Northborough City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 7
06 Density and Dimensional Regulations
§ 7-06-010 General provisions.
No building or structure in any district shall be built, located or enlarged which does not conform to the minimum requirements of this chapter.
§ 7-06-020 Table of density and dimensional regulations.
[Amended 4-22-2013 ATM; 4-23-2023 ATM by Art. 44; 4-23-2023 ATM by Art. 44; 4-22-2024 ATM by Art. 53]
Density and dimensional regulations shall be in accordance with the Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations (Table 2) and the supplemental regulations in Section 7-06-030.
Table 2. Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations1 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | Minimum Lot Frontage (feet) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Minimum Yard Setbacks | Maximum Front Setback2 | Maximum Lot Coverage | Minimum Open Space | Maximum Height | |||
Front | Side | Rear | Stories | Feet | |||||||
RA | 80,000 | 200 | 200 | 30 | 15 | 25 | - | 25% | - | - | 35 |
RB | 40,000 | 150 | 150 | 30 | 15 | 25 | - | 25% | - | - | 35 |
RC3 | 20,000 | 100 | 100 | 30 | 15 | 25 | - | 30% | - | - | 35 |
GR3 | 15,000 | 100 | 100 | 30 | 15 | 25 | - | 30% | - | - | 35 |
MSR3 | 15,000 | 100 | 100 | 30 | 15 | 25 | - | 30% | - | - | 35 |
DN3 | 10,000 | 50 | None | 15 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 30% | 20% | - | 35 |
DB | 4,000 | 50 | None | 6 | None | None | 20 | - | 15% | - | 45 |
BE | 20,000 | 150 | None | 15 | 20 | 25 | 75 | - | 20% | 3.0 | 45 |
BW | 20,000 | 150 | None | 15 | 20 | 25 | 75 | - | 20% | 3.0 | 45 |
BS | 40,000 | 150 | None | 40 | 25 | 25 | - | - | 25% | 3.0 | 45 |
HB | 40,000 | 150 | None | 50 | 25 | 25 | - | - | 25% | - | - |
HBSW | 40,000 | 150 | None | 50 | 25 | 25 | - | 50% | 25% | - | - |
I4 | 60,000 | 150 | None | 40 | 20 | 25 | - | 50% | 25% | - | 60 |
Notes: | |
|---|---|
1 | Additional requirements apply in some districts and for some classes of use. See § 7-06-030, Supplemental regulations. |
2 | Maximum front setback applies only to new construction. |
3 | See § 7-06-030J(5) for lot regulations that apply to two-family dwellings. |
4 | See § 7-06-030C(4) for lot regulations that apply to industrial uses that abut residential districts. |
§ 7-06-030 Supplemental regulations.
[Amended 4-24-2012 ATM, Arts. 48, 49; 4-22-2013 ATM; 4-24-2017 ATM; 4-23-2018 ATM, Art. 39; 7-18-2020 ATM, Arts. 43, 44, 45]
A.
Minimum lot area. In all districts except the Downtown Business (DB) and Downtown Neighborhood (DN) districts, at least 50% of the minimum lot area shown in the Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations shall be contiguous upland, exclusive of resource areas subject to MGL C. 131, § 40 for reasons other than being subject to flooding. In the DB and DN Districts, 100% of the minimum lot area shall be such contiguous upland.
B.
Lot frontage.
(1)
Lot frontage shall be measured in a continuous line along the sideline of a street between the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street. For a corner lot, frontage may be measured either to the point of intersection of the extension of the sideline of the rights-of-way or to the middle of the curve connecting the sideline of the intersecting streets. If a lot has frontage on more than one street, the frontage on one street only shall be used to satisfy the minimum lot frontage requirement.
(2)
In a residential district, where the radius of the center line of the frontage street is 100 feet or less, the minimum lot frontage requirement may be reduced to 50% of the minimum frontage shown in the Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations.
