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Boston City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 61

TABLES

TABLE A - Audubon Circle Neighborhood District - Residential Subdistricts and Neighborhood Business Subdistricts - Use Regulations

Key: A = Allowed, C = Conditional, F = Forbidden

For definition of use categories and certain specific uses, see Article 2.

TABLE C - Audubon Circle Neighborhood District - Neighborhood Business Subdistrict - Dimensional Regulations

Local Convenience Subdistrict
Maximum Floor Area Ratio 2.0
Maximum Building Height 45
Minimum Lot Size (sq.ft.) none
Minimum Lot Area Per Dwelling Unit (sq.ft.) none
Minimum Usable Open Space per Dwelling Unit (sq.ft.) (1) 50
Minimum Lot Width (ft.) none
Minimum Lot Frontage (ft.) none
Minimum Front Yard(ft.) (2) none
Minimum Side Yard (ft.) none
Minimum Rear Yard (ft.) (3) 25

 

TABLE D - Audubon Circle Neighborhood District - Residential and Related Uses - Off-Street Parking Requirements

See Table Footnote: (1)

Off-Street Parking Requirements
(spaces per dwelling unit) (2)
Dormitory/Fraternity Uses 0.5
Hotel and Conference Center Uses
Bed and Breakfast 0.7
Conference Center 0.7
Executive Suites 0.7
Hotel 0.7
Motel 1.0
Residential Uses 0.5
Elderly Housing 0.2
Group Residence Limited 0.5
Lodging House 0.5
Transitional Housing 0.25
Other Residential Uses (3), (4)
1-3 units 1.0
4-9 units 1.25
10+ units 1.5

 

TABLE E - Audubon Circle Avenue Neighborhood District - Off-Street Loading Requirements

See Table Footnote: (1)

Gross Floor Area Required Off- Street Loading Bays
0-15,000 square feet 0
15,001-49,999 square feet 1.0

 

Banking and Postal Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Automatic teller machine F F F
Bank F F F
Drive-in bank F F F
Post office F F F

 

Community Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Adult education center F F F
Community center F F F
Child care center A A A
Day care center, elderly F F F
Library F F F
Place of worship; monastery; convent; parish house A A A

 

(Text Amd. No. 464, §§ 3k., 3l., 11-8-2023.)

Cultural Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Art gallery (Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A
Art use F F F
Auditorium F F F
Cinema F F F
Concert hall F F F
Museum F F F
Public art, display space F C F
Studios, arts F F F
Studios, production F F F
Theatre F F F
Ticket sales F F F

 

Dormitory and Fraternity Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Dormitory not accessory to a use F 15 F 15 F (15)
Fraternity F F F

 

Educational Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
College or university F 16 F 16 F (16)
Elementary or secondary school (1) F F F
Kindergarten F F F
Professional school F F F
Trade school F F F

 

Entertainment and Recreational Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Adult entertainment F F F
Amusement game machines in commercial establishment F F F
Amusement game machines in non-commercial establishment F F F
Bar (2) F F F
Bar with live entertainment (2) F F F
Bowling alley F F F
Billiard parlor F F F
Dance hall F F F
Drive-in theatre F F F
Fitness center or gymnasium (Text Amd. No. 416, § 22, 7-2-2015) F C 18 C 18
Private club not serving alcohol F F F
Private club serving alcohol F F F
Restaurant with live entertainment, not operating after 10:30 p.m. (2) F F F
Restaurant with live entertainment, operating after 10:30 p.m. (2) F F F

 

Funerary Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Cemetery F F F
Columbarium F F F
Crematory F F F
Funeral home F F F
Mortuary chapel F F F

 

Health Care Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Clinic F F F
Custodial care facility F F F
Group care residence, general F F F
Hospital F F F
Nursing or convalescent home F F F

 

(Text Amd. No. 432, § 3, 4-13-2018; Text Amd. No. 459, § A.17., 4-14-2023)

Hotel and Conference Center Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Bed and breakfast C C C
Conference center F F F
Executive suites F F F
Hotel F F F
Motel F F F

 

Industrial Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Artists' mixed-use F F F
Cleaning plant F F F
General manufacturing use F F F
Light manufacturing use F F F
Printing plant F F F
Restricted industrial use F F F

 

Office Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Agency or professional office F A F
General office F F F
Office of wholesale business F F F

 

Open Space Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Golf driving range F F F
Grounds for sports, private F F F
Open space F F F
Open space recreational building F F F
Outdoor place of recreation for profit F F F
Stadium F F F

 

