Find the clearest path to approval
Desire Path helps project teams and property owners across Massachusetts understand what they can build and plan the fastest, most cost-effective route through permitting.
From first question to filed application
Know what you can build.
We read the bylaw for your lot the way a reviewer would. That covers what's allowed by right, what needs a special permit, and where there's more flexibility than you might expect. You'll know your options before design begins.
Plan the route.
Every approval, every timeline, and every likely sticking point is mapped out before you file, including how the community is likely to respond. Your team knows what's coming and why.
Prepare the team.
Your project team goes into every submission and hearing working from the same strategy, ready for the questions a review board is likely to ask.
What can you build here?
Every project starts with the bylaw. Setbacks, frontage, height, and use rules set the envelope, and state laws like the ADU rules, Chapter 40B, and Section 6 protections for nonconforming structures can open doors the bylaw alone doesn't show.
We work out what fits, what needs relief, and which path gets you there fastest.
Zoning and feasibility assessments
Experience from inside the review process
- We know how applications are reviewed.
- We've worked inside that process, so we know how applications are read and where they tend to stall.
- Built to save time and money.
- Our approach is designed to cut redesigns, continuances, and surprises.
- Flat fees.
- You'll know the cost before we begin.
- Easy to work with.
- Most projects run by video call and shared documents, so working together fits your schedule.
Architects
Know the zoning envelope and the permitting path before the first sketch, so design time goes into a project that can be approved.
Engineers
Line up site design with zoning requirements and permitting sequence from the start, so you avoid redesigns late in the process.
Real estate agents
Help your buyers and sellers understand what a property could become. We provide a clear, plain-language read on zoning and permitting, so you can advise your clients with confidence and set realistic expectations before an offer is made.
We also work directly with property owners, builders, developers, and attorneys.
Plain-language answers to zoning questions
Explanations of zoning, permitting, and the laws shaping development in Massachusetts, kept up to date as the rules change. Have a question it doesn't answer? Ask a Planner.
Question 7 (2026): Single-Family Homes on Smaller Lots
What the November 3, 2026 ballot question would change for single-family homes on lots of 5,000 square feet or more, and what it would mean for property owners and project teams.
Site Plan Review Reform: What the Proposed Changes Would Do
State legislation filed in 2026 would, for the first time, define site plan review in the Zoning Act and set deadlines and limits on conditions. Here's what's proposed and why it matters.
Site Plan Review in Massachusetts
What local site plan review covers, how it differs from a special permit, and how to keep it from becoming the longest step in your project.
Browse the Field GuideHave a project in mind?
Tell us about your property or project. We'll set up a free introductory call and give you an honest read on how we can help.