Fair Housing: Massachusetts

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Massachusetts Protected Classes

(State of Massachusetts General Law Title 21 Chapter 151B § 4 [6], [10])

 

  • Race

  • Color

  • National Origin

  • Religion

  • Sex

  • Familial Status

  • Disability

  • Gender Identity

  • Sexual Orientation

  • Age

  • Ancestry

  • Genetic Information

  • Marital Status

  • Member of the Armed Forces

  • Veteran Status

  • Use of a Support Dog

  • Recipient of Federal, State, or Local Public Assistance

 

(Barnstable County Ordinance 22-01)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender
  • Military Status
  • Neighborhood
  • Religious Creed
  • Sexual Preference
  • Source of Income1

City of Barnstable Protected Classes

(City of Barnstable Ordinances)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

1Source of Income not clearly defined within the code.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(State law in re County functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Andover Protected Classes

(Andover By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Haverhill Protected Classes

(Haverhill Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Lynn Protected Classes

(Lynn Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(State law in re County functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Arlington Protected Classes

(Arlington By-laws Title 2, Art. 9, § 2(D))

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Citizenship Status
  • Creed
  • Gender Expression
  • Military Status
  • Source of Income2

Bedford Protected Classes

(Bedford By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Billerica Protected Classes

(Billerica By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Boxborough Protected Classes

(Boxborough By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Burlington Protected Classes

(Burlington By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Cambridge Protected Classes

(Cambridge Municipal Code §§ 14.04 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Military Status
  • Religious Creed
  • Source of Income3

Concord Protected Classes

(Concord By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Framingham Protected Classes

(Framingham By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Hopkinton Protected Classes

(Hopkinton By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Malden Protected Classes

(Malden Municipal Code § 2.16.100)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Marlborough Protected Classes

(Marlborough By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Melrose Protected Classes

(Melrose Municipal Code § A-211)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender Expression
  • Military Status
  • Religious Creed

Somerville Protected Classes

(Somerville Municipal Code §§ 7-41, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Creed
  • Military Status
  • Sexual Preference
  • Source of Income

Wakefield Protected Classes

(Wakefield By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Watertown Protected Classes

(Watertown By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Wilmington Protected Classes

(Wilmington By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

 

2The term "source of income" in Arlington refers to the actual or supposed manner or means by which an individual supports themself  and their dependents excluding the use of criminal activities as a means of support.

3The term "source of income" in Cambridge means receipt of public assistance, and explicitly excludes criminal activity

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(State law regarding County Functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Canton Protected Classes

(Canton By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Cohasset Protected Classes

(Cohasset By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Dedham Protected Classes

(Dedham Municipal Code § 12-40)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ex-offender status
  • Military Status
  • Socio Economic Status

Plainville Protected Classes

(Plainville Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Quincy Protected Classes

(Quincy Municipal Code §12-30)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Citizenship Status
  • Economic Status
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Military Status
  • Source of Income4

Randolph Protected Classes

(Randolph Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Stoughton Protected Classes

(Stoughton By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Weymouth Protected Classes

(Weymouth Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

 

4Source of Income is not defined in the municipal code.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(State law regarding County Functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Hingham Protected Classes

(Hingham By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Pembroke Protected Classes

(Pembroke By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Plymouth Protected Classes

(Plymouth By-laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations

(State law regarding County Functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Boston Protected Classes

(City of Boston Municipal Code §§ 10-3.1 through 10-3.6)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender Expression
  • Military Status
  • Source of Income5

Brighton Protected Classes

Neighborhood of Boston, see Boston Code

Chelsea Protected Classes

(Chelsea Municipal Code § 12-2)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

East Boston Protected Classes

Neighborhood of Boston, see Boston Code

Revere Protected Classes

(Revere Municipal Code §§ 9.24.010, et seq; §§ 9.28.10 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Military Status
  • Source of Income6

5Source of Income shall [in Boston] mean the manner of means by which an individual supports herself or himself, and his or her dependents, except that this chapter shall not include any criminal activity from which a source of income is derived.

6Source of Income is defined in Revere as the manner or means by which an individual supports herself or himself and his or her dependents, except in this chapter it shall not include any criminal activity from which a source of income is derived.

(State law in re County functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Dartmouth Protected Classes

(Darthmouth Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Mansfield Protected Classes

(Mansfield Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Hampden County By-Laws)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Springfield Protected Classes

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(State law regarding County functions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Worcester Protected Classes

(City of Worcester Municipal Code Article 10 § 9 [pages 95 and 96])

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes.