How Zoning Built Greater Boston: A Century of Exclusion That Still Shapes Where We Live

Greater Boston's housing landscape was shaped by four distinct eras of zoning: 1920s-1930s adoption, postwar tightening, the 1968-1975 'Big Downzone' that banned multifamily housing during the Civil Rights era, and incremental reforms since. These historical patterns created profound segregation and housing scarcity that persist today, with most land still zoned only for large single-family homes.

Homebuyers understanding why certain towns are so expensive and exclusive; policymakers seeking historical context for current housing challenges; researchers studying the roots of Greater Boston's segregation; anyone questioning how zoning decisions from decades ago still shape the region today.

• •By 1937, 62 Massachusetts municipalities had zoning codes—primarily in eastern MA
• •The 'Big Downzone' (1968-1975) saw hundreds of towns adopt 'no growth' policies during Civil Rights era
• •Many suburbs explicitly used zoning to exclude Black and lower-income residents
• •Today, most land in Massachusetts remains zoned only for large single-family homes
• •Building permits are down 44% since 2021, predicting severe supply contraction
• •Current segregation patterns reflect decades of exclusionary policy choices