Incorporated in 1639, Yarmouth is one of Cape Cod’s oldest and most diverse communities. Stretching from the calm waters of Cape Cod Bay to the warmer shores of Nantucket Sound, the town is home to four distinct villages, a vibrant mix of year-round residents and seasonal visitors, and a local government that directly shapes property taxes, schools, public safety, and coastal infrastructure.
Route 28 — Yarmouth’s Commercial Corridor
Route 28 runs through the heart of Yarmouth, connecting the town’s villages and serving as its primary commercial artery. Stretching from the Dennis line to the Barnstable border, the corridor is lined with restaurants, shops, motels, and family attractions. Revitalization of Route 28 has been one of Yarmouth’s top civic priorities, with ongoing efforts to improve walkability, aesthetics, and economic vitality along this iconic Cape Cod roadway.
Parks, Beaches & Attractions
Non-Emergency: (508) 775-0445
340 Higgins Crowell Rd, West Yarmouth
Non-Emergency: (508) 398-2212
340 Higgins Crowell Rd, West Yarmouth
Cape Cod Hospital: (508) 771-1800
27 Park St, Hyannis (nearest hospital)
Yarmouth is governed by a five-member Select Board and a Town Administrator, with an Open Town Meeting as the ultimate legislative authority. In recent years the town has been at the center of some of the most consequential — and contentious — local issues on Cape Cod, from a $207 million sewer expansion to a fatal construction accident and high-profile public-safety incidents.
Boards, committees, and commissions in Yarmouth — with member rosters, meeting schedules, active issues, bylaws, and meeting videos.
Fatal Trench Collapse During Sewer Construction — November 18, 2025
Worker Miguel Reis, 61, of Fall River was killed when a trench wall collapsed on South Shore Drive (in front of Skipper Chowder House) at 8:30 AM during sewer construction on November 18, 2025. A second worker was buried to the waist for 4+ hours and airlifted to a Rhode Island trauma center. A third escaped on his own. Contractor Revoli Construction (Franklin, MA) had 6 OSHA investigations in 10 years, including willful trench safety violations dating to the 1990s. OSHA had cited Revoli in February 2025 for violations at 174 South Shore Drive — steps from the collapse site. Revoli and the town were already in court: Revoli claimed the town owed $1.7M; the town alleged flooding, traffic disruptions, and worksite hazards.
Aftermath: OSHA and state investigators opened formal investigations. The incident raised urgent questions about contractor vetting, town oversight of infrastructure contracts, and construction-site safety standards.
Why it matters: Yarmouth is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on multi-year construction projects across populated areas. Oversight of contractor safety records and compliance is a direct public-safety obligation.
Select Board Safety Response — Revoli Construction Suspended (January 2026)
On January 30, 2026, the Select Board voted to require a full-time qualified safety professional on-site at all times before Revoli Construction can resume any trenchwork. No sewer construction has resumed since the November 2025 fatality. The case is under investigation by local, state, and federal authorities including OSHA. The trench collapse has become a flashpoint for questions about contractor vetting and town oversight of the $207 million sewer project.
Source: Town of Yarmouth Select Board →
Mattacheese 70-Acre Reuse Project — Sports Complex, Housing, Open Space
The former Mattacheese Middle School's 70-acre site is being studied for major redevelopment. The Mattacheese Utilization Committee (MUC), working with BSC Group and Catalyst Architecture (a local Yarmouth firm), reviewed 5 concept designs in January 2026 emphasizing a sports complex, housing, open space, or retaining the existing school building. MassDevelopment is funding financial feasibility analysis for the sports complex option. Community survey results showed strong interest in housing, recreation, and open space. The Forest Road site (Yarmouth Housing Authority) has environmental issues blocking development — some want housing shifted to Mattacheese.
Source: Town of Yarmouth →
M.E. Small Elementary School Replacement — $1.5M Feasibility Study Approved
MSBA accepted Yarmouth's Statement of Interest in 2024-2025 for the aging M.E. Small Elementary School, which has a failing roof, outdated electrical, and open-classroom design with partition walls instead of real walls. The November 2025 Special Town Meeting approved $1.5 million from free cash for a feasibility study exploring standalone replacement or possible consolidation with Station Avenue Elementary. Estimated MSBA reimbursement: 54.16%. The Building Committee was briefed on MSBA feasibility materials in February 2026.
