Wakefield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE III
Districts
§ 190-5 Establishment.
The Town of Wakefield is hereby divided into the following classes of districts:
Special Single Residence (SSR) |
Single Residence (SR) |
General Residence (GR) |
Multiple Residence (MR-1 or MR-2) |
Business (B) |
Neighborhood Business (NB) |
Limited Business (LB) |
Industrial (I) |
Limited Industrial (LI) |
Floodplain (FP) |
Municipal District (MD) [Added 4-13-2000 ATM by Art. 26] |
Attached Dwelling Overlay District (ADOD) [Added 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 31] |
Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) [Added 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 33] |
Creative Development Overlay District (CDOD) [Added 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 34] |
Municipal Building Reuse Overlay District (MBROD) [Added 8-17-2006 STM by Art. 2] |
Signage Overlay District [Added 5-3-2010 ATM by Art. 29] |
Assisted Living Facility Overlay District [Added 5-14-2012 ATM by Art. 29] |
Self-Storage Facility Overlay District (SSFOD) [Added 5-2-2024 ATM by Art. 16] |
MBTA Communities Overlay District (MOD) [Added 11-16-2024 by RTM, Art. 4] |
§ 190-6 General description.
[Amended 4-13-2000 ATM by Art. 26; 4-5-2001 ATM by Art. 14; 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 31; 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 33; 11-8-2004 RTM by Art. 34; 8-17-2006 STM by Art. 2; 4-6-2009 ATM by Art. 27; 5-3-2010 ATM by Art. 29; 5-9-2011 ATM by Art. 6; 5-14-2012 ATM by Art. 29; 11-5-2018 RTM by Art. 17; 5-2-2024 ATM by Art. 16; 11-16-2024 RTM by Art. 4]
A.
See Article IV, Use Regulations, and Article VI, Dimensional Regulations, for detailed requirements within each district. General description of districts:
(1)
Special Single Residence (SSR). The Special Single Residence District is composed of those areas intended for single-family residences and allowed accessory uses. Minimum lot size is 20,000 square feet and minimum street frontage is 100 feet.
(2)
Single Residence (SR). The Single Residence District is also composed of areas intended for single-family residences and allowed accessory uses. Minimum lot size is 12,000 square feet and minimum lot frontage is 100 feet.
(3)
General Residence (GR). The General Residence District is composed of specific areas primarily adjacent to Wakefield Center and Greenwood which are intended for single-family residences, two-family residences and specified complementary and accessory uses. Minimum lot size is 8,000 square feet and minimum lot frontage is 80 feet.
(4)
Multiple Residence (MR). The Multiple Residence District is composed of those specific areas potentially suitable for multifamily dwellings and attached dwellings (townhouses). It is divided into two parts. MR-1 allows garden apartments and attached dwellings at a maximum density of 14 units per acre. A special permit is required. Height could not exceed three stories. MR-2 allows garden apartments, attached dwellings and mid-rise apartments at a maximum density of 36 units per acre. A special permit is required. Height could not exceed six stories.
(5)
Neighborhood Business (NB). The Neighborhood Business District includes business areas primarily serving the convenience needs of local residential neighborhoods rather than the Town at large. Permitted uses are those business uses that would serve residential needs but would not have an adverse environmental impact on residential areas.
(6)
Limited Business (LB). The Limited Business District includes business areas suitable for office and predominantly nonretail business uses and possibly multiple-residence uses (with a special permit). Most LB Districts are located near Route 128 or other major roadways.
(7)
Business (B). The Business District includes those business areas in Wakefield Center and Greenwood. Uses allowed are those that serve a community-wide need and encourage the growth of a healthy Town or village business center. Multiple-residence uses are also allowed (with a special permit).
(8)
Industrial (I). The Industrial District is largely located adjacent to Wakefield Center along the railroad corridors and on the northerly side of Route 128. Uses permitted are primarily light industrial uses which would not have detrimental environmental impacts on a primarily residential community.
(9)
Limited Industrial (LI). The Limited Industrial District is similar to the Industrial District but requires a special permit for certain specified uses and requires a larger minimum lot size than the Industrial District (80,000 square feet rather than 20,000 square feet) and other more stringent dimensional requirements.
(10)
Floodplain (FP). The Floodplain District is a special overlay district which regulates uses in the underlying districts which are subject to periodic flooding.
(11)
The Municipal District is a special overlay district, which regulates the use and dimensional requirements of buildings erected on Town-owned land and is shown on the Zoning Map entitled "Wakefield Municipal District."
(12)
The Attached Dwelling Overlay District (ADOD) is a special overlay district to distinguish locations suitable for attached dwelling use and to regulate that use within them. Within such districts the provisions of the districts they overlay shall continue in full force except as provided at § 190-93I, Attached Dwelling Overlay District.
(13)
Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) is a special overlay district to distinguish locations suitable for mixed residential and business uses and to regulate such use mixtures within them. Within such a district the provisions of the districts it overlays shall continue in full force except as provided at § 190-94, Mixed use development.
(14)
Creative Development Overlay District (CDOD) is a special overlay district to allow creation of compact residential or mixed use development within a planned setting specifically approved by Town Meeting. Within such a district the provisions of the districts it overlays shall continue in full force except as provided at § 190-95, Creative development.
(15)
The Municipal Building Reuse Overlay District is a special overlay district, which regulates the erection, construction, reconstruction, addition to, and/or alteration of buildings and structures, or the use of buildings, structures or land which is formerly owned by the Town or owned by the Town, but under agreement to be sold to a prospective purchaser or leased to a lessee, and is shown on the Zoning Map entitled "Wakefield Municipal Building Reuse Overlay District."
