Dirty Deeds Project - Harborlight Homes

Through this collaboration, the project identified 390 property deeds in Southern Essex County that once contained racially restrictive covenants.

The Dirty Deeds Project is a collaborative effort to research, document, and share the history of racially restrictive language embedded in historic property deeds across the North Shore. These covenants once prevented people of certain racial, ethnic, or religious groups from buying, living on, or transferring property, and their effects continue to shape access to housing today.

The Dirty Deeds Project is a collaboration between Harborlight Homes, the NAACP North Shore Branch, and the Mapping Prejudice Project at the University of Minnesota Libraries.

About the Dirty Deeds Project

Raise awareness about racially restrictive covenants and their lasting impact on housing access and generational wealth
Acknowledge the history of exclusion embedded in local property records
Connect historic deed restrictions to present-day housing inequities
Educate communities through research, mapping, and public engagement
Support homeowners who choose to remove discriminatory language from their deeds

What are Racially Restrictive Covenants?

Racially restrictive covenants were clauses written into historic property deeds that attempted to prevent people of certain races, ethnicities, or religions from owning or occupying property. Although unenforceable today, this language remains in many public records.

Leaving this language in deed records, even when unenforceable, preserves a visible history of housing exclusion. Addressing and removing these clauses is an important step toward acknowledging past harm and supporting more inclusive communities.

Examples from North Shore deeds include language such as:

“The granted premises shall not be sold, mortgaged or leased to or occupied by persons of negro blood.” – Marblehead, MA deed

“Said premises shall not be conveyed to or occupied by a colored person.” – Beverly, MA deed

“The premises … shall not be owned or occupied by any person of Negro, Jewish, Italian, Greek, Polish or Armenian blood.” – Found within property deed in Nahant

“That said premises shall not be conveyed to or be occupied by any person not of the Caucasian race” – Lynnfield, MA deed

“No lot shall be sold to, or no building shall not be occupied by any person other than a member of the Caucasian race. This shall not prevent the employment and occupancy of domestic servants of other races.” – Found within property deed in Saugus

Interactive Map

This interactive map shows where racially restrictive covenants were found in Southern Essex County. It also includes available information on expungement status.

Use the zoom controls in the upper left to explore the map.

For Homeowners: How to Remove Restrictive Covenants

If your property deed contains outdated racially restrictive language and you want to take action, Massachusetts provides a legal process to formally void that language. Below are the steps to complete and file the correct Land Court form.

Land Court Form 2-21

Official Massachusetts form (Form 2-21) used to legally remove racially restrictive language from a property deed.

Download Form 2-21

Legal Guidance & Filing Rules

Official Massachusetts guidance explaining the legal process for removing discriminatory language from property deeds.

View Legal Guidance

If you have questions or need help navigating this process, please reach out and Contact us below.

Steps to file MA Land Court Form 2-21:

Download the official Form 2-21 (Complaint to Declare Certain Provisions Void) using the link in the Official Resources section below.
Complete the form with your property and deed information.
Attach a copy of your current deed or Certificate of Title and a copy of the document that contains the restrictive language.
Mail the completed form and attachments to:
Land Court Recorder’s Office
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108

Resources & Updates

Related Legislation

Massachusetts State Senator Lydia Edwards has introduced legislation related to the removal of void restrictive covenants (S.1080). The bill supports efforts to formally recognize and address discriminatory language in property records.

We’ll continue to share updates as this work progresses.