Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Massachusetts (2026)
20 rules on the books across Massachusetts, 12 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Density Bonus Law
California Density Bonus Law (Gov Code §65915) and local implementations granting up to 50% density bonuses for affordable-housing projects.
Boston
Some RestrictionsBoston's Zoning Code grants a residential density bonus in the Charlestown Neighborhood District: Section 62-21 adds…
Read full rule →Cambridge
Some RestrictionsCambridge lets Inclusionary Housing Projects build 30% more gross floor area or dwelling units than the district…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Everett, Massachusetts, Section 32.E of the Zoning Ordinance lets the planning board waive dimensional…
Read full rule →Framingham
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Framingham, a residential project can earn a density bonus by including affordable housing units (AHU)…
Read full rule →Haverhill
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Haverhill, a developer of 10 or more units who provides affordable housing on-site under the city's…
Read full rule →Methuen
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, § 11.11 lets the Community Development Board grant a density bonus of up to 100%…
Read full rule →Newton
Some RestrictionsNewton's Village Center Overlay District lets developers build taller and wider by right in the VC2 and VC3 zones if…
Read full rule →Southborough
Some RestrictionsIn Southborough, a major residential development must set aside a minimum of 12.5% of its dwelling units as affordable…
Read full rule →Taunton
Some RestrictionsTaunton lets developers request up to a 100% density boost above the zoning code's normal cap for multifamily and…
Read full rule →Brockton
Light RestrictionsEvery time the building inspector issues a residential building permit inside the Downtown Brockton Smart Growth…
Read full rule →Downtown Design Guide
LA's Downtown Design Guide and Community Plan governing high-rise massing, ground-floor activation, and adaptive-reuse standards in DTLA.
Boston
Significant RestrictionsWithin the Midtown Cultural District's Protection Areas, a downtown design guide, any exterior alteration or new…
Read full rule →Cambridge
Significant RestrictionsCambridge's zoning ordinance requires the Harvard Square Advisory Committee and permit-granting authorities to judge…
Read full rule →Revere
Significant RestrictionsRevere's Wonderland Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District requires every development proposal to match the…
Read full rule →Brockton
Some RestrictionsEvery development project inside Brockton's Downtown Brockton Smart Growth Overlay District (DBSGOD) must comply with a…
Read full rule →Chicopee
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Chicopee, Massachusetts, new construction and rehabilitation inside the Chicopee Center 40R overlay must…
Read full rule →Framingham
Some RestrictionsFramingham requires every project in the Central Business (CB) District that needs site plan review or a special permit…
Read full rule →Haverhill
Some RestrictionsHaverhill's Downtown Smart Growth Overlay District, City Code §§ 9.8.10-9.8.11, requires new downtown buildings to…
Read full rule →Southborough
Some RestrictionsIn Southborough's Downtown District, § 174-10.2 authorizes the Planning Board to adopt design guidelines and apply them…
Read full rule →Methuen
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, the Methuen Center Smart Growth Overlay District incorporates Design Guidelines…
Read full rule →Newton
Light RestrictionsNewton's Zoning Ordinance authorizes the Director of Planning and Development to adopt design guidelines for new…
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