Public Service Uses

See Table Footnote: (1)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Automatic telephone exchange F F F
Courthouse F F F
Fire station F F F
‡Outdoor payphone F C C
Penal institution F F F
Police station F F F
Pumping station F F F
Recycling facility (excluding facilities handling toxic waste) F F F
Solid waste transfer station F F F
Sub-station F F F
Telephone exchange F F F

 

(‡As inserted on March 15, 2006)

Research and Development Uses

See Table Footnote: (3)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Research laboratory F F F

 

(Text Amd. No. 459, § A.17., 4-14-2023)

Residential Uses

See Table Footnotes: (4), (20)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Congregate living complex F F F
Elderly housing A F F
Group residence, limited A A A
Lodging house C F F
Mobile home F F F
Mobile home park F F F
Multi-family dwelling A A A
One family detached dwelling F F F
One family semi-attached dwelling F F F
Orphanage F F F
Rowhouse A A A
Temporary dwelling structure F F F
Three family detached dwelling F F F
Townhouse A A A
Transitional housing or homeless shelter F F F
Two family detached dwelling F F F
Two family semi-attached dwelling F F F

 

Restaurant Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Drive-in restaurant F F F
Restaurant F C F
Take-out restaurant
 Small (5)
F F F
 Large (5) F F F

 

Retail Uses

See Table Footnote: (6)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Adult bookstore F F F
Bakery(Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A
Cannabis establishment 19 (Text Amd. No. 432, § 3, 4-13-2018) F C C
General retail business (7) F F F
Liquor store F F F
Local retail business F A F
Outdoor sale of garden supplies F C F

 

Service Uses

See Table Footnote: (6)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Animal hospital F F F
Barber or beauty shop F A F
Caterer's establishment F A F
Container redemption center (8) F F F
Dry-cleaning shop F C F
Kennel F F F
Laundry, retail service F A F
Laundry, self-service F C F
Photocopying establishment F C F
Shoe repair (Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A
Tailor shop (Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A

 

Storage Uses, Major

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Enclosed storage of solid fuel or minerals F F F
Outdoor storage of solid fuel or minerals F F F
Outdoor storage of new materials F F F
Outdoor storage of damaged or disabled vehicles F F F
Outdoor storage of junk and scrap F F F
Storage of flammable liquids and gases
 Small (9)
F F F
 Large (9) F F F
Storage or transfer of toxic waste F F F
Warehousing F F F
Wrecking yard F F F

 

Trade Uses

See Table Footnote: (6)

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Carpenters shop F A F
Electrician's shop F A F
Machine shop F F F
Photographer's studio (Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A
Plumber's shop F A F
Radio/television repair (Text Amd. No. 416, § 21, 7-2-2015) F A A
Upholsterer's shop (Text Amd. No. 416, § 2, 7-2-2015) F A A
Welder's shop F F F

 

Transportation Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Airport F F F
Bus terminal F F F
Garage with dispatch F F F
Helicopter landing facility F F F
Motor freight terminal F F F
Rail freight terminal F F F
Railroad passenger station F F F
Water terminal F F F

 

Vehicular Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Airport-related remote parking facility F F F
Bus servicing or storage F F F
Carwash (10) F F F
Gasoline station (10) F F F
Indoor sale, with or without installation, of automotive parts, accessories and supplies F F F
‡Indoor sale of motor vehicles F F F
‡Outdoor sale of new and used motor vehicles F F F
Parking garage F F F
Parking lot F F F
Rental agency for cars F F F
Rental agency for trucks F F F
Repair garage (10) F F F
Truck servicing or storage F F F

 

(‡As amended on March 15, 2006)

Wholesale Uses

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Wholesale business F F F

 

Accessory and Ancillary Uses

In each subdistrict of the Audubon Circle Neighborhood District, an accessory use ordinarily incident to a lawful main use is allowed, subject to the provisions of Section 8-2.5 (Accessory Uses) and Section 23-9.a (Location of Accessory Parking), unless such use is (i) specifically forbidden as a main use for such subdistrict in this Table A and (ii) not designated "A" or "C" for such subdistrict on the accessory use table below. In any event, an accessory use shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions, limitations, provisos and safeguards as the use to which it is accessory.