(16)
The Signage Overlay District is a special overlay district where signs are regulated under Article XVI. Within such district the provisions of the underlying districts, and Mixed Use Overlay District, where mapped, shall continue in full force, excepting only that the provisions of Article XIII shall not apply to signs in the Signage Overlay District.
(17)
The Assisted Living Facility Overlay District is a special overlay district to distinguish locations suitable for an assisted living facility use and to regulate that use within them. Within such district, all provisions of the Wakefield Zoning Bylaw applicable to the underlying districts shall continue to apply except as provided in § 190-103, entitled Assisted living facility development.
(18)
The Self-Storage Facility Overlay District (SSFOD) is a special overlay district to distinguish locations suitable for a self-storage facility. Within the Self-Storage Facility Overlay District (SSFOD), all provisions of the Zoning Bylaw, Town of Wakefield applicable to the underlying districts shall continue to apply except that a self-storage facility use shall also be allowed therein by special permit.
(19)
The MBTA Communities Overlay District (MOD) is a special overlay district to allow MOD multi-family dwellings as of right in accordance with G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, subject only to site plan review by the Zoning Board of Appeals and is shown on the Zoning Map entitled "MBTA Communities Overlay District." Within such district, all provisions of the Zoning Bylaw applicable to the underlying districts shall continue to apply except that MOD multi-family dwellings shall be allowed in the MOD district pursuant to Article XX of the Zoning Bylaw.
B.
All of the above district locations are shown on the Zoning Map.
C.
When the Town Council receives any written request to insert an article in a warrant for a scheduled regular or special Town Meeting or to call a special Town Meeting and insert in the warrant therefor an article authorizing the Town Council to convey a parcel or lot of land zoned as being part of the Municipal District, which request does not include an article containing a proposed amendment of the zoning district for such parcel or lot of land to be the same as the zoning district surrounding such parcel or lot of land, or, in the case of a parcel or lot of land adjacent to two or more zoning districts, the same as the most restrictive such zoning district; the Town Council shall forthwith adopt and submit to the Planning Board, pursuant to MGL c. 40A, § 5, an article so amending the zoning district and such article shall be submitted to a vote at Town Meeting prior to a vote on the article authorizing the Town Council to convey such parcel or lot of land; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed or applied to infringe upon the rights of any voter registered to vote in the Town deriving from MGL c. 39, § 10.
§ 190-7 Zoning Map.
[Amended 4-13-2000 ATM by Art. 26; 4-6-2009 ATM by Art. 28; 5-3-2010 ATM by Art. 28; 5-3-2010 ATM by Art. 29; 5-9-2011 ATM by Art. 10; 5-14-2012 ATM by Arts. 29, 30; 11-18-2013 RTM by Art. 19; 2-6-2014 STM by Art. 4; 2-6-2014 STM by Art. 5; 11-19-2015 RTM by Art. 13; 5-2-2016 ATM by Art. 20; 5-16-2022 ATM by Art. 17; 5-2-2024 ATM by Art. 16; 11-16-2024 RTM by Art. 4; 5-5-2025 ATM by Art. 17]
A.
Except as set forth below, the above zoning districts are shown on the map entitled "Wakefield Zoning Map, dated June 1, 2022." Said Zoning Map is hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter and replaces all previous editions and amendments of said Zoning Map.[1]
(1)
The Municipal District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Wakefield Municipal District, dated February 6, 2014."
(2)
The Wireless Communication Services Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Wakefield Wireless Communication Services Overlay District, dated May 9, 2011."
(3)
The Mixed Use Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Wakefield Mixed Use Overlay District, dated May 10, 2010."
(4)
The Signage Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Wakefield Signage Overlay District, dated May 10, 2010."
(5)
The Municipal Building Reuse Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Wakefield Municipal Building Reuse Overlay District, dated May 9, 2011."
(6)
The Assisted Living Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Assisted Living Overlay District, dated February 6, 2014."
(7)
The Self-Storage Facility Overlay District (SSFOD) is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Self-Storage Facility Overlay District Map," dated April 29, 2024.
(8)
The MBTA Communities Overlay District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "MBTA Communities Overlay District Map," dated October 3, 2024.
(9)
The Floodplain District is located as shown on a separate map entitled "Floodplain Overlay District," dated February 27, 2025, a copy of which is on file with and available for inspection at the Wakefield Town Clerk's office.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is available in the office of the Town Clerk.
B.
All unzoned land within the Town of Wakefield, if any, is hereby zoned as a Single Residence District.
§ 190-8 Boundaries.
A.
Guidelines for determining the boundaries between districts shall be, unless otherwise indicated: the center line of a street, alley or railroad; a line parallel to a street, alley, railroad or other feature, at a distance designated on the Zoning Map; a metes and bounds description; and a property line shown on the Wakefield Tax Assessment Tax Maps.
B.
In the case of a disputed boundary, the decision shall be made by the Building Inspector using the above guidelines, subject to the appeal procedures provided by law.
§ 190-9 Lots in two districts.
[Amended 5-5-1997 ATM by Art. 42]
Where a district boundary line divides a lot in single ownership at the time of the adoption of such line, the regulation for the less restricted portion of such lot shall extend not more than 30 feet into the more restricted portion, provided that the lot has the required frontage on a street in the less restricted district.
§ 190-10 General requirements for all districts.
[Added 6-7-1990 ATM by Art. 39]
A.
The open display or open storage of junk shall be prohibited in all districts, including but not limited to worn-out, cast-off or discarded articles and materials which are ready for destruction or have been stored or collected for salvage or conversion into some other use. Any storage of such articles and materials shall be enclosed or screened so that they are not visible from adjacent streets or properties.
B.
Within a district, no equipment or process shall be utilized in any use of land, buildings or structures which creates a common nuisance by virtue of unreasonable noise, vibration, glare, fumes or odors.