Zoning districts · Article 42B
Harborpark: Charlestown Waterfront zoning
Harborpark: Charlestown Waterfront is governed by Article 42B of the Boston Zoning Code. It has 13 subdistrict types. Below are the dimensional limits from the Article 42B tables.
Last verified Oct 2026. All 28 values shown were checked against Article 42B in the Municode Boston Zoning Code (current through Text Amd. No. 503, Sept 14, 2026). Subdistricts are shown on Maps 2B and 2C. Table C limits apply to projects in an approved Planned Development Area (Text Amd. No. 465, 2023). Heights are in feet. Source: Boston Zoning Code, Article 42B.
Subdistricts
| Map code | Subdistrict type |
|---|---|
| Charlestown Gateway — Tudor Wharf Area | Charlestown Gateway — Tudor Wharf Area |
| Charlestown Gateway — Hoosac Pier/Constitution Road Area | Charlestown Gateway — Hoosac Pier/Constitution Road Area |
| Charlestown Maritime Economy Reserve (MER-2-55 rules) | Charlestown Maritime Economy Reserve (MER-2-55 rules) |
| Mystic River Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) | Mystic River Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) |
| Terminal Street Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) | Terminal Street Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) |
| Charlestown General Industrial — south of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) | Charlestown General Industrial — south of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) |
| Charlestown General Industrial — north of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) | Charlestown General Industrial — north of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) |
| Little Mystic Waterfront Service (WS-1-45 rules) | Little Mystic Waterfront Service (WS-1-45 rules) |
| Little Mystic Waterfront Residential (H-1-45 rules) | Little Mystic Waterfront Residential (H-1-45 rules) |
| J.J. Ryan Playground Recreation Open Space | J.J. Ryan Playground Recreation Open Space (mapped subdistrict, Map 2B/2C; no dimensional table on this page) |
| William J. Barry Playground Recreation Open Space | William J. Barry Playground Recreation Open Space (mapped subdistrict, Map 2B/2C; no dimensional table on this page) |
| Paul Revere Landing Parkland Open Space | Paul Revere Landing Parkland Open Space (mapped subdistrict, Map 2B/2C; no dimensional table on this page) |
| Little Mystic Waterfront Access Open Space | Little Mystic Waterfront Access Open Space (mapped subdistrict, Map 2B/2C; no dimensional table on this page) |
Sections 42B-12, 42B-15 and 42B-20 — Subdistrict Limits
| Requirement | Charlestown Gateway — Tudor Wharf Area | Charlestown Gateway — Hoosac Pier/Constitution Road Area | Charlestown Maritime Economy Reserve (MER-2-55 rules) | Mystic River Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) | Terminal Street Waterfront Manufacturing (WM-2-55 rules) | Charlestown General Industrial — south of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) | Charlestown General Industrial — north of Mystic River (I-2-65 rules) | Little Mystic Waterfront Service (WS-1-45 rules) | Little Mystic Waterfront Residential (H-1-45 rules) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. building height (ft) | 75 ft75 ft landward of the High Tide Line; 55 ft on Piers | 55 ft | 55 ftExcept cranes, silos, storage facilities or other devices used to transfer or process goods | 180 ft | 55 ftExcept cranes or other mechanical devices required for the allowed use | 150 ft | 65 ft | 45 ft | 45 ft |
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Max. building lot coverage (%) | — | — | — | 50 | — | 50 | — | — | — |
| Min. permeable lot area (%) | — | — | — | 30 | — | 30 | — | — | — |
Table C — Planned Development Areas: Maximum Height, FAR and Minimum Permeable Area
| Requirement | Charlestown General Industrial Subdistrict | Mystic River Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict |
|---|---|---|
| Max. building height (ft) | 150 ft | 180 ft |
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Min. permeable lot area (%) | 20 | 20 |
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 42B.
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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.