in committee with no vote taken.