What is the Wetlands Protection Act?

The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (GL Ch131 sec. 40: the Act) prohibits any filling, excavation, or other alteration of the land surface, water levels, or vegetation in wetlands, floodplains, riverfront areas of other wetland resource areas, regardless of ownership, without a permit from the local conservation Commission. This law originated in 1972 when two earlier statutes were combined. Regulations for the Act are issued by the Department of Environmental Protection.