Massachusetts Solar PV Siting — DOER Statutory Preference (MGL c. 40A §3 ¶9) (MA)
Tracked preemption from the Massachusetts overlay bundle.
Overview
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Effective
1985-09-30
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.
project.use_type == solar_photovoltaic_installationPreempted fields
2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
base_districts[*].allowed_uses | constrain | solar_pv_cannot_be_unreasonably_prohibited | MGL c. 40A §3 ¶9: 'No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy, except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.' |
review_type | constrain | reasonable_regulation_only | Tracy v. Brookline (Land Court) and follow-on cases: local solar bylaws must withstand 'reasonableness' test; outright bans struck down |
Citation
Authority source
MGL c. 40A §3 ¶9 (solar access protection); 225 CMR 20.00 (DOER SMART program); EEA Solar Siting guidance
§ MGL c. 40A §3 ¶9 (solar carve-out)
Research notes
Statewide statutory preference. DOER administers the SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target) program (225 CMR 20.00) with siting-based incentives that disfavor greenfield / forest conversion in favor of rooftop, brownfield, landfill, and dual-use agrivoltaics. EEA 2023 'Technical Potential of Solar' study + 2024 Solar Siting EO informed Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Reform (Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024) which created a consolidated Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) permit for utility-scale clean energy facilities ≥25 MW (or batteries ≥100 MWh), preempting local permits for those large facilities. Smaller (<25 MW) ground-mount solar remains subject to local zoning, constrained only by §3 ¶9 reasonableness rule.