Building Setbacks & Zoning in Methuen, MA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Methuen, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, § 6.2E bars any building or subsurface structure from the required front setback or side yard and from within 7.5 feet of the rear lot line. A side or rear yard that borders a street takes the front yard setback distance, and a detached accessory building behind a one- or two-family home can sit within 7.5 feet of a side or rear lot line.
Methuen MA Yard Setback Rules Under Section 6.2E
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 6.2E
§ 6.2. General dimensional regulations. ... E. Yard requirements for all districts. (1) Where a side yard is adjacent to a street, the side yard requirement shall be the same as the distance specified for front yard setback. (2) Where a rear yard is adjacent to a street, the rear yard requirement shall be the same as the distance specified for front yard setback. (3) No building or subsurface s...
Structure Height Limits
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, accessory buildings used for accessory purposes in all RR and Residential (R) Districts shall not exceed a height of 25 feet. Chimneys and similar rooftop additions are exempt from the height limits up to 45 feet, and the ordinance defines how building height is measured.
Methuen MA Building Height Rules and Exemptions
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 6.2(H) and § 2.2 (Height of Building)
The vertical distance of the highest point of the roof above the average grade of the curbline abutting the property. However, in residential zoning districts where the lot has a slope in excess of 5%, the height is the vertical distance of the highest point of the roof above the average finished grade of the ground adjoining the building, as computed before the building is actually erected. Th...
Lot Coverage Limits
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, the Methuen Center Smart Growth Overlay District caps lot coverage at 70% and requires 30% minimum open space, with a 45-foot maximum height and four stories. The ordinance defines lot coverage to include buildings, structures, parking, loading, roadway and driveway areas, so paving counts.
Methuen MA Lot Coverage Limit in Center Overlay District
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 5.22G
§ 5.22. Methuen Center Smart Growth Overlay District (MCSGOD). ... G. Dimensional regulations. ... All buildings, development and redevelopment shall conform to the following dimensional requirements: Requirement MCSGOD Minimum Lot Area (square feet) 0 Maximum Density 30 dwelling units per acre of Developable Land or Substantially Developed Land ... Maximum Number of Stories 4 Maximum Height (f...