Source: D-Y Regional Schools →
Source: Cape & Islands NPR →
Bass Hole Boardwalk Damaged by Ice — February 2026
Ice buildup and storm surge dislodged and broke pilings on the Bass Hole Boardwalk at Gray's Beach in Yarmouth Port, one of Cape Cod's most popular scenic walks. The boardwalk was closed for condition assessment and repairs. This is a recurring problem — a prior closure lasted 6+ months after storm/ice damage. The boardwalk extends over marshland into Cape Cod Bay and offers views of Dennis across the creek.
Source: CapeCod.com →
$207 Million Sewer Expansion — Phase 1
In April 2023, Yarmouth voters approved a $207 million Phase 1 sewer expansion — one of the largest infrastructure investments in the town's history. The project aims to replace septic systems, reduce nitrogen pollution, and protect Bass River, Parkers River, Lewis Bay, and the drinking-water aquifer.
Construction is underway along Route 28, South Shore Drive, and other corridors (2024–2025). The project is dependent on state funding that came under threat in early 2024 due to permitting restrictions.
Resident impact: Homeowners in affected areas face betterment assessments, connection fees, and long-term sewer bills. The project also controls future development capacity across large portions of town.
Source: Yarmouth Wastewater Project →
State Funding Threat to Sewer Project — 2024
In early 2024, town officials warned that state-level permitting restrictions could jeopardize the voter-approved sewer project. State rules on discharge-site funding and potential elimination of grant programs put the project timeline and financing at risk. Town officials sought legislative relief.
Source: NACWA →
First Affordable Housing in a Decade + New ADU Rules — 2025
In January 2025, the Planning Board unanimously approved an 18-unit affordable housing project on Cleaves Street — two apartment buildings with 8–10 single-bedroom units. It was the first affordable housing project approved in Yarmouth in 10 years. Separately, a new state law effective February 2, 2025 now requires all Massachusetts towns to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as-of-right in single-family residential zones. The Planning Board is working to align local bylaws with the new state requirements while preserving local control on size restrictions and short-term rental rules.
Source: The Local Lens →
New Library Building Project — 2025–2026
In January 2025, Yarmouth received a $100,000 Planning & Design Phase grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The Select Board established a Library Building Committee in February 2025 and approved town-owned land across from Town Hall on Route 28 as the site. Oudens Ello Architecture was selected for design, with schematic designs submitted to the state in December 2025. The committee is chaired by Judy Tarver with Tom Pendleton as Vice-Chair and Select Board member Dorcas McGurrin as liaison.
Source: Town of Yarmouth →
Select Board Member Hot Mic — December 2024
At the December 9, 2024 Special Town Meeting, Select Board member Joyce Flynn was caught on a hot microphone saying "God, I'm sick of these people" during a contentious 100–88 vote about moving a pumping station from a cranberry bog. The comment was initially misattributed to the Town Clerk. Flynn issued a written apology, explaining she was frustrated when someone shouted an objection to the hand-counting process. The incident received statewide media coverage from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, WHDH, WBZ, and boston.com — which called it a "Parks & Rec moment."
Source: boston.com →
Lobsterman Zoning Fight — Jon Tolley (2024–2025)
Jon Tolley, a third-generation lobsterman, has sold fresh lobsters from his West Yarmouth home since taking over from his father in 1975 — nearly 70 years of family tradition. In August 2024, a neighbor complaint triggered a zoning violation notice for retail sales in a residential district. The ZBA denied his variance request twice. The case drew national media attention, with Reason Magazine headlining "Zoning Police Come for Cape Cod Lobsterman." After heated town meetings, the November 2025 Special Town Meeting approved a new zoning amendment allowing live lobster retail sales in residential zones with a ZBA special permit — limited to personally caught lobsters.
Source: Reason Magazine →
Source: Boston Herald →
Drug-Related Arrests & Hotel Safety Concerns — 2025
Multiple drug-trafficking arrests in 2025 at hotels and residential buildings in South and West Yarmouth highlighted ongoing concerns about hotel oversight, neighborhood safety, and community policing. Incidents included fentanyl and firearm seizures in South Yarmouth and drug possession arrests at a West Yarmouth hotel.
Historic Inn Fire & Arson Arrests — 2025
A fire destroyed Anthony's Cummaquid Inn, a long-standing local landmark. The subsequent investigation led to two arrests on arson charges. The loss raised community concerns about building-safety enforcement, historic preservation, and the impact on local tourism.
Source: Town of Yarmouth →
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