- Department Home Page
- Community Planning
- Economic Development
- Environmental and
Transportation Planning - Housing
- Community Development Block Grant
- Lead-Safe Cambridge
- About the Department
- Popular Services
- Community Calendar
- Contact Us
- Demographics
- Forms
- Housing Services
- Maps
- Parks and Open Space
- Planning Board Agenda
- Publications
- Zoning Ordinance and Map
- Site Map
- About This Web Site
Use the Site Map to navigate
the site
The Zoning Guide:
A User Guide to the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance
Index
Please note that the Zoning Guide does not in any way replace the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Guide provides an overview of the Ordinance and seeks to explain some of the more technical concepts in language accessible to the layman.
III. Summary of District Regulations
Residential Districts. There are twelve categories of residential districts with similar uses (residential, educational, institutional, recreational, and public utility) but with different dimensional regulations. Some of these regulations are shown in Table 1. Accessory offices for customary home occupations (e.g. an accountant or a lawyer) are also permitted.
- The Residence A-1 district is the lowest density district in the City. Residential structures in this district are limited to detached single family dwellings.
- The Residence A-2 district contains the same use limitations as the Residence A-1 district but at a slightly higher density. New two family houses and apartments are prohibited but existing single family houses may be converted to a two-family in both Residence A districts.
- The Residence B district is a two-family and townhouse district. Otherwise it contains the same use limitations as the Residence A districts.
- The Residence C districts are multi-family housing districts. These districts may allow anything from a single family house to a high rise building containing more than one hundred dwelling units. Residence C districts permit more types of land use than Residence A and B districts, including transient residential uses (such as hotels) and institutional uses (schools and hospitals). The Residence C-2A, C-3 and C-3A districts also allow a limited amount of office space in residential buildings.
Go
to Table 1
Office Districts. There are four classes of office districts with similar uses but different densities. Uses allowed in residential districts are usually allowed in these districts, as well as banks, business, professional and technical offices. Some commercial uses such as theaters are also permitted. The major office districts are found along Massachusetts Avenue, Memorial Drive, Concord Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway. Table 2 summarizes some of the office district dimensional requirements.
Go
to Table 2
Business Districts. There are eight categories of business districts. The principal uses permitted in the business districts in addition to the uses allowed in residential and office districts are retail establishments (stores, theaters, restaurants) and consumer service businesses (such as barber shops, repair shops, cleaning establishments).
Business districts vary in type and intensity of establishment permitted. The Business B district is a general business district which permits more retail uses as-of-right than the Business A districts and permits more intense development than any other business district. Central Square and Harvard Square have this zoning. The Business B-1 and B-2 districts are special business districts with limited retail uses and are subject to additional height and setback requirements. The Business C district permits generally the same uses as the Business B district but has dimensional regulations which allow less intensive development. Table 3 summarizes the key restrictions for these eight districts.
Go
to Table 3
Industrial Districts. The seven classes of industrial districts in the city are categorized into "light" or "heavy" industrial districts. Industry A-1 and Industry A-2 are light industrial districts which permit a broad range of industrial activity, subject to stringent regulations. Convenience retail, office, and limited residential uses are also permitted. The Industry A district is also a "light" industrial district permitting a limited amount of manufacturing uses, warehouses and all retail and office uses. The "heavy" industrial districts include the Industry B-1, B-2, and B districts. The Industry B-1 and Industry B-2 districts permit most assembly, processing and manufacturing activities subject to limits on the off-site impacts of those activities and office uses. The Industry B district permits all uses except housing. This is the least restrictive zoning district in the City. The Industry C district in an office, research and light manufacturing district. The major development restrictions of these districts are summarized in Table 4.
Go
to Table 4
Special Districts. The Ordinance also includes eleven districts with regulations tailored for certain limited areas within the City.
- Cambridge Center Mixed Use Development District (MXD) was created to guide development in the Kendall Square Urban Renewal Area. The MXD District was designed to work with Design Guidelines and a Design Review Process adopted as part of the Urban Renewal Plan by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority. These regulations require a balanced mixture of land uses developed in coordinated fashion as provided in the master plan for the area. Light Industrial, office , retail, institutional and residential uses are allowed within the district. There are overall limitations on the amount of each class of use. The height limit for the district is 250 feet and there are extensive public open space requirements.
- Open Space District was created to safeguard the interests of Cambridge residents with respect to public open space. It is applicable to certain municipal open spaces which could be encroached upon for other purposes. Public park, playgrounds, and public recreation buildings are the only uses permitted as-of-right in open space districts. Maximum floor area ratio is .25 and maximum building height is 35 feet. Fresh Pond Reservation, Russell Field and Danehy Park are now included with the Open Space District.
