Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Boston, MA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Boston, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Boston's Zoning Code grants a residential density bonus in the Charlestown Neighborhood District: Section 62-21 adds 1.0 to the maximum floor area ratio for residential projects in Planned Development Areas I, VI, VII, and X. Mixed-use buildings with non-residential floors above ground level get the bonus pro-rated. The baseline FAR these bonuses build on, set in Table 2, ranges from 2.0 to 5.0 depending on the PDA.
Boston Charlestown PDA Residential FAR Density Bonus
Some RestrictionsBoston Zoning Code Art. 62, § 62-21
Section 62-21 - Residential Density Bonus for Planned Development Areas. Projects containing a residential use in PDA I, PDA VI, PDA VII, and PDA X are eligible for a 1.0 increase to the maximum FAR for the area. For projects containing a mix of residential and non-residential uses above the ground floor, the residential FAR bonus is pro-rated according to the equation shown in this Section 62...
Downtown Design Guide
Within the Midtown Cultural District's Protection Areas, a downtown design guide, any exterior alteration or new construction affecting more than 100 square feet of street wall facade triggers mandatory Small Project Review under the Boston Zoning Code, regardless of whether the Boston Landmarks Commission also has jurisdiction over the same building.
Boston Downtown Protection Area Design Review
Significant RestrictionsBoston Zoning Code Art. 38, § 38-20
Within the Protection Areas established in Section 38-5 and depicted on Map 1A of this code, any Proposed Project for exterior alteration or construction (excluding rooftop structures and signage and displays allowed pursuant to Section 38-6), including exterior alteration of an existing building affecting more than one hundred (100) square feet of the Street Wall Façade, shall be subject to Sm...