Multifamily Residential
(MFR)
Local Convenience Subdistrict
Bsmt. & First Floor Second Story & Above
Accessory amusement game machines (not more than four) in commercial or non-commercial establishment F F F
Accessory art use F F F
Accessory automatic teller machine F F F
Accessory bus servicing or storage F F F
Accessory cafeteria F C F
Accessory cultural uses F C F
Accessory dormitory F 15 F 15 F (15)
Accessory drive-through restaurant F F F
Accessory drive-through retail F F F
Accessory family child care home A A A
Accessory home occupation A C C
‡Accessory indoor maintenance and operation of a payphone (17) F A A
Accessory industrial use F F F
Accessory keeping of animals other than laboratory animals F F F
Accessory keeping of laboratory animals (3) F F F
Accessory machine shop F F F
Accessory manufacture of products F F F
Accessory offices F A A
Accessory outdoor café (11) F C F
Accessory parking A 14 A (14) F
Accessory personnel quarters C C C
Accessory professional office in a dwelling A A A
Accessory railroad storage yard F F F
Accessory recycling F F F
Accessory repair garage F F F
Accessory retail F A C
Accessory service uses F C F
Accessory services for apartment and hotel residents F C C
Accessory services incidental to educational uses other than college or university use F F F
Accessory storage of flammable liquids and gases
 Small (9)
F A F
 Large (9) F F F
Accessory storage or transfer of toxic waste F F F
Accessory swimming pool or tennis court (12) F C C
Accessory trade uses F F F
Accessory truck servicing or storage F F F
Accessory wholesale business F F F
Ancillary use (13) C C C

 

Text Amd. No. 464, §§ 3n., 3o., 11-8-2023; Text Amd. No. 471, § 14c., 4-3-2024.)

Footnotes to Table A

1.

Provided that, where such use is located in an area where residential uses are permitted: (1) the requirements of St. 1956, c. 665, s. 2, where applicable, are met; (2) the use is essential to service in the residential area in which it is located; and (3) in the case of a pumping station, sub-station, or automatic telephone exchange, no storage building or yard is maintained.

2.

Provided that, where such use is designated "C," any expansion of seating or standing capacity of such use is conditional, and where such use is designated T," any expansion of seating or standing capacity of such use is forbidden.

3.

Provided that such use shall comply with all guidelines and standards promulgated by the National Institutes of Health concerning the care and use of laboratory animals.

4.

Provided that Dwelling Units shall be forbidden in Basements.

5.

Small: total gross floor area not more than 2,500 square feet per restaurant. Large: total gross floor area exceeding. 2,500 square feet per restaurant.

6.

Where a Retail, Service or Trade Use is designated "A," it shall be conditional if merchandise is sold or displayed out-of-doors or if such establishment is open to the public after midnight or before 6:00 a.m.

7.

Where designated "A," provided that any Proposed Project for a General Retail Business shall be conditional if it: (a) establishes an occupancy for a General Retail Business having a gross floor area of seventy-five thousand (75,000) or more square feet; or (b) changes to a General Retail Business the use of a gross floor area of seventy-five thousand (75,000) or more square feet; (c) enlarges a General Retail Business so as to increase its gross floor area by seventy-five thousand (75,000) or more square feet.

8.

Provided that all storage of beverage containers shall be located entirely within a building, and provided further that such use shall be forbidden within fifty (50) feet of any Residential District or Subdistrict, or Open Space District or Subdistrict.

9.

Small: storage of less than thirty thousand (30,000) gallons of flammable liquids or less than ten thousand (10,000) cubic feet of gases; Large: storage of thirty thousand (30,000) gallons or more of flammable liquids or ten thousand (10,000) cubic feet or more of gases.

10.

Where such use is designated "A," or "C," provided that all washing, painting, lubricating, and making of repairs is carried on inside a building; that such establishment is sufficiently sound insulated to confine all noise to the lot; that all flashing, fumes, gases, smoke and vapor are effectively confined to the lot; and that there is no outdoor storage of damaged, disabled or unregistered motor vehicles for a period of more than one month; otherwise forbidden.

11.

Except conditional in a Rear Yard abutting a Residential Subdistrict.

12.

Provided that such use is more than four (4) feet from every lot line, and in the case of a swimming pool, that it is protected by a fence at least six (6) feet in height with a gate locked from the outside, and that if the pool is within ten (10) feet of a lot line, the fence is concealing to a height of at least six (6) feet.

13.

Provided that any such use shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions, limitations, provisos and safeguards as the use to which it is ancillary.

14.

Except conditional when accessory to certain nonresidential uses, as provided in a Restricted Parking District; see Section 3-1A.c.

15.

Except conditional north of the centerline of Beacon Street.

16.

Provided that dormitory subuse is conditional north of the centerline of Beacon Street.

17.

Provided that such use shall be forbidden unless located within a building at least ten (10) feet from an entrance.

