Lot Coverage Limits: Burlington vs Somerville
How do lot coverage limits rules compare between Burlington, MA and Somerville, MA?
Burlington and Somerville have similar restriction levels.
Burlington, MA
Middlesex County
Burlington's Zoning Bylaw (Article VIII, Section 850) sets dimensional and lot-coverage standards by district. Residential single-family districts (RO) cap building coverage at a percentage of total lot area, with stricter limits in smaller-lot RO districts. The town updated ADU and dimensional bylaws in early 2025 to align with the MBTA Communities Act.
View full Burlington rules →Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Somerville caps building and impervious lot coverage by district. NR districts typically allow 50 percent building coverage with minimum usable open space.
View full Somerville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burlington | Somerville |
|---|---|---|
| Code Reference | Zoning Bylaw Art. VIII, Sec. 850 | - |
| Authority | Planning Dept / Zoning Board | - |
| Recent Update | Jan 2025 ADU / MBTA Comm. amendment | - |
| Variance Body | Zoning Board of Appeals | - |
| NR building coverage | - | Around 50 percent |
| Open space | - | 20 to 30 percent pervious |
| MR and commercial | - | FAR-based limits |
| Stormwater trigger | - | 500 sq ft impervious |
| Synthetic turf | - | Counts as impervious |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burlington FAQ
Where do I find Burlington MA lot coverage rules?
Article VIII (Section 850) of the Town of Burlington Zoning Bylaw sets dimensional standards including maximum building coverage by district. The Planning Department keeps the current PDF on burlington.org.
Can I exceed the lot coverage cap?
Only with a variance from the Burlington Zoning Board of Appeals. The ZBA evaluates hardship factors and surrounding context before granting any dimensional relief.
Somerville FAQ
Does a gravel driveway count as impervious?
Compacted gravel with no underdrain typically counts as impervious for zoning. Engineered permeable pavement systems with proper drainage may be treated as pervious with documentation.
Can I pave my whole backyard?
No. You must maintain the minimum usable open space for your district, which is measured as pervious landscaped area. Over-paving triggers a zoning violation.
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