Boston's Heat Resilience Solutions Plan (2022) and Climate Action Plan target urban heat island reduction in environmental justice neighborhoods through cool pavements, shade trees, and reflective roofs.
Boston's Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston (2022) identifies Chinatown, Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston, and Mattapan as priority hotspots facing urban heat island temperatures up to 7-10F above harbor neighborhoods. The plan layers with BERDO 2.0, Article 37 green building, and the Tree Preservation Ordinance (Ch. 7-3). Public Works pilots cool pavement coatings on selected streets and schoolyards under the Schoolyard Initiative. Cooling centers, splash pads, and BCYF community center hours expand during heat advisories. Capital projects must consider Cool Roof and Cool Pavement options where feasible. The Mayor's Office of Climate Resilience coordinates implementation citywide.
No direct civil penalty, but BPDA may impose Article 80 conditions for heat-mitigation measures; failure to provide cooling at regulated workplaces violates separate OSHA and MGL Ch. 149 health standards.
Boston, MA
Boston BERDO 2.0 (Ord. 7-2.2, amended 2021) requires large buildings to report annual energy use and meet declining greenhouse gas emission caps reaching net...
Boston, MA
Boston Code Ch. 7-3 (Tree Preservation Ordinance, 2023) protects significant trees on private property over 20 inches DBH, requiring permits for removal and ...
See how Boston's heat island mitigation rules stack up against other locations.
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