Effective December 31, 2019, statewide recording fees for the Community Preservation Act will increase. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2020 budget included a provision aimed at increasing funds available to towns and cities through the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The CPA Trust Fund enables participating communities to raise funds to support open spaces, recreational facilities, maintain historic sites and fund affordable housing. The budget signed by the Governor included the following language amending sections of the M.G.L by increasing the fees collected at the registries of deeds for the CPA:
SECTION 29. Section 8 of chapter 44B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3, 8 and 23, the figure “$20” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $50.”
“SECTION 30. Said section 8 of said chapter 44B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10, 14 and 24, the figure “$10” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $25.”
Currently, a $75 fee is charged for recording most documents at Massachusetts registries of deeds, which includes the $20 surcharge imposed by the CPA. The increase detailed above raises the surcharge fee from $20 to $50 for most documents, and from $10 to $25 for Municipal Lien certificates.
