Building Setbacks & Zoning in Newton, MA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Newton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Newton's Single Residence districts set minimum yard setbacks in Chapter 30, Sec. 3.1.3. For lots created after 1953, SR1 requires a 40-foot front, 20-foot side and 25-foot rear setback, dropping to 30/15/15 feet in SR2 and 30/10/15 feet in SR3.
Newton Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsNewton, MA Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 (Zoning Ordinance) § 3.1.3 (Principal Building Setbacks)
SR1 SR2 SR3 Principal Building Setbacks (On or After 12/7/1953) E Front (min)* 40' 30' 30' F Side (min) 20' 15' 10' G Rear (min) 25' 15' 15' Principal Building Setbacks (Before 12/7/1953) E Front (min)* 25' 25' 25' F Side (min) 12.5' 7.5' 7.5' G Rear (min) 25' 15' 15' * See Sec. 1.5.3 for setback averaging requirement.
Structure Height Limits
Newton's Single Residence districts cap building height under Chapter 30, Sec. 3.1.3. SR1, SR2 and SR3 all allow a 36-foot sloped roof, a 30-foot flat roof, and 2.5 stories by right, rising to 3 stories only with a City Council special permit.
Newton Residential Height Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsNewton, MA Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 (Zoning Ordinance) § 3.1.3 (Principal Building Height)
SR1 SR2 SR3 Principal Building Height Sloped Roof (max) 36' 36' 36' Flat Roof (max) 30' 30' 30' H Stories (max) 2.5 2.5 2.5 H Stories by Special Permit (max) 3 3 3
Lot Coverage Limits
Newton caps how much of a lot can be covered by buildings under Chapter 30, Sec. 3.1.3. For lots created on or after December 7, 1953, maximum lot coverage in the Single Residence districts is 15% in SR1, 20% in SR2 and 30% in SR3, with matching open-space minimums running the other way.
Newton Lot Coverage Limits by Zone
Some RestrictionsNewton, MA Code of Ordinances, Chapter 30 (Zoning Ordinance) § 3.1.3 (Lot Coverage row)
SR1 SR2 SR3 Lot Dimensions (On or After 12/7/1953) A Lot Area (min) 25,000 sf 15,000 sf 10,000 sf B Lot Coverage (max) 15% 20% 30% C Open Space (min) 70% 65% 50% D Lot Frontage (min) 140' 100' 80' Lot Dimensions (Before 12/7/1953) A Lot Area (min) 15,000 sf 10,000 sf 7,000 sf B Lot Coverage (max) 20% 30% 30% C Usable Open Space (min) 65% 50% 50% D Lot Frontage (min) 100' 80' 70'