(As inserted on March 15, 2006)

18.

Provided allowed if 2,500 square feet or less. (Text Amd. No. 416, § 22, 7-2-2015)

19.

Cannabis Establishment, provided that any cannabis establishment shall be sited at least one-half mile or 2,640 feet from another existing cannabis establishment and at least 500 feet from a pre-existing public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12. Distances shall be determined from the nearest lot line of the proposed establishment to the nearest lot line of an existing establishment or school. Use approval shall be applicable to the applicant only.

20.

For Additional Dwelling Units, see Section 61-7.

(Text Amd. No. 421, § 2, 11-18-16; Text Amd. No. 432, § 3, 4-13-2018; Text Amd. No. 440, § 11B., 5-8-2019.)

Multifamily Residential

Lot Area, Minimum for Dwell. Unit(s) Specified
(Sq.Ft.)
Additional Lot Area for Ea. Addit'l Dwell. Unit
(Sq.Ft.)
Lot Width Minimum
(Feet)
Lot Frontage Minimum
(Feet)
Floor Area Ratio
Maximum
Building Height 1 Maximum Usable Open Space 2 Minimum Sq. Ft. Per Dwelling Unit Front Yard (3) Minimum Depth
(Feet)
Side Yard Minimum Width
(Feet)
Rear Yard Minimum Depth
(Feet)
Rear Yard Maximum Occupancy by Accessory Buildings
(Percent)
Stories Feet
MFR
1, 2, or 3 Family Detached 2,000 for I or 2 units 1,000 15 15 2.0 3 45 300 6 none 25 25
Semi-attached Dwelling, Row House Building or Town House Building 1,000 for I unit 1,000 for I unit 15 15 2.0 3 45 300 6 none 25 25
Any other Dwelling or Use 2,000 for first 2 units 1,000 15 15 2.0 3 45 200 6 none 25 25

 

Footnotes to Table B

1.

For the purpose of determining Building Height, the floor area of a dormer on a Dwelling shall not be included in the floor area calculation for a half story; provided that such dormer is not wider than eight (8) feet and the ridge line of the dormer does not exceed the ridge line of an existing Structure of which it is a part, or thirty-five (35) feet, whichever is less; and provided further that only the floor area of two such dormers shall not be included in the floor area calculation for a half story. However, the floor area of such dormers shall be included in Gross Floor Area of the Dwelling.

2.

Applicable only to Residential Uses and Dormitory/Fraternity Uses.

3.

See Section 61-25.1 (Conformity with Existing Building Alignment). A bay window may protrude into a Front Yard.

Footnotes to Table C

1.

All or a portion of required usable open space may be met by suitably designed and accessible space on balconies of main buildings or on roofs of wings of main buildings, or on the roofs of accessory buildings.

2.

In a required front yard in a Neighborhood Business Subdistrict, no plaza, terrace, or public access to a basement (other than required by the State Building Code) shall be below the grade of the nearest sidewalk unless, after public notice and hearing and subject to the provisions of Article 6, the Board of Appeal grants a permit therefor.

In a Neighborhood Business Subdistrict, every front yard required by this Code shall be at grade level along every lot line on which such yard abuts.

3.

In a Neighborhood Business Subdistrict, every front yard required by this Code that does not abut a street line shall, along every lot line on which such yard abuts, be at a level no higher than the level of the lowest window sill in lowest room designed for human occupancy or so occupied, and relying upon natural light or natural ventilation from windows opening on such yard.

Footnotes to Table D

1.

The provisions of this Table D do not apply to Proposed Projects that are subject to Large Project Review. See Section 61-24 (Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements).

2.

Where a use is not divided into Dwelling Units:

a.

if sleeping rooms have accommodations for not more than two (2) persons, each group of two (2) sleeping rooms shall constitute a Dwelling Unit;

b.

if sleeping rooms have accommodations for more than two (2) people, each group of four (4) beds shall constitute a Dwelling Unit.

3.

For Dwelling Units qualifying as Affordable Housing, the off-street parking requirement shall be 0.7 parking spaces per Dwelling Unit.

4.

or, in the case of affordable residential housing, no parking shall be required. Affordable residential housing shall be considered to describe those projects where at least 60% of the proposed residential units are at or below 100% of Area Median Income (AMI), as by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(Text Amd. No. 482, § 12, 7-3-2025)

Footnotes to Table E

1.

The provisions of this Table E do not apply to Proposed Projects that are subject to Large Project Review. See Section 61-24 (Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements).