Coastal Development: Chelsea vs Revere
How do coastal development rules compare between Chelsea, MA and Revere, MA?
Chelsea and Revere have similar restriction levels.
Chelsea, MA
Suffolk County
All four Suffolk County municipalities border Boston Harbor or tidal water, triggering Chapter 91 (MGL c. 91) Waterways licensing for work below the high water mark. The MA Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c. 131, §40) regulates work within 100 ft of coastal resources. Boston's Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District requires elevated construction. Revere and Winthrop have strict Velocity Zone (V-Zone) FEMA requirements.
View full Chelsea rules →Revere, MA
Suffolk County
All four Suffolk County municipalities border Boston Harbor or tidal water, triggering Chapter 91 (MGL c. 91) Waterways licensing for work below the high water mark. The MA Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c. 131, §40) regulates work within 100 ft of coastal resources. Boston's Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District requires elevated construction. Revere and Winthrop have strict Velocity Zone (V-Zone) FEMA requirements.
View full Revere rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chelsea | Revere |
|---|---|---|
| State License | Chapter 91 (310 CMR 9.00) | Chapter 91 (310 CMR 9.00) |
| Wetlands Buffer | 100 ft coastal, 200 ft streams | 100 ft coastal, 200 ft streams |
| Boston Overlay | BFE + 2 ft (Article 25A) | BFE + 2 ft (Article 25A) |
| V-Zone | Pile/column foundations | Pile/column foundations |
| Agency | MassDEP + local Con Com | MassDEP + local Con Com |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chelsea FAQ
Do I need a Chapter 91 license to rebuild my Winthrop seawall?
Yes. Any new, repaired, or maintained structure waterward of the historic high water mark requires a Chapter 91 license from MassDEP, plus an Order of Conditions.
What is the flood elevation requirement in Boston?
Under Zoning Code Article 25A, occupied floors must be elevated to BFE + 2 feet in coastal flood zones — stricter than the state code's BFE + 1.
Revere FAQ
Do I need a Chapter 91 license to rebuild my Winthrop seawall?
Yes. Any new, repaired, or maintained structure waterward of the historic high water mark requires a Chapter 91 license from MassDEP, plus an Order of Conditions.
What is the flood elevation requirement in Boston?
Under Zoning Code Article 25A, occupied floors must be elevated to BFE + 2 feet in coastal flood zones — stricter than the state code's BFE + 1.
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