Zoning districts · Article 55
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood District zoning
Article 55 covers Jamaica Plain. Boundaries are on official zoning Maps 9A, 9B and 9C.
In the Jackson Square Neighborhood Shopping Subdistrict, Table G footnote 6 allows 60 feet, except 45 feet within 100 feet west of Amory Street.
Last verified Oct 2026. Checked cell by cell against the Article 55 tables in the Boston Zoning Code PDF (Boston Redevelopment Authority edition) and the Municode text export; parcel counts use the Parcels 2025 fee-lot method (each lot's representative point within the city zoning subdistrict layer). Official map sheets: Map 9A, 9B and 9C. Source: Boston Zoning Code, Article 55.
Subdistricts
| Map code | Subdistrict type | Parcels |
|---|---|---|
| 1F-3000 | One-Family Residential | 137 |
| 1F-4000 | One-Family Residential | 413 |
| 1F-5000 | One-Family Residential | 63 |
| 1F-6000 | One-Family Residential | 31 |
| 1F-9000 | One-Family Residential | 779 |
| 2F-4000 | Two-Family Residential | 279 |
| 2F-5000 | Two-Family Residential | 877 |
| 2F-7000 | Two-Family Residential | 332 |
| 2F-9000 | Two-Family Residential | 320 |
| 3F-4000 | Three-Family Residential | 993 |
| 3F-5000 | Three-Family Residential | 1,904 |
| CPS | Conservation Protection | 36 |
| IDA | Industrial Development Area | 21 |
| LC | Local Convenience | 110 |
| LI | Local Industrial | 184 |
| MFR | Multifamily Residential | 231 |
| NI | Neighborhood Institutional | 4 |
| NI-VA-1 | Neighborhood Institutional | 2 |
| NI-VA-2 | Neighborhood Institutional | 7 |
| NI-VA-3 | Neighborhood Institutional | 12 |
| NS | Neighborhood Shopping | 158 |
| OS | Open Space | 3 |
| OS-A | Air-Right Open Space | 15 |
| OS-BZ | Open Space (OS-BZ) | 15 |
| OS-CM | Cemetery Open Space | 17 |
| OS-G | Community Garden Open Space | 4 |
| OS-P | Parkland Open Space | 7 |
| OS-RC | Recreation Open Space | 77 |
| OS-UW | Urban Wild Open Space | 13 |
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 E — Residential Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | 1F-3,000 — 1 Family Detached | 1F-3,000 — Other Use | 1F-4,000 — 1 Family Detached | 1F-4,000 — Other Use | 1F-5,000 — 1 Family Detached | 1F-5,000 — Other Use | 1F-6,000 — 1 Family Detached | 1F-6,000 — Other Use | 1F-9,000 — 1 Family Detached | 1F-9,000 — Other Use | 2F-4,000 — 1 Family Detached or Semi-Attached or 2 Family Detached | 2F-4,000 — Other Use | 2F-5,000 — 1 Family Detached or Semi-Attached or 2 Family Detached | 2F-5,000 — Other Use | 2F-7,000 — 1 Family Detached or Semi-Attached or 2 Family Detached | 2F-7,000 — Other Use | 2F-9,000 — 1 Family Detached or Semi-Attached or 2 Family Detached | 2F-9,000 — Other Use | 3F-4,000 — Row House or Town House Building | 3F-4,000 — Semi-Attached or Detached Dwelling | 3F-4,000 — Any Other Use | 3F-5,000 — Row House or Town House Building | 3F-5,000 — Semi-Attached or Detached Dwelling | 3F-5,000 — Any Other Use | MFR — 1 or 2 Family Detached or Semi-Attached Dwelling | MFR — Row House or Town House Building | MFR — Any other Dwelling or Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Max. height | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft | 35 ft |
| Max. height (stories) | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 2-½ stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories | 3 stories |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | 3,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 3,000 for 1 unit | 4,000 | 3,000 for 1 unit | 5,000 | 5,000 for 1 unit | 7,000 | 6,000 for 1 unit | 9,000 | 3,000 for 1 unit | 3,000 for 1 unit | 4,000 | 3,000 for 1 unit | 3,000 for 1 unit | 5,000 | 3,000 per bldg. of 1 or 2 units | 3,000 for up to 4 units per bldg. | 4,000 for first 3 units |
| Add'l lot area per dwelling unit (sq ft) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,000(1) | N/A | 2,000 | N/A | 2,000 | N/A | 3,000(1) | N/A | 1,000 | 1,000 | N/A | 2,000 | 2,000 | N/A | 3,000 per bldg. of 1 or 2 units | 3,000 for up to 4 units per bldg. | 1,000 |
