Zoning districts · Article 53
East Boston Neighborhood District zoning
East Boston Neighborhood District is governed by Article 53 of the Boston Zoning Code. It covers about 6,464 parcels across 23 subdistricts. Below are the dimensional limits from the Article 53 tables.
Last verified Oct 2026. All 166 values shown were checked against the Article 53 tables as rewritten after PLAN: East Boston in the official Boston Zoning Code text published on Municode (Table F also against the BPDA PLAN: East Boston zoning fact sheet). Values we could not verify are left out. Where a value depends on lot type or what the lot abuts, the alternative is noted. Table G reflects the June 17, 2026 clerical correction (Text Amd. 545): the active use depth figure is a minimum, not a maximum. Source: Boston Zoning Code, Article 53.
Subdistricts
| Map code | Subdistrict type | Parcels |
|---|---|---|
| BREMEN STREET EDA | Economic Development Area | 3 |
| EBR-2.5 | East Boston Residential-2.5 | 646 |
| EBR-3 | East Boston Residential-3 | 3,639 |
| EBR-4 | East Boston Residential-4 | 1,430 |
| LIA | Logan International Airport | 95 |
| MCCLELLAN HIGHWAY EDA | Economic Development Area | 8 |
| MU-4 | Neighborhood Business | 67 |
| MU-5 | Mixed use | 231 |
| MU-7 | Neighborhood Business | 82 |
| OS-CM | Cemetery Open Space | 3 |
| OS-RC | Recreation Open Space | 22 |
| OS-SL | Shoreland Open Space | 2 |
| OS-UW | Urban Wild Open Space | 34 |
| OS-WA | Waterfront Access Open Space | 2 |
| PORTER STREET EDA | Economic Development Area | 12 |
| SARATOGA STREET EDA | Economic Development Area | 18 |
| SUFFOLK DOWNS EDA | Economic Development Area | 5 |
| WE | Waterfront Economic | 60 |
| WMU | Waterfront Mixed Use | 72 |
| OS-S | Stadium Open Space | 9 |
| OS-P | Parkland Open Space | 20 |
| OS-G | Community Garden Open Space | 1 |
| OS-UP | Urban Plaza Open Space | 2 |
Parcel counts come from City of Boston 2025 parcel data and BPDA zoning subdistrict boundaries, matched by Stratum. Each lot is counted in the subdistrict that contains it; road, rail and water strips are excluded. Open-space and other subdistricts not listed above are included in the district total.
Table F — Residential Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | EBR-2.5 | EBR-3 | EBR-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. height (stories) | 2.5(2) | 3 | 4 |
| Max. building height | 35 ft | 35 ft | 50 ft |
| Max. building lot coverage (%) | 40%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 50% | 60%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 75% | 60%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 75% |
| Max. building width (ft) | 50 ft | 50 ft | 120 ft |
| Max. building depth (ft) | 50 ft | 70 ft | 70 ft |
| Max. building floor plate (sq ft) | 1,800 | 3,000 | 8,000 |
| Max. total gross floor area (sq ft) | 5,000 | none | none |
| Min. permeable lot area (%) | 50%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 40% | 30%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 15% | 30%Mid-block lot; corner lot: 15% |
| Max. front yard (ft) | 20 ft(3) | 5 ft(3) | 5 ft(3) |
| Min. front yard (ft) | 5 ft(3) | 3 ft(3) | 3 ft(3) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | 5 ft(4) | 3 ft(4) | 5 ft(4) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 1/3 lot depth | 1/3 lot depth | 1/3 lot depth |
Table G — Neighborhood Business (Mixed-Use) Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | MU-4 | MU-5 | MU-7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. height (stories) | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Max. building height | 50 ft | 65 ft | 85 ft |
| Max. building lot coverage (%) | 70%Lots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 70% | 70%Lots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 70% | 90%Lots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 70% |
| Max. building width (ft) | 120 ft | 150 ft | 150 ft |
| Max. building floor plate (sq ft) | 8,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 |
| Min. ground-floor ceiling height, non-residential (ft) | None | 14 ft | 14 ft |
| Min. ground-floor active use (%) | None | None | 50%(4) |
| Min. active use depth (ft) | None | None | 20 ft |
| Max. blank wall of facade (ft) | None | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Min. rear stepback abutting residential, 5th story and up (ft) | None | 7 ft | 7 ft |
| Multiple buildings allowed per lot | No | Yes | Yes |
