Boston Zoning Intelligence
Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Boston, Massachusetts. 520 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.
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Zoning districts are shown at zoom 15 and closer. Zoom out for the Boston city outline and street context.
How is Boston zoned?
Boston has 520 zoning districts, and the reason is structural: the zoning code is organised by article, with each neighborhood having its own article and its own set of districts.
A Boston district code therefore begins with an article reference and then the district within it. One family residential at a 6,000 square foot standard appears under several different articles, each a separate district covering a different neighborhood. Two family and three family residential districts repeat the same way. That is why the count is so high while the underlying categories are relatively few.
The practical consequence is direct: the first question on any Boston site is which article governs it, because the same nominal district under a different article carries different standards.
A set of underlying zoning districts covers land not addressed by a neighborhood article, with a general business district among them covering roughly 13,256 acres.
The maritime and shoreland districts are the other distinguishing feature. A Maritime Economy Reserve in South Boston covers roughly 672 acres, protecting working port land, and a shoreland open space subdistrict covers about 1,655 acres.
Logan International Airport carries its own district at roughly 2,131 acres. Parkland open space districts appear under several articles, together covering well over a thousand acres. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Boston, Massachusetts Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Boston's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.
| Zone Code | Zone Type | Area |
|---|---|---|
ARTUNDERLYING-ZONING_B-1 General Business | - | 13,255.5 ac |
ART53_LIA Logan International Airport | - | 2,131.1 ac |
ART42A_CASTLE-ISLAND-COLUMBUS-PARK-SHORELAND-OPEN-SPACE-SUBDISTRICT Shoreland Open Space | - | 1,654.6 ac |
ART56_1F-6000 One Family Residential | - | 1,524.4 ac |
What are the building controls in Boston?
Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Boston zoning districts.
- Building height
- Coverage
- Density
- FAR
- Front setback
- Lot
- Lot width
- Multi
- Pervious
- Rear setback
- Side setback
Other Massachusetts cities
Boston zoning: frequently asked questions
- Why does Boston have 520 zoning districts?
- The zoning code is organised by article, with each neighborhood having its own article and its own districts. The same nominal district, such as one family residential at 6,000 square feet, appears under several articles as separate districts.
- How do you read a Boston district code?
- It begins with an article reference identifying the neighborhood framework, then the district within it. The first question on any site is which article governs, because the same nominal district under a different article carries different standards.
- What is the Maritime Economy Reserve?
- A district in South Boston covering roughly 672 acres that protects working port land. It is a policy choice written into the zoning map rather than a general industrial designation.
- What are the underlying zoning districts?
- A set covering land not addressed by a neighborhood article. A general business district among them covers roughly 13,256 acres, making it the largest single classification in the city.
- Is the airport zoned separately?
- Yes. Logan International Airport carries its own district at roughly 2,131 acres, distinct from the industrial and open space classifications.
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Book a demo →Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Boston planning department before acquisition or design.