3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Building setbacks in Suffolk County are set by municipal zoning. Boston's Zoning Code (Article 23+) varies dramatically by subdistrict β many neighborhoods have zero-lot-line row-house setbacks reflecting historic New England development.
Building heights in Suffolk County are set by Boston's article-specific zoning, with downtown heights up to 1,000 feet (Hancock Tower area) but residential neighborhoods capped at 35-50 feet. FAA Logan approach cones further constrain East Boston and Winthrop.
Lot coverage in Suffolk County follows Boston's article-specific zoning β FAR (Floor Area Ratio) used rather than strict coverage percentage in most Boston subdistricts, with FARs from 0.5 in single-family zones to 8.0+ in downtown.
1 cities in Suffolk County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Suffolk County β parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Suffolk County Ordinance Hub β