Community Development > Neighbors' Guide to Housing Development

Neighbors' Guide to Housing Development

New housing construction is happening across much of Cambridge. In 2025, the City Council passed a change to the zoning ordinance that allows more housing to be built, including in neighborhoods that were zoned to restrict new housing before. The goal of this change was to address the housing shortage that has led to higher housing costs in Cambridge and the surrounding area.

Learn more about the Multi-Family Zoning Ordinance

If you are looking for more information or would like to learn more about Multifamily Zoning or have questions you’d like to ask, you can contact the Multifamily Housing Community Liaison, Marlees West Owayda. As the Community Liaison, Marlees can share information, gather answers to questions, and support community members in understanding the process.

Email: MultiFamilyHousing@cambridgema.gov

Phone: 617-349-7248

How Does New Housing Get Built?

Illustration of phases of housing development including Demolition, Design and Review, and Construction. Demolition permits require Administrative reviews and Building Permits require Administrative review and Board or Commission approval. — Text description of the Housing Development Process illustration

This diagram was created to outline what the development process can look like. Some steps will always happen but may happen in a different order than outlined above. Project timelines and process may vary.

Every housing development project is different. This means the process for each project is also different. There are certain regulations that all projects must follow, but many factors determine regulations and reviews, such as:

Building size
Location
Other site conditions

These and other factors determine which regulations apply and which reviews are needed. This guide generally describes the process that many housing developments must follow.

What are the types of review?

Administrative

All projects are reviewed by City departments to make sure they meet City and state codes. Many of these codes focus on health and safety standards. They also include zoning standards, such as the allowed uses and heights of buildings. For some projects, this is the only process they will need to complete.

Public Advisory Review

Some projects are required to go through a public meeting process to get nonbinding feedback. This means developers are encouraged to incorporate feedback and recommendations from staff and community members but are not required.

Board or Commission Approval

Some projects must go before a City Board or Commission for binding review. This means that the Board or Commission decides whether to approve or deny a proposal based on a set of criteria. Often, conditions are placed on approval. Developers must follow the Board or Commission’s decision and conditions. Community members are able to give feedback that the Board or Commission considers.

Development Process

1. Demolition Process

The rules for demolition are separate from the rules for what can be built. Developers might propose demolishing an existing building before building a new one and a property owner is allowed to demolish a building without needing to build anything.

Administrative Review - Demolition Permits:

All demolition, either full or partial, needs a permit from the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). If Historical Commission review is completed or not required, the demolition permit might be issued in 1-2 months.

Learn about Demolition Permits

Board or Commission Review - Historical Commission Review:

If a building is more than 50 years old and might be historically significant, the Historical Commission may consider a demolition delay to study whether the building should be considered a historic landmark. The entire process can take several months or years, if a landmark study is started.

Learn about Historical Commission Demolition Review

2. Design & Review Process

Before construction can start, the plans need to be reviewed to make sure they meet different requirements. This is true for new buildings and for changes to existing buildings, like additions or changes in use.

How long the review process takes can vary depending on the project. Projects that only need a building permit can take 1-2 months from application to approval. If more specialized review is needed, the process can take 3-12 months or more, depending on many factors.

Building design is a process that also takes time. More time is needed for larger and more complex projects.

All About Reviews

Administrative Review - Building Permit

When it happens: This is required for all projects before construction starts.

Building permit applications are reviewed for:

State Building Codes
State Fire Code
State Energy Code
Cambridge Zoning Ordinance
Utilities

Learn more about City boards, commissions and departments involved in reviews

Learn more about Building Permits

Specialized Administrative Review

When it happens: Required for some projects before a Building Permit is issued.

Other factors can also trigger a specialized administrative review. Each specialized review is triggered by different factors.

Examples of factors that can trigger a specialized review:

Size of project
Location
Site conditions

Some Specialized Administrative Review Examples:

Green Factor Standard
Flood Resilience Standards
Stormwater Control Regulation
Inclusionary Housing

View department info for all reviews

Public Advisory Review

When it happens: Required for some projects before a Building Permit is issued. The square feet of the project can trigger these types of review. Public advisory review is not binding.

Public Advisory Reviews organized and hosted by City staff

Planning Board Advisory Consultation: Applies to residential projects with 50,000+ square feet that do not need a special permit, including all-affordable housing developments.
Public Advisory Consultation: Applies to projects with 2,000+ square feet in Areas of Special Planning Concern. In Harvard Square and Central Square, the review is done by standing advisory committees. In other areas, like north Massachusetts Avenue, it is a public meeting organized by CDD.