| Min. permeable lot area (%) | 15%Lots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 15% | 15%Lots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 15% | NoneLots under 11,000 sq ft; over 11,000 sq ft: 15% |
| Min. outdoor amenity space (%) | None | 20% | 20% |
| Min. front yard (ft) | 6 ft | 2 ft(3) | 2 ft(3) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | 14 total (3 min. per side)Abutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict without a party wall: 10 total (3 min. per side); with party wall: none | 15 ftAbutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict without a party wall: 5; with party wall: none | 15 ftAbutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict without a party wall: 5; with party wall: none |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 15 ftAbutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict: 10 | 15 ftAbutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict: 10 | 15 ftAbutting a residential subdistrict; abutting a non-residential subdistrict: 5 |
Table H — Waterfront Economy and Waterfront Mixed-Use Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Waterfront Economy (WE) | Waterfront Mixed-Use (WMU) |
|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 2.0(5) | 2.0(5) |
| Max. height (stories) | 5(2)(5) | 5(5) |
| Max. building height | 65 ft(2)(5) | 65 ft(2)(5) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | None | None |
| Min. lot area per dwelling unit (sq ft) | None | None |
| Min. lot width (ft) | None | None |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | None | None |
| Min. front yard (ft) | None(3) | None(3) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | None(3) | None(3) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | None(3) | None(3) |
Table I — Conservation Protection Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Conservation Protection (CP) |
|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.3(6) |
| Max. building height | 35 ft(6) |
| Max. dwelling units per acre | 3(3) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | 1 acre(3)Residential use; other uses: none |
| Min. lot width (ft) | None |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | None |
| Min. front yard (ft) | 50 ft(5) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | 50 ft(5) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 50 ft(5) |
Table J — Economic Development Areas Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Saratoga Street EDA | McClellan Highway EDA | Suffolk Downs EDA | Porter Street EDA | Bremen Street EDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 2.5(2) | 2.0(2) | 2.0(2) | 2.0(2) | 2.0(2) |
| Max. height (stories) | 5(2) | 5(2) | 4(2)(4) | 4(2) | 5(2) |
| Max. building height | 65 ft(2) | 65 ft(2) | 45 ft(2)(4) | 50 ft(2) | 65 ft(2) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Min. lot width (ft) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Min. front yard (ft) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Min. side yard (ft) | None(3) | None(3) | None(3) | None(3) | None(3) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 20 ft | 20 ft | 20 ft | 20 ft | 20 ft |
Table K — Logan International Airport Subdistrict Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Logan International Airport |
|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 2.0 |
| Max. building height | None(2) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | None |
| Min. lot width (ft) | None |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | None |
| Min. front yard (ft) | None(3) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | None(3) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | None(3) |
Where the Code gives a height without a unit, we show it in feet.
Numbers in parentheses, like (1), are footnotes in the Code table. They often add conditions or exceptions, so read them in Article 53.
See what fits on a East Boston lot
Pull a real parcel into Stratum by address, see its setbacks and buildable area, and sketch to scale on the same canvas.
Try Stratum freeStratum is not affiliated with the City of Boston or the Boston Planning Department (formerly the BPDA). This summary is for early design and is not a legal determination. Zoning is amended over time, and overlay districts, map amendments and the table footnotes can change what applies to a parcel. Always verify with the Boston Zoning Code and the city before relying on these numbers.