Boston · Jul 28, 2026
Approved · UnanimousRear porch at 62 L Street
Rear porch at 62 L Street, approved unanimously on Jul 28, 2026 in Boston.
Variance
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston
Boston Zoning Map & Districts 2026
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 August 6, 2026
Key facts: Boston land-use record
- Boston approved 92% of 378 land-use decisions in the last 24 months.
- Boston has 42 rezoning-related records across 15 recent public meetings tracked by ZoneWire.
- The most recent tracked meeting in Boston was on August 6, 2026.
Updated with meetings through August 6, 2026.
Recent Rezoning Activity in Boston
Meetings
15
Rezoning Mentions
42
Last Detected
Jul 16, 2026
Official Boston Zoning Resources
Zoning Districts in Boston
Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.
SSingle Family Residential
Single-family house districts whose numeric suffix sets the maximum floor area ratio, sometimes with a height limit.
RGeneral Residential
General residential districts allowing a broader mix of dwellings than S districts, subdivided by floor area ratio.
HApartment Residential
Apartment districts for multifamily buildings, with numbered subdistricts controlling floor area ratio and building height.
LLocal Business
Local business districts for small-scale shops and services oriented to nearby residential neighborhoods.
BGeneral Business
General business districts spanning subdistricts from B-1 to high-intensity B-8 and B-10 commercial areas.
LMLight Manufacturing
Industrial districts (LM-1, LM-2) reserved for light manufacturing and similar lower-impact industrial activity.
MRestricted Manufacturing
Restricted manufacturing districts (M-1 through M-8) for general industrial uses subject to intensity limits.
IGeneral Industrial
General industrial classification, mapped as I-2, covering the city's heavier industrial areas.
MERMaritime Economy Reserve
Reserve district (MER-2) protecting deep-water port land for maritime-dependent industrial uses.
WWaterfront
Waterfront districts (W-1, W-2, WM, WS) governing industrial, manufacturing, and service uses along the harbor.
OSOpen Space
Open space districts with subtypes for parkland, cemeteries, community gardens, shorelines, urban plazas, and waterfront access.
Recent rezoning decisions in Boston
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 · Jul 28, 2026
Approved · UnanimousTwo-to-three family conversion at 87 Morris Street
Two-to-three family conversion at 87 Morris Street, approved unanimously on Jul 28, 2026 in Boston.
Entitlement
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Jul 16, 2026
ApprovedLarge project scoping determination at 9 Chelsea Street
Large project scoping determination at 9 Chelsea Street, approved on Jul 16, 2026 in Boston.
Variance
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Jul 14, 2026
Approved · UnanimousExpansion and conversion to single-family at 590 East 8th Street
Expansion and conversion to single-family at 590 East 8th Street, approved unanimously on Jul 14, 2026 in Boston.
Entitlement
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Jul 14, 2026
Approved · UnanimousVariance from drugstore to bakery at 610-610A Tremont Street
Variance from drugstore to bakery at 610-610A Tremont Street, approved unanimously on Jul 14, 2026 in Boston.
Variance
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
Boston · Jul 14, 2026
Approved · UnanimousHistoric restoration and expansion at 1422-1444 Dorchester Avenue
Historic restoration and expansion at 1422-1444 Dorchester Avenue, approved unanimously on Jul 14, 2026 in Boston.
Entitlement
Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.
What gets approved in Boston
In Boston, 92% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Commercial / office / retail clear 94%, Variance 92%. ZoneWire analyzed 378 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 | 97 | 94% |
| Variance | 66 | 92% |
| Multifamily / attached housing | 59 | 92% |
| Single-family homes | 51 | 96% |
| Mixed-use | 30 | 97% |
| Special exception / conditional use | 29 | 90% |
| Land use / comp-plan amendment | 15 | 67% |
| Industrial / warehouse | 8 | 88% |
| Subdivision / plat | 6 | 100% |
23 decisions that went against the odds
These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.
Get free county alertsFrequently Asked Questions
The 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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