Building Setbacks & Zoning in Brockton, MA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Brockton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Brockton's Table 1 sets minimum yards by residential zone: a 30-foot front and 50-foot rear in R-1A, 30-foot rears in R-1B/C, 20-foot fronts and 25-foot rears in R-2 and R-3, and separate figures in R-4 for one-to-three-family versus multi-family lots. Section 27-17 lets the side yard flex around irregular lots and sets corner-lot and projection rules.
Brockton Yard Setback Minimums by Zoning District
Some RestrictionsBrockton Zoning Ordinance § 27-9, Table 1; § 27-17(1)
Yards (Minimum in feet) Front 30 30 30 20 20 35 20 One side 20 15 15 10 10 20 Rear 50 30 30 25 25 50 20 ...Where the side wall of a building is not parallel with the side lot line or is broken or otherwise irregular, the side yard may be varied. In such case the average width of the side yard shall not be less than the otherwise required minimum width; provided, however, that such side yard ...
Structure Height Limits
Brockton caps principal-building height by residential zone: two and a half stories or 35 feet in R-1A, R-1B and R-1C, and three stories or 45 feet in R-2, R-3 and R-4, under Table 1 of § 27-9. Accessory buildings top out at 20 feet in the R-1 districts and 30 feet in R-2 and R-3.
Brockton Residential Building Height Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsBrockton Zoning Ordinance § 27-9, Table 1
Building height (Maximum) Principal building 2½ stories or 35 feet 2½ stories or 35 feet 2½ stories or 35 feet 3 stories or 45 feet* 3 stories or 45 feet* 3 stories or 45 feet* Accessory building 20 feet 20 feet 20 feet 30 feet 30 feet ...*Building height modifications: In the R-2 and R-3 Districts, buildings may be erected to a height of 6 stories or 80 feet, provided the yard requirements i...
Lot Coverage Limits
Brockton limits how much of a lot buildings can cover and requires a separate green-space reserve on top of that: 25 percent minimum green space in every residential zone (R-1A through R-3), 10 percent in most commercial districts and I-1, and just 5 percent in the heavier I-2 and I-3 industrial zones, under § 27-18.
Brockton Maximum Lot Coverage and Green Space Rules
Some RestrictionsBrockton Zoning Ordinance § 27-18
Land coverage by principal and accessory buildings or structures on each zone lot shall not be greater than is permitted in the district where such principal and accessory buildings are located. Every lot shall contain a certain percentage of space reserved for green areas. Such areas shall not be paved or hardtop surfaced and shall be used for landscaping and storm drainage purposes. ... R-1-A...
Looking for Plymouth County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brockton city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Plymouth County →