Boston, MA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)

Section 38-20 of the Boston Zoning Code sets design guidelines for the Protection Areas established under Section 38-5 and mapped on Map 1A, part of the Midtown Cultural District, one of the city's designated Downtown Districts under Article 3-1A. 1's design-review-required standard. That review applies whether or not the same building also falls under Boston Landmarks Commission jurisdiction or another design review board created by state law, so a project can face both reviews at once. The design standard requires exterior proportions, scale, massing, window treatment, materials, colors and architectural detailing to be compatible with the historical and architectural character of nearby buildings and with the streets and open spaces the project relates to, as described in the Midtown Cultural District Plan.

Facades must be varied and divided into modules or bays that reflect the lot widths of historic buildings, preserving the district's lot-by-lot appearance. 1, the Boston Redevelopment Authority must weigh whether a project harms the terra cotta facades of the Ladder Blocks Protection Area, the masonry character of the Boston Common and Public Garden Protection Area, the ornamental theater facades of the Washington Street Theater Protection Area, or the district's lot-by-lot appearance generally. The section was last amended September 10, 2007, following earlier amendments in 1993, 1996 and 1997.