Public Advisory Reviews organized and hosted by developers

Early Community Engagement: When a project needs to come to the Planning Board for a special permit or advisory consultation, the developer first must engage with community members to inform them of the proposal and get feedback before the public process begins at Planning Board meetings.
Neighbor Notification: When a project is in a Residence C-1 zoning district AND taller than 3 stories AND at least 35 feet tall, the developer must hold a meeting to inform neighbors of the proposal and answer questions.

Community Engagement: Community members can give feedback at meetings with the developer. Community members can also email feedback to the developer. This feedback is not binding.

Board or Commission Approval

When it happens: Required for some projects before the Building Permit review begins. Board or commission approval can be triggered by the size of the project, location, historical status, or other factors.

Members of the public can give comments. The Board or Commission makes a decision to approve or deny.

Examples of Board or Commission Approvals

Project Review Special Permit
Other Special Permits
Zoning Variances
Historic Review
Conservation Commission Review

Community Engagement: Community members can give public comment at meetings. Community members can also submit written comment to boards or commission by emailing staff. This feedback is not binding.

View department info for all reviews

Learn more about Development Review

3. Construction Process

All construction projects need a Construction Management Plan. This is reviewed by the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works. This plan makes sure that traffic operations can be safe and efficient during construction. The plan asks developers to make a plan for how they will deal with some of the issues associated with construction – such as: dust mitigation, debris removal, or fencing.

Developers need a permit if:

Streets or sidewalks will need to be closed or blocked
Dumpsters will be placed outside of the site
Construction vehicles require parking

Guidelines during construction

Construction work in residential areas is allowed:

Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays and holidays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Work on Sunday is not permitted without special permission from the Police Department.

Community Engagement

For questions or concerns during construction, we encourage community members to contact the property developer or construction site manager. Contact information is usually posted on the construction site fencing. However, if you have a more serious concern you may also contact Inspectional Services or call the Police Department's Non-Emergency line.

If you have a question or concern about trees, please contact the Urban Forestry Division at the Department of Public Works at 617-349-4800.

Giving Feedback & Engaging with Projects

Administrative Review

Examples:

Building Permit Review
Specialized Administrative Review

How to Participate

Community members with questions can reach out to the staff contact

Announcements & Information

Public Advisory Review

Examples:

Public Advisory Consultations
Planning Board Advisory Consultations

How to Participate

Community members can give public comment during a meeting
Community members can submit written feedback

Who Receives Feedback

Meetings are organized by City staff
View city regulations
Boards and commissions receive public comment

What Happens with Feedback

Members of boards and commissions listen to public comment and consider it in their recommendations

Announcements & Information

Public Advisory Review: Developer Community Engagement

Examples:

Early Community Engagement
Resident Notification Meeting

How to Participate

Community members can attend the meeting to learn and share feedback or email the developer

Who Receives Feedback

Meetings are organized by developers
Developers receive feedback

What Happens with Feedback

Developers are encouraged to consider and implement feedback
They are not required to implement community feedback

Announcements & Information

Flyers are mailed by the developer to abutters
City website
Developer’s website

Construction

How to Participate

Contact the developer
Use See Click Fix
Contact Inspectional Services Department

Announcements & Information

Housing Development Dashboard

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get more information about a project?

Here are some resources and options:

City of Cambridge Housing Development Dashboard
CDD Development Review
Public Record request for documents submitted to the city

Where can I find plans and permits? When are they posted?

Visit the Housing Dashboard to view plans and information about projects.

How does the City coordinate multiple projects on the same street and address infrastructure impacts?

When there is a request for a building permit, a permit for construction staging, or utility service, City departments review that request in context.

Multiple requests occurring in the same area at the same time might be looked at in a coordinated way to streamline construction and reduce impacts where possible.

Ultimately, each request needs to be evaluated according to applicable rules and regulations, and each development is responsible for upgrading infrastructure or mitigating impacts as needed based on the project.

How are trees handled in the construction process?

Trees whose trunks are 6 inches at breast height or larger are protected under the Tree Protection Ordinance. Developers are required to take the necessary precautions during construction. A weekly report of issued tree removal permits is available on the Open Data Portal.

Violations can be reported to the Urban Forestry Division. Call Public Works at 617-349-4800.

Are developers responsible for damage to abutters trees?

The City does not have an enforcement mechanism to settle private property tree disputes between neighbors.

What are the expectations for developers when it comes to parking?

In 2022, the Cambridge City Council removed all minimum automobile parking requirements from zoning. Although new housing is allowed to have parking, requiring parking can make it much more difficult and expensive to create new housing, and often doesn’t align with the priorities of promoting walkable neighborhoods and sustainable transportation.

During construction there may be short term needs for on-street parking for dumpsters and/or construction tool trucks. These requests are handled by the Cambridge Department of Transportation. More information can be found on the Street Occupancy Permit website.