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Zoning Ordinance
About the Zoning Ordinance
As a public service, this page provides links to the full text and associated maps of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Zoning Ordinance. Our goal is to make zoning more accessible by placing the Zoning Ordinance on the Web. The Ordinance is a complex legal document . Reading about some of the underlying principles of zoning and land use planning discussed in The Zoning Guide will provide necessary information and make the Ordinance easier for the general public to use.
For
a primer on the different aspects of zoning in Cambridge go to the Zoning Guide.
There is an interim period between the date when the City Council adopts a text or map amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and the revision date of this web site. Zoning text and map amendments, as well as corrections, will be placed on-line as available. The web version of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge currently includes all text amendments approved by the City Council up to Ordinance #1315 approved on May 12, 2008.
Viewing the On-Line Zoning Ordinance
Both the zoning text and the zoning maps are available on line only in Portable Document Format (PDF) format. In order to view the text and map files in PDF format, you will need at least version 5.0 of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer. Use of an earlier version may result in errors or limited capabilities. The most recent version of the Acrobat Reader should work well with most version 5.0 or higher internet browsers.
Generally, text files in PDF format can be printed with little loss of legibility. Conversion to PDF format sometimes compromises legibility of map features when printed. If you wish to obtain a current paper copy of one of the maps referenced by the Ordinance, contact the City Clerk's office at 617/349-4260.
Index to the On-Line Zoning Ordinance and Associated Maps
The on-line Zoning Ordinance consists of 22 Adobe Acrobat PDF files:
- one file containing the Table of Contents
- one file each for Articles 1 through 21
The Table of Contents PDF file is a listing of all articles found in the zoning text contained in the other 21 PDF files. The entries in the Table of Contents are linked to the file for the corresponding article. Selecting the bookmark associated with an article in the Table of Contents file will open the PDF file for the particular article and display the disclaimer preceding the beginning of the selected article. Alternatively, you may view an article by selecting a file from the table below. Each PDF file contains bookmarks which are displayed at the left of the document. These bookmarks are links to each of the particular article's primary sections. Selecting a bookmark will navigate the display to that particular chapter and section. The first page of each PDF document is the disclaimer found at the top of this web page. The second page of each PDF document is where the text of that section of the Zoning Ordinance begins.
- Table of Contents
- Article 1: Preamble
- Article 2: Definitions
- Article 3: Zoning Districts
- Article 4: Use Regulations
- Article 5: Development Standards
- Article 6: Off Street Parking and Loading Requirements
- Article 7: Signs and Illumination
- Article 8: Nonconformity
- Article 9: Procedures and Administration
- Article 10: Appeals, Variances, and Special Permits
- Article 11: Special Regulations
- Article 12: Planned Unit Development
- Article 13: Planned Unit Development Districts
- Article 14: Mixed Use Development District: Cambridge Center
- Article 15: Cambridgeport Revitalization Development District
- Article 16: North Point Residence, Office and Business District
- Article 17: Special Business, Office and Industrial Districts
- Article 18: Traffic Mitigation and Construction Management
- Article 19: Project Review
- Article 20: Overlay Districts
- Article 21: Transfer of Development Rights
Zoning Maps
The maps associated with the Zoning Ordinance are separate files maintained by the Community Development Department. These maps derive from the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). For more information about the GIS contact the City's GIS Department. Use the following links to view the maps:
- Base Zoning Map - includes base zoning and Planned Unit Development (PUD) districts.
- Alewife Overlay Districts Map (833 KB) - Includes building footprints, parcel lines, parking areas, street names and street edge. Prints best as 11x17.
- Institutional and Zoning Overlay Districts - includes all overlay districts, housing overlay and institutional overlay districts associated with schools, universities and hospitals.
- Mixed Use Residential Overlay Districts Map (513 KB) - Schematic map of city with detailed callouts of each mixed use residential overlay district.
- Planned Unit Development (PUD) Districts Map (687 KB) - Includes building footprints, parcel lines, parking areas, street names and street edge. Prints best as 11x17.
While not part of the zoning ordinance, you may wish to review the historic districts and the historic landmarks and easements maps found on the Cambridge Historical Commission web site.
Floodplain maps referenced by the ordinance can be reviewed by contacting the Conservation Commission at 617/349-4680.
Area Specific and Design Guidelines
The Cambridge Zoning Ordinance is supplemented by several sets of area specific guidelines and design guidelines used to implement various parts of the zoning code. These guidelines are available from the Community Planning Division.
Go to Area Specific
and Design Guidelines
Low-Rise Residential Zoning Districts
The low-rise residential districts comprise the majority of the land area of Cambridge. These districts include the Residence A-1, A-2, B, B-1, C and C-1 districts. Most one, two and three family buildings in the City are located in these districts. Zoning requirements for these areas can be found in the following sections of the Zoning Ordinance:
- Dimensional Requirements are located in Article 5.000, Table 5-1.
- Use Regulations are located in Article 4.31, Residential Uses.
- Parking Regulations are located in Article 6.36.1, Residential Uses - Parking.
Related Ordinances and Information
Several City departments administer programs and enforce ordinances related to or resembling the Zoning Ordinance.
- The Historical Commission administers the City's Historic Districts and Neighborhood Conservation Districts as well as City landmarks and properties covered by preservation easements. Maps of the districts and properties subject to these regulations and controls are available on line. For more information about the activities of the Historical Commission, call 617/349-4683.
- The Conservation Commission regulates activities that occur within wetlands and floodplains. Maps of these areas are available through the offices of the Conservation Commission. For more information about the activities of the Conservation Commission, call 617/349-4680.
- The Inspectional Services Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance and for providing administrative support to the Board of Zoning Appeal. The Zoning Ordinance describes when a variance or special permit is required and whether the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) or the Planning Board is the granting authority. The BZA also hears appeals of zoning related decisions made by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (Superintendent of Buildings). For more information about the activities of the Inspectional Services Department, call 617/349-6100.
For More Information about Zoning
- To purchase a paper copy of the Zoning Ordinance visit the City Clerk's
office at City Hall, located at 795 Massachusetts
Avenue in Central Square. The Clerk's office also has copies of the zoning map for
sale. Call 617/349-4260 for more information.
Directions
to City Hall. - Zoning maps may also be purchased at the Community Development Department offices,
located at 344 Broadway. Call 617/349-4600 for more information.
Directions
to 344 Broadway. - The Zoning Ordinance makes reference to several sets of design guidelines. Some of these are not currently available on line. For more information about the Design Guidelines call Liza Paden, lpaden@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4647.
- If you have questions about the Zoning Ordinance or wish to speak to a staff person on a related matter, contact either Liza Paden, lpaden@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4647 or Les Barber, lbarber@cambridgema.gov, at 617/349-4657.
- The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
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