Middleborough is taking Gov. Maura Healey's administration to court over the controversial MBTA Communities Act.

The MBTA Communities Act requires 177 towns and cities across Massachusetts to create at least one zoning district where multifamily housing is allowed by right. These communities are placed into one of four categories that determines the number of units to be zoned for. Additionally, the construction of these units is not required under this law.

A Plymouth County town filed a lawsuit against the state on Friday, saying they shouldn’t have to alter its zoning to accommodate housing under the MBTA Communities Act. The town of Middleborough, who is currently one of six Massachusetts towns not in compliance with the 2021 law, says the “one-size-fits-all interpretation” is “unreasonable.”

The lawsuit seeks a waiver from the law’s zoning requirements under a recent opinion from State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who called the law an “unfunded mandate."

The town of Middleborough is suing the state, saying it should not have to zone for more housing under the MBTA Communities Act.

Town officials said they're unable to create more multi-family housing because it already exists. After Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa was found dead with an open bottle of prescription pills near her body,