Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Boston, MA. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Live records updated through September 23, 2026
Updated with meetings through September 23, 2026.
Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.
Single-family house districts whose numeric suffix sets the maximum floor area ratio, sometimes with a height limit.
General residential districts allowing a broader mix of dwellings than S districts, subdivided by floor area ratio.
Apartment districts for multifamily buildings, with numbered subdistricts controlling floor area ratio and building height.
Local business districts for small-scale shops and services oriented to nearby residential neighborhoods.
General business districts spanning subdistricts from B-1 to high-intensity B-8 and B-10 commercial areas.
Industrial districts (LM-1, LM-2) reserved for light manufacturing and similar lower-impact industrial activity.
Restricted manufacturing districts (M-1 through M-8) for general industrial uses subject to intensity limits.
General industrial classification, mapped as I-2, covering the city's heavier industrial areas.
Reserve district (MER-2) protecting deep-water port land for maritime-dependent industrial uses.
Waterfront districts (W-1, W-2, WM, WS) governing industrial, manufacturing, and service uses along the harbor.
Open space districts with subtypes for parkland, cemeteries, community gardens, shorelines, urban plazas, and waterfront access.
These parcels came up for a zoning decision in Boston in the last 30 days, often before they hit the market. See what changed, how the vote went, and hear the moment it happened. According to ZoneWire's analysis of official public meeting records, each decision below links to its timestamped source.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Approved · UnanimousConvert commercial to residential at 24 Stimson Street, approved unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Denied · UnanimousDenial without prejudice of lot combination/subdivision at 18R Plain Street, denied unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Denied. Check this board's approval pattern before filing a similar request.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Approved · UnanimousRoof deck relief at 8 Lawrence Street, approved unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Approved · UnanimousUse variance for South Boston Municipal Court at 460 West Broadway, approved unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Approved · UnanimousNew two-townhome building at 42 Lambert Street, approved unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Sep 8, 2026
Approved · UnanimousRenovation and balcony/roof deck at 66 Rutland Street, approved unanimously on Sep 8, 2026 in Boston.
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
In Boston, 92% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Commercial / office / retail clear 94%, Variance 92%. ZoneWire analyzed 416 land-use board decisions in Boston over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.
| Project type | Decisions | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial / office / retail | 112 | 94% |
| Variance | 75 | 92% |
| Multifamily / attached housing | 63 | 92% |
| Single-family homes | 56 | 95% |
| Mixed-use | 32 | 97% |
| Special exception / conditional use | 31 | 90% |
| Land use / comp-plan amendment | 15 | 67% |
| Industrial / warehouse | 8 | 88% |
| Subdivision / plat | 6 | 100% |
These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.
Get free county alertsThe official Boston zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://maps.bostonplans.org/zoningviewer/. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.
Zoning districts in Boston include S (Single Family Residential), R (General Residential), H (Apartment Residential), L (Local Business), B (General Business), LM (Light Manufacturing), M (Restricted Manufacturing), I (General Industrial). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements set by the local code.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Boston to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), Zoning Board of Appeal, and Boston City Council are tracked by ZoneWire for Article 80 reviews, zoning variances, PDA (Planned Development Area) applications, conditional use permits, and institutional master plan amendments.
Boston has approximately 8 zoning-related meetings per month across the BPDA board, Zoning Board of Appeal, and City Council. The BPDA board meets monthly, while the Zoning Board of Appeal typically meets weekly.
Article 80 is the section of the Boston Zoning Code that governs the development review process. Large projects go through Article 80 Large Project Review, which includes public comment periods and BPDA board approval. Article 80 filings are the primary signal for major commercial and residential development in Boston.
The highest volume of zoning activity in Boston occurs in the Seaport district for large-scale commercial and residential towers, the Fenway area for institutional master plan expansions, East Boston and Dorchester for residential density increases, and downtown for PDA applications and Article 80 filings.
Key zoning terms for Boston include Article 80, PDA (Planned Development Area), variance, conditional use permit, institutional master plan, small project review, 309 exception, and IPOD (Interim Planning Overlay District). ZoneWire tracks all of these automatically across every Boston governing body.
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Our Boston record holds 15 land-use decisions heard in the last 60 days, with the vote where one was recorded.
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