New Bedford, 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 9 districts.
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Zoning
- District code & full name
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- All 9 districts mapped
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New Bedford, 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. New Bedford'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
IB Industrial B | - | 1,703.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
RB Residential B | - | 123.1 ac | Standards & uses → |
IC Industrial C | - | 85.6 ac | Standards & uses → |
IA Industrial A | - | 65 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 9 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
Each one runs against the live New Bedford dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.
What does IB actually permit?
The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.
Run it →How is New Bedford zoned?
New Bedford regulates land through nine zoning districts, one of the shortest rosters in this dataset, and the balance between them is unusual.
Industrial B is by far the largest classification at roughly 1,703 acres. Adding Industrial A and Industrial C and a Waterfront Industrial district, industrial categories account for the great majority of the zoned area recorded here. For a city with a long fishing and manufacturing history, that composition is consistent with the economy.
The residential districts are lettered A, AA, B and C. Residential B is the largest of them at roughly 123 acres, with the others considerably smaller.
The Waterfront Industrial district at roughly 16 acres is worth noting specifically. New Bedford is a working fishing port, and zoning waterfront industry as its own classification rather than folding it into the general industrial districts keeps that use distinct from other industrial land.
A Mixed Use Business district covers roughly 14 acres, the only mixed category in the roster.
With nine districts the standards do most of the work rather than the categories, and the industrial designation on a parcel is the single most informative fact about it. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
New Bedford zoning: frequently asked questions
How many zoning districts does New Bedford have?
Nine, one of the shortest rosters in this dataset: three industrial districts, a waterfront industrial district, four lettered residential districts and a mixed use business district.
Why is industrial land so dominant?
Industrial B alone covers roughly 1,703 acres, and adding Industrial A, Industrial C and Waterfront Industrial, industrial categories account for the great majority of the zoned area recorded. That is consistent with a city with a long fishing and manufacturing history.
What is the Waterfront Industrial district?
A district of roughly 16 acres that keeps working waterfront use distinct from the general industrial districts. New Bedford is a working fishing port, so that separation is substantive.
How are residential districts organised?
Through four lettered districts, A, AA, B and C. Residential B is the largest at roughly 123 acres, with the others considerably smaller.
Is there any mixed use zoning?
One district, Mixed Use Business, covering roughly 14 acres. It is the only mixed category in a roster otherwise divided between industrial and residential classifications.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the New Bedford planning department before acquisition or design.