Cambridge, Massachusetts Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel - and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 78 districts.
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Zoning
- District code & full name
- Parcel boundary & APN
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Building controls
- Front setback
- Side setback
- Rear setback
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Cambridge, 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. Cambridge'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 | Category | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
C-1 Residence 1 | - | 1,806 ac | Standards & uses → |
OS Open Space | - | 1,092.7 ac | Standards & uses → |
C-3 Residence 3 | - | 277.7 ac | Standards & uses → |
C-2 Residence 2 | - | 106.5 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 78 districts
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What does C-1 actually permit?
The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.
Run it →How is Cambridge zoned?
Cambridge regulates land through 78 zoning districts in a very compact city, and two mechanisms produce that count.
The first is the Alewife Overlay. Several districts appear combined with a numbered or lettered Alewife overlay designation, including office, industry and business districts. Each combination is its own district, so a parcel in the Alewife area is governed by the combined designation rather than by the base category.
The second is the Special District series, numbered and covering specific sites. Alongside them sit named districts including a North Point planned unit development and a Cambridge Port Revitalization Development District. These are place-specific instruments rather than general categories.
The residential districts are labelled C rather than R, running C-1, C-2, C-2B, C-3 and C-3B as Residence 1 through 3 with lettered variants. C-1 is the largest district in the city at roughly 1,806 acres. That naming is a genuine trap for anyone assuming C means commercial.
Business districts are lettered A through C with numbered variants, and industry districts run IA and IB with numbered variants.
Open Space is the second largest classification at roughly 1,093 acres. The overall picture is a small city regulated at very fine grain, where the exact district code matters more than the category it belongs to. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Cambridge zoning: frequently asked questions
Why are Cambridge residential districts labelled C?
The residence districts run C-1, C-2, C-2B, C-3 and C-3B, standing for Residence 1 through 3 with lettered variants. C-1 is the largest district in the city at roughly 1,806 acres. The naming is a trap for anyone assuming C means commercial.
What is the Alewife Overlay?
A designation combined with base districts including office, industry and business categories. Each combination is its own district, so a parcel in the Alewife area is governed by the combined designation rather than the base category.
What are the Special Districts?
A numbered series covering specific sites, alongside named districts including a North Point planned unit development and a Cambridge Port Revitalization Development District. They are place-specific instruments rather than general categories.
Why does a small city have 78 districts?
Because the overlay combinations and the special districts are each counted separately. Cambridge regulates at very fine grain, so the exact district code matters more than the broad category.
How much open space is there?
Open Space covers roughly 1,093 acres, the second largest classification in the city behind the C-1 residence district at about 1,806 acres.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Cambridge planning department before acquisition or design.