Getting started
As part of its review of your application, MassHousing will conduct an inspection of the site and will solicit comments
from the relevant municipality. MassHousing will consider any relevant concerns that the municipality might have
about the proposed project or the developer. The applicant is encouraged, therefore, to make contact with the municipality
prior to submitting the Site Approval application in order to ensure that the applicant understands any concerns that
the municipality may be likely to raise regarding the proposed development.
In order for a project to receive Site Approval, MassHousing must determine that (i) the applicant has sufficient legal
control of the site, (ii) the applicant is a public agency, non-profit organization or limited dividend organization, and
(iii) the applicant and the project are generally eligible under the requirements of the MassHousing program selected
by the applicant, subject to final eligibility review and approval. Furthermore, MassHousing must determine that the
site of the proposed project is generally appropriate for residential development (taking into consideration municipal
actions previously taken to meet affordable housing needs) and that the conceptual project design is generally appropriate
for the site. In order for MassHousing to be able to make these findings (required by 760 CMR 56.04 (4)), it is important
that you answer all questions in the application and include all required attachments.
Upon completion of its analysis, MassHousing will either issue a Site Approval Letter that approves, conditionally
approves or denies the application. If the application is approved, the applicant should apply to the Zoning Board of
Appeals within two years from the date of the Site Approval Letter (unless MassHousing extends such term in writing).
Please note that Site Approval from MassHousing does not constitute a loan commitment by MassHousing or any other
financing program. All potential MassHousing financing is subject to further review and underwriting by MassHousing’s
Rental Lending Department.
Please be sure you have familiarized yourself with all of the applicable requirements set forth in the Chapter 40B
regulations and guidelines, which can be found at:
Our Commitment to You
MassHousing recognizes that applicants seek some measure of predictability regarding the timeframe for our processing of
their applications. Our staff will endeavor to adhere to the following schedule for reviewing applications for site approval:
Within one (1) week of receipt of your application (provided that you have attended a required pre-application
meeting)* a member of our staff will notify you of any of the items listed on the checklist at the end of the application
form that were missing from your application package. Please note that our acknowledgement of receipt of an item
does not indicate that any substantive review has yet taken place.
If your application package is missing any of the items indicated on the checklist by an asterisk, we will not be able
to continue processing your application until such items are received.
If we have received the information which is crucial to the commencement of our review process, we will proceed to
(i) give the municipality a period of thirty (30) days in which to submit comments relating to your proposal, (ii) schedule
and conduct a site visit, and (iii) solicit bids for and commission and review an “as is” appraisal of your site.
If during our review of your application package we determine that additional information or clarification is needed,
we will notify you as soon as possible. Depending on when we receive such additional information, this may affect the
amount of time required for MassHousing to complete the site approval process.
Assuming that your application package was complete and that you respond in a timely manner to requests for additional
information or clarification, we would expect to issue or deny your site approval within 90 days of our receipt of your
application package.