Massachusetts Passive House Code Reform – Build to the Future with PROSOCO

Massachusetts Passive House standards are now required in municipalities that opt into the state’s specialized energy code. Any participating community will require new multi-unit residential buildings over 12,000 square feet to meet these internationally recognized energy-efficiency targets.

As of late 2024, dozens of municipalities have already opted in—and the number is growing. The City of Boston became the eighth—and by far the largest—Massachusetts municipality to adopt the code. In doing so, it made history as the first major U.S. city to mandate Passive House compliance in its building regulations, signaling a major step forward for urban climate action and high-performance construction.

City of Boston - photo by Todd Kent of Unsplash

Why Passive House Matters in Massachusetts

Passive House is quickly becoming the gold standard for energy-efficient building. By delivering exceptional airtightness, superior insulation, and high-performance envelopes, Passive House buildings are built to outperform code requirements for decades to come. With state incentives supporting both Passive House design and all-electric systems, Massachusetts communities that opt in are proving that sustainability, affordability, and developer success can align.

PROSOCO: Proven Partner for Passive House Projects

At PROSOCO, we’ve been helping design teams, contractors, and developers achieve and exceed Passive House airtightness goals for years. Our air- and water-resistive barrier systems and high-performance building envelope products have powered some of the country’s most ambitious Passive House projects.