| Min. lot width (ft) | 40 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 25 | 40 | 45 | 25 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 30 for each bldg. | 40 |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | 40 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 60 | 70 | 70 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 25 | 40 | 45 | 25 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 30 for each bldg. | 40 |
| Min. usable open space per dwelling unit (sq ft) | 750 | 750 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,250 | 1,250 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 600 for 1 unit plus 200 for each add'l unit | 800 per lot | 750 for 1 unit plus 500 for each add'l unit | 1,250 per lot | 1,250 for 1 unit plus 500 for each add'l unit | 1,750 per lot | 1,500 for 1 unit plus 750 for each add'l unit | 2,250 per lot | 600 for 1 unit plus 200 for each add'l unit | 600 for 1 unit plus 200 for each add'l unit | 800 per lot | 750 for 1 unit plus 500 for each add'l unit | 750 for 1 unit plus 500 for each add'l unit | 1,250 per lot | 600 for 1 unit plus 200 for each add'l unit | 200 | 150 |
| Min. front yard (ft) | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 |
| Min. side yard (ft) | see note(6) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | see note(6) | see note(6) | see note(6) | see note(6) | see note(6) | see note(6) | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Max. rear yard occupancy (%) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Table F — Conservation Protection Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Conservation Protection Subdistrict |
|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.3(2) |
| Max. height | 35 ft(2) |
| Max. dwelling units per acre | 3(3) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | Residential: 1 acre (3); other use: none |
| Min. front yard (ft) | 50(4) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | 50(4) |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 50(4) |
Table G — Neighborhood Business Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Local Convenience Subdistricts (LC) | Neighborhood Shopping Subdistricts (NS) |
|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Max. height | 35 ft | 45 ft(6) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | none | none |
| Add'l lot area per dwelling unit (sq ft) | none | none |
| Min. lot width (ft) | none | none |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | none | none |
| Min. usable open space per dwelling unit (sq ft) | 50 | 50 |
| Min. front yard (ft) | none(3) | none(3) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | none | none |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 20 | 20 |
Table H — Local Industrial Subdistricts and Industrial Development Areas Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Local Industrial Subdistricts (LI) | Industrial Development Areas (IDA) |
|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.0 | 1.0(1) |
| Max. height | 35 ft | 35 ft(1) |
| Min. lot area (sq ft) | none | none |
| Add'l lot area per dwelling unit (sq ft) | none | none |
| Min. lot width (ft) | none | none |
| Min. lot frontage (ft) | none | none |
| Min. usable open space per dwelling unit (sq ft) | 50 | 50 |
| Min. front yard (ft) | none | none |
| Min. side yard (ft) | none | none |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 20 | 20 |
Table I — Neighborhood Institutional Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Veterans Administration-1 (NI-VA-1) | Veterans Administration-2 (NI-VA-2) | Veterans Administration-3 (NI-VA-3) | Angell Memorial Hospital | Faulkner Hospital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| Max. height | 6 stories (or 65 feet)(1) | 6 stories (or 65 feet)(1) | 45 ft(1) | 45 ft(1) | 45 ft(1) |
| 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 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Min. side yard (ft) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 25 | 45 | 20 | 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 55.
See what fits on a Jamaica Plain 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.