(3)
Reduced lot frontage. In all residential districts, a minimum frontage of 50 feet shall be permitted; provided, that the building lot size shall be not less than 170,000 square feet and no part of the lot between the front line of the building and street line shall be less than 50 feet in width. In addition, lots with reduced frontage shall require:
(a)
A separate driveway for each lot unless the Planning Board grants a special permit for a common driveway to serve more than one lot. A common driveway serving more than two lots shall meet the Town of Northborough’s minimum road standards. In no case shall more than five lots be served by one common driveway. Design requirements shall meet the standards for common driveways as outlined in Section 10-36-130. Provision for adequate fire protection must be approved by the Fire Chief prior to the issuance of the special permit.
(b)
All common driveways to exit on the frontage street.
(c)
The minimum lot width at the building line to be 100 feet.
(d)
A minimum setback of 30 feet from all lot lines, including for accessory structures such as a swimming pool.
C.
Yard requirements.
(1)
General.
(a)
No part of a yard or other open space, off-street parking or loading space, or other accessory space required in connection with any building shall be used to meet the requirements for any other building unless specifically permitted in this bylaw.
(b)
No required yard abutting a public street shall be used for the storage or display or abandonment of merchandise, lumber, building material, equipment, salvable secondhand items, or any type of junk, scrap, trash, rubble, or discarded or abandoned equipment or materials.
(c)
No accessory structure shall be erected in any required front, side, or rear yard or within 10 feet of any principal building, except by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(2)
Measurement.
(a)
The front yard shall be the distance measured in a straight line between the lot frontage and the nearest point of any building or structure, excluding roof overhangs. Roof overhangs shall not extend further than two feet into the minimum required front yard. A lot having frontage on two or more streets shall have two or more front yards, each of which shall comply with the requirements of the front yard provisions. In no case shall any building or structure be located closer to the sideline of a street than the minimum required front yard.
(b)
Side and rear yards shall be the distance measured in a straight line from the nearest point of any building or structure to each side or rear lot line, excluding roof overhangs. Roof overhangs shall not extend further than two feet into the minimum required side or rear yard.
(3)
In residential districts:
(a)
In the Single Residence A, B, and C Districts, when a new detached single-family dwelling is proposed on a lot that abuts existing single-family dwellings, the minimum front yard setback for the new dwelling may be the average front yard setback of existing dwellings within 250 feet on the same side of the street.
(b)
Where the side yard setback of an existing residence is less than the minimum required side yard setback requirement, an accessory structure or a structure attached to the residence may be constructed on the same line as the residence.
(c)
Accessory buildings for nonresidential uses that are related to uses permitted in residential districts and not more than one story in height are permitted on the same lot, provided they meet the front, side and rear setback requirements of this chapter.
(d)
No portion of a swimming pool shall be located nearer than 15 feet to the side or rear lot lines nor within the thirty-foot front setback line.
(e)
In the RC, GR, MSR, and DN Districts, for accessory structures commonly called “storage sheds,” “greenhouses,” “cabanas,” “pool equipment sheds,” “gazebos,” and similar uses, the side and rear setbacks shall be five feet; provided, that the structure does not exceed 120 square feet in area and one story in height.
(f)
Porches or steps, provided such are not enclosed, may be as near as 20 feet to front line of the street.
(4)
In nonresidential (business and industrial) districts:
(a)
No accessory structure or use shall be established within the front, side or rear setbacks on a lot, except for driveways and permitted signs. The location of off-street parking shall be in accordance with Section 7-09-030.
(b)
In the Industrial District, the minimum setback along the lot line adjacent to a residential or business district shall be 100 feet from a residential district and 50 feet from a business district. When the residential zoning district boundary is located in or at a street, the setback may be reduced by the width of the street which is in the residential zone.
(c)
For any new or substantially improved large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installation, the minimum setback along the lot line adjacent to a residential district shall be 100 feet.
(d)
For any new or substantially improved hazardous waste facility or solid waste facility, the minimum setback along the lot line adjacent to a residential district shall be 1,500 feet.
D.
Lot coverage shall be as defined in Chapter 7-02. In the Downtown Neighborhood District, maximum lot coverage shall not apply to a two-family or multifamily dwelling.
