Boston Signs Home Rule Petition for 2 Percent Transfer Fee on High-Value Property Sales

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6140 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston signs home rule petition for a 2 percent real estate transfer fee targeting $200 million a year for affordable housing. Mayor Martin Walsh signed the petition at a ceremony Tuesday at the Power Arts Center at 1 Greenway in Chinatown, joined by City Councilors Lydia Edwards, Kim Janey, and Ed Flynn. The measure, if approved by the Massachusetts Legislature, would allow Boston to levy a fee of up to 2 percent on property transactions above $2 million.

Edwards, chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee and the petition's primary sponsor, said the bill was introduced exactly 12 months before the signing: "That is bold action." Asian Community Development Corporation Executive Director Angie Liu illustrated demand, noting that 4,400 families applied for 95 affordable units at the Power Arts Center — a 3 percent acceptance rate — with 4,256 still on the waiting list.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,947 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6140 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.