- The Cambridgeport Revitalization District implements the Blue Ribbon Report allowing a diversity of land uses in close proximity within a limited area; encouraging a transition from the existing Cambridgeport residential neighborhoods to the business oriented uses in the District and interaction among the activities located within the district, while providing for mixed income residential uses as an extension of the Cambridgeport neighborhood.
- Special Districts regulate development in particular areas of the city. Currently, there are eleven Special Districts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A and 5 through 14, which have requirements of a standard zoning base district and additional requirements and regulations of the Special District for a reason specific to the Special District. Special Districts are located in East Cambridge, North Cambridge and Cambridgeport.
Overlay Districts. An overlay district is a set of zoning regulations for a defined area which is required either in addition to the base district's regulations or in lieu of those regulations. Overlay zoning is used to protect the character of an area of special concern or to encourage new development subject to additional controls. The categories of overlay districts are described below.
- The Harvard Square Overlay District was created to preserve the unique functional and visual environment of the area and to reduce negative development impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods. This district establishes regulations which are applicable in addition to the requirements of the base zoning districts. The overlay regulations establish a maximum height of 60 feet. This limit may be increased to 80 feet if certain setback requirements are met. Most development in the district is subject to a consultation review process by the Harvard Square Advisory Committee.
- Flood Plain Overlay District is written to protect the health, safety, and general welfare, human life and property from the hazards of periodic flooding, while preserving the natural flood control characteristics and the flood storage capacity of the flood plain, and ground water recharge areas.
- Massachusetts Avenue Overlay augments the base zoning regulations in the District in order to create a more harmonious and consistent image for the development of the Avenue, adjacent areas, and abutting portions of the neighborhoods, north of the Cambridge Common.
- Central Square Overlay District responds to the unique problems and pressures for change particular to Central Square. The District requires review of development proposals that may negatively impact the area and the unique environment and character of the Square and the abutting residential neighborhoods. The maximum as of right building height is 55' and FAR is 3.0, with special permit processes allowing greater height and FAR for particular uses, design review and satisfying specific goals and objectives.
- Kirkland Place Overlay District provides a transition between the character and scale of the Residence A-2 district and the abutting institutional development of the residence C-3 district.
- Hammond and Gorham Transition Overlay District provide a transition between the character and scale of development existing and permitted in the abutting residence C-1 district and the base C-3.
- Institutional Overlay District identifies areas of concentration of institutional activity. Expansion of institutional uses within the districts is more easily accomplished than expansion of such uses outside an overlay district. Special regulations limit institutional uses in Residence A, B, C, and C-1 Districts.
- Mixed Use Residential Overlay District modifies the base residential district regulations in areas with substantial non-residential uses to encourage residential conversion and retail and consumer services to support residential uses.
- Eastern Cambridge Development Rights Transfer District reduces the density of development close to existing residential neighborhoods and encourages housing development compatible with those existing neighborhoods. It also supports residential, office, and research and development uses in those areas close to public transportation.
- Eastern Cambridge Housing Overlay District provides an incentive to residential development through conversion of nonresidential uses to housing as well as permitting the development of mixed uses where desirable.
- Planned Unit Development (PUD) Districts have been established to encourage new buildings in the city's major revitalization areas such as East Cambridge and Alewife. They also permit coordination of public and private development to implement urban design plans for those areas. There are seven areas of the city designated for PUD zoning. A developer in one of these areas may elect to follow either the base zoning or the PUD zoning. The PUD designation encourages the establishment of mixed use developments by providing flexible guidelines which allow the integration of a variety of land uses and densities in one development. Typically, the PUD regulations allow more intense or more diverse development. PUD approval follows a special permit procedure administered by the Planning Board. A developer's plan is reviewed with respect to existing policy plans, construction of public improvements, landscaping, environmental impact, density, size of lots, setbacks, heights, open space, perimeter and transition, and parking and loading. Two public hearings are required. Table 5 outlines the general provisions and locations of each PUD district.
- The Parkway Overlay District is a 400 foot wide corridor along Alewife Brook Parkway, Concord Avenue, Fresh Pond Parkway and the Concord Turnpike. Its purpose is to update the image of the area, to enhance public safety by reducing visual confusion and haphazard development and to encourage development which will protect and enhance public open space. The district requirements include special setback, landscaping, parking, and sign limitations. A special permit from the Planning Board is required for any new building in excess of 25,000 square feet. All other new buildings and major alterations are subject to a development consultation procedure administered by the Cambridge Community Development Department. This article includes special provisions for the "Concord Avenue Parkway Subdistrict".
- Memorial Drive Overlay District is located in the area between Magazine and River Streets
and establishes building and site development standards to enhance the area appearance.
Go
to Table 5
Go
to Zoning Guide Chapter 4
Return
to Zoning Guide Chapter 2
Return
to Zoning Guide home page
Return to Zoning,
Planning Board and Urban Design
Return to Community
Planning Division home
Return to Community
Development Department home
