Setbacks are set by each city or town zoning bylaw under MGL c.40A. Typical residential front setbacks range 15-30 feet with side yards of 10-15 feet.
Middlesex County has no county-wide zoning. Each of the 54 cities and towns (Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, etc.) adopts its own zoning bylaw under the Massachusetts Zoning Act, MGL c.40A. Typical single-family districts require front setbacks of 15 to 30 feet, side yards of 10 to 15 feet, and rear yards of 20 to 30 feet. Denser urban municipalities like Cambridge and Somerville use reduced setbacks or build-to lines. Pre-existing nonconforming structures are protected under MGL c.40A s.6. Variances require a showing of hardship and approval from the local Zoning Board of Appeals. Always confirm with the building department before design work.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle setback rules.
See how Burlington's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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