Accessory Structures in Framingham, MA (2026)
3 verified accessory structures rules for Framingham, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Framingham allows accessory dwelling units in single-family homes only by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals under City Code § 435-12C. An ADU is capped at 900 square feet or half the principal dwelling's floor area, whichever is smaller, limited to two occupants and two bedrooms, and requires one extra off-street parking space.
Framingham Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsFramingham City Code § 435-12C(3)-(4)
C. Accessory dwelling units. ... (3) Applicability and procedure. (a) Basic requirements. [1] No ADU shall be allowed except in compliance with the provisions of this section, and shall require a special permit with review and approval as set forth herein. [2] The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) shall be the special permit granting authority (SPGA) for special permits under this section. ... (4) ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Framingham's ADU ordinance is owner-occupancy only: City Code § 435-12C(2) and (4)(a) require the property owner to actually live in one of the two units as their primary residence, both to get the special permit and for as long as the ADU exists. Selling the property doesn't end the requirement; the new owner must notify the City and re-certify within 30 days.
Framingham ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Significant RestrictionsFramingham City Code § 435-12C(2), (4)(a), (5)(b)
(2) Eligibility. ... Only an owner of a lawful, owner-occupied single-family dwelling on a conforming or pre-existing nonconforming lot, lawfully occupied as a single-family dwelling, may be an eligible applicant for an ADU on such lot pursuant to this section. ... (4) General standards and requirements. (a) The owner of the property on which the ADU is to be created must occupy at least one of...
Shed & Carport Rules
In the City of Framingham, a shed or other limited accessory structure can sit inside the side setback under Zoning Ordinance § 435-27E(7), but only up to 120 square feet of gross floor area and 12 feet in height. It must stay out of the front setback, keep at least half the required side setback from the lot line, and no more than two are allowed in the side setbacks on one lot.
Framingham Limited Accessory Structure Size Limits
Some RestrictionsFramingham City Code § 435-27E(7)
(7) Limited accessory structures. ... (b) Dimensional regulations for limited accessory structures. A limited accessory structure: [1] Shall be no larger than 120 square feet of gross floor area. [2] Shall not be more than 12 feet in height as measured from the average natural grade at a distance of up to three feet from the structure. [3] Shall not be located within the required front setback ...