Massachusetts Historic Districts Act (MGL c. 40C) — Local Historic Districts (MA)
Tracked preemption from the Massachusetts overlay bundle.
Overview
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Effective
1960-08-26
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:MA
Other Massachusetts preemptions
Massachusetts Chapter 40Y — Starter Home Zoning Districts (Opt-In)Massachusetts MBTA Communities Act — Multi-Family Zoning Requirement (MGL c. 40A §3A)Massachusetts Chapter 40S — Smart Growth School Cost ReimbursementMassachusetts Chapter 40R — Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District (Opt-In)Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act — Riverfront Area (MGL c. 131 §40)Boston Planning Department (former BPDA) Article 80 Development ReviewMassachusetts Outstanding Resource Waters & DCR Watershed ProtectionCape Cod Commission Regional Land Use Authority (St. 1989, c. 716)
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
parcel.in_local_historic_district == TruePreempted fields
2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
review_type | require_additional | historic_district_commission_certificate | Certificate of Appropriateness / Non-Applicability / Hardship required from Local Historic District Commission before exterior alteration, construction, or demolition visible from public way |
base_districts[*].exterior_design | constrain | per_local_historic_district_guidelines | Massing, materials, fenestration, roofing, signage, color (in some districts) subject to HDC review |
Citation
Authority source
MGL c. 40C (Historic Districts Act); MGL c. 40 §8D (Historical Commissions)
§ MGL c. 40C §§1-17
Research notes
Enabling statute for Local Historic Districts (LHDs) — adopted by 2/3 town meeting / city council vote after MHC study committee process. Distinct from National Register listing (no land-use effect) and Mass. State Register. Over 250 LHDs statewide across ~150 municipalities (e.g., Beacon Hill Boston, Old Cambridge, Salem Common, Provincetown Center, Old King's Highway Cape Cod historic district which has its own special legislation Ch. 470 Acts of 1973). Review limited to features visible from public way; interior changes generally exempt. Appeals: HDC to Superior Court (de novo). MHC (Mass. Historical Commission) provides technical assistance but does not approve individual projects.