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Zoning Board of Appeal

We inspect and review buildings for zoning compliance. The board regulates the rules behind what you can build and where you can build in Boston.

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LAtest Updates:
  • The Legislature has updated the Open Meeting Law to allow the Zoning Board of Appeal to hold virtual hearings until the end of March 2025. All scheduled Zoning Board of Appeal hearings will be held virtually until that date. 
  • Please see the City's public notices page for details on how to access the virtual hearings.
  • The Board of Appeal accepts service of complaints under Rule 4 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure. Please serve all complaints that name the Board or its Members at the Administrative Office of the Board of Appeal located at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Fourth Floor, Boston, MA 02118. You may submit a courtesy copy of any documents to Javier.Salas@boston.gov.

City officials created the Boston Zoning Code in 1964. There are now 14 neighborhood codes and 18 codes for downtown Boston and the waterfront. You can also find the zoning for addresses in the City.

Zoning codes in Boston

Upcoming events

Events

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Search public notices

Zoning Board of Appeal tracker

Through the Zoning Board of Appeal tracker, you can:

  • search for a specific appeal that has been submitted, or
  • search for appeals based on criteria, such as location or applicant.
Search our tracker

Board of Appeal decisions

Decisions
View recent Zoning Board of Appeal decisions

Guidance videos

Zoning workshop (March 2021)

Learn about how the Zoning Code dictates the use, density, and development in Boston.

Multilingual Zoning Board of Appeal guides

We recently published a guide explaining how a project moves through the zoning process. The guide also answers some frequently asked questions about the zoning process.

English

Zoning Board of Appeal guide
Kriolu, Cabo Verdean Creole

Konselhu di Zoniamentu di Prusesu di Apelason
Komite Zonaj Pwosesis Apèl

Komite Zonaj Pwosesis Apèl
Français

Procédure de la Chambre de recours de zonage
中文 (Simplified)

区划上诉委员会流程
中文 (Traditional)

區劃上訴委員會流程
Español

Proceso de la Junta de apelaciones de zonificación
Русский

Апелляционный совет по зонированию
Tiếng Việt

Quy Trình Phân Vùng Của Hội Đồng Kháng Nghị
Af-Soomali

Nidaamka Racfaanka ee Guddiga Deegaameynta

Board of Appeal reviews

The board reviews exceptions to the City’s zoning code.

The mayor appoints seven people to the board every three years. They meet every other Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. The meetings take place at:

1 City Hall Square, Room 801
Boston, MA 02201

You can ask for an exception if your project gets rejected because it doesn’t meet a City zoning code. You have go to a public hearing to explain why you think you should get an exception to the zoning code.

how to apply for an appeal

2023 Hearing Dates

  • Tuesday, January 10, 2023
  • Tuesday, January 31, 2023
  • Tuesday February 7, 2023
  • Tuesday, February 28, 2023
  • Tuesday, March 14, 2023
  • Tuesday, March 28, 2023
  • Tuesday, April 11, 2023
  • Tuesday, April 25, 2023
  • Tuesday, May 9, 2023
  • Tuesday, May 23, 2023
  • Tuesday, June 6, 2023
  • Tuesday, June 27, 2023
  • Tuesday, July 11, 2023
  • Tuesday, July 25, 2023
  • Tuesday, August 8, 2023
  • Tuesday, August 29, 2023
  • Tuesday, September 12, 2023
  • Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 17, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 31, 2023
  • Tuesday, November 14, 2023
  • Tuesday, November 28, 2023
  • Tuesday, December 5, 2023
  • Tuesday, December 12, 2023
  • Thursday, January 19, 2023
  • Thursday, February 16, 2023
  • Thursday, March 16, 2023
  • Thursday, April 6, 2023
  • Thursday, May 18, 2023
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023
  • Thursday, July 20, 2023
  • Thursday, August 17, 2023
  • Thursday, September 21, 2023
  • Thursday, October 26, 2023
  • Thursday, November 9, 2023
  • Thursday, December 7, 2023

Meeting minutes

Minutes

Subcommittee Meeting Videos

Subcommittee Videos

Full Board Meeting Videos

Full Board Videos

Boston Planning & Development Agency

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) reviews appeal applications. They help builders plan projects and stay within zoning codes.

When reviewing an appeal application, they'll make recommendations to the Zoning Board on what to do.

They work with community groups and neighboring property owners. They also attend public hearings and help builders through the approval process.

Contact the Zoning Planner

Commission Info

Resources:
Enabling legislation
Boards and commissions information

Members and alternate members of the Zoning Board of Appeal receive a stipend of $200 per day of service, up to a maximum of $24,000 per year.

Current members

Member Appointed Expires Status
Jeanne Pinado 1/25/2023 5/1/2024 Active
Hansy Better Barraza 12/14/2022 5/1/2024 Active
Sherry Dong 12/14/2022 5/1/2023 Active
David Aiken 12/14/2022 5/1/2023 Active
Katie Whewell 10/3/2022 5/1/2024 Active
Norm Stembridge 12/14/2022 5/1/2025 Active
Giovanny Valencia 12/14/2022 5/1/2024 Active
Alan E. Langham 12/14/2022 5/1/2025 Active
Shavel'le Olivier 12/14/2022 5/1/2025 Active
David Collins 12/14/2022 5/1/2025 Active
Shamaiah Turner 4/1/2024 5/1/2026 Active

Meet the members

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