E.
Open space.
(1)
No more than 50% of the minimum open space for any lot as required in the Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations shall be freshwater wetlands, as defined in MGL C. 131, § 40.
(2)
Open space used to satisfy the requirements of this chapter shall conform to the standards in Section 7-09-020(C)(4), as applicable.
F.
(Reserved)
G.
Building height. Building height shall be as defined in Chapter 7-02.
(1)
In the Industrial District, building height may be increased to 80 feet by special permit from the Planning Board; provided, that for every foot of height in excess of 60 feet, there shall be added to each yard requirement two corresponding feet of width or depth.
(2)
In a residential district, for any use other than a single-family or two-family dwelling, the maximum building height shall be 36 feet, except that in the Downtown Neighborhood District, the Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a special permit, subject to any conditions the Board deems appropriate, to increase the maximum building height to 40 feet; provided, that the upper story is contained under a pitched roof.
H.
Only one principal building shall be permitted on a lot except as may be allowed by special permit. Where two or more buildings are allowed on the same lot, the minimum separation between them shall be 20 feet.
I.
Building orientation in Single-Family Residential Districts A, B, and C.
(1)
Dwellings shall be oriented to the street wherever possible. However, to allow for solar orientation, a building may be oriented on the lot for maximum solar utilization.
(2)
If the front of a dwelling faces another parcel of land rather than a street, the front building line shall be at least 30 feet from the lot line.
J.
Supplemental density and dimensional regulations for certain use classes.
(1)
Where vertical or horizontal mixed-use developments or multifamily or townhouse developments are allowed as of right or by special permit in a business district, the minimum lot area shall be determined as follows:
(a)
In the Downtown Business District, for vertical or horizontal mixed-use developments, 4,000 square feet for the first two units and 2,500 square feet per unit for each unit over two; and for multifamily or townhouse developments, 10,000 square feet for the first two units and 3,500 square feet per unit for each unit over two.
(b)
In the Business East District, for vertical mixed-use developments, 20,000 square feet for the first two units and 3,500 square feet per unit for each unit over two.
(c)
In the Business West District, for vertical or horizontal mixed-use developments, 40,000 square feet for the first two units and 5,000 square feet per unit for each unit over two; and for multifamily developments, 20,000 square feet for the first two units and 7,000 square feet per unit for each unit over two.
(d)
In the Business South District, for vertical or horizontal mixed-use developments, 40,000 square feet for the first two units and 5,000 square feet per unit for each unit over two.
(2)
In the Downtown Neighborhood District:
(3)
In any district where a congregate residence is allowed as of right or by special permit, the maximum density shall be one unit per 3,000 square feet of lot area.
(4)
For hotels, motels, and conference centers in any district, the minimum lot area shall be 15 acres and minimum lot frontage shall be 500 feet.
(5)
The following shall apply to two-family dwellings in the RC, GR, MSR, and DN districts, except that the planning board may approve a waiver to reduce one side to 15 feet as long as the remaining five feet are added to the other side yard, such that the sum of the setbacks on each side shall not be less than 40 feet:
District | Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | Minimum Lot Frontage (feet) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Minimum Yard Setbacks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Side | Rear | ||||
RC | 30,000 | 150 | 150 | See Table 2 | 20 | See Table 2 |
GR | 25,000 | 150 | 150 | See Table 2 | 20 | See Table 2 |
MSR | 25,000 | 100 | 100 | See Table 2 | 20 | See Table 2 |
DN | 20,000 | 100 | 100 | See Table 2 | 20 | See Table 2 |
K.
Lots in two towns. In the event that a lot is located partially outside of the Town of Northborough, frontage and lot area located outside of the Town of Northborough may be used to satisfy the minimum frontage and lot area requirements of this bylaw; provided, that this section shall only apply if: (1) the use on such lot is one of the following: residential; extensive uses such as agricultural, conservation, or recreation; municipal; institutional; or public utility, as defined in § 7-05-020, or (2) if the use is a permitted use on the entirety of the lot whether in the Town of Northborough or another town.