Zoning districts · Article 54
North End Neighborhood District zoning
North End Neighborhood District is governed by Article 54 of the Boston Zoning Code. It covers about 1,121 parcels across 13 subdistricts. Below are the dimensional limits and off-street parking ratios from the Article 54 tables.
Last verified Oct 2026. All 28 values shown were checked against the Article 54 tables in the official Boston Zoning Code text published on Municode. Values we could not verify are left out. Heights the Code gives without a unit are shown in feet. Source: Boston Zoning Code, Article 54.
Subdistricts
| Map code | Subdistrict type | Parcels |
|---|---|---|
| COMMERCIAL WHARF NS | Neighborhood Shopping | 1 |
| HANOVER CC | Community Commercial | 107 |
| MERCANTILE NS | Neighborhood Shopping | 1 |
| MFR | Multifamily Residential | 789 |
| MFR/LS | Multifamily Residential/Local Services | 83 |
| NE/CAA | Central Artery Area | 8 |
| NORTH WASHINGTON ST CC | Community Commercial | 37 |
| OS-UP | Urban Plaza Open Space | 2 |
| SALEM ST NS | Neighborhood Shopping | 68 |
| WATERFRONT NS | Neighborhood Shopping | 17 |
| OS-P | Parkland Open Space | 2 |
| OS-RC | Recreation Open Space | 5 |
| OS-CM | Cemetery Open Space | 1 |
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 D — Neighborhood Business Subdistricts Dimensional Regulations
| Requirement | Community Commercial Subdistricts | Neighborhood Shopping Subdistricts |
|---|---|---|
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Max. height | 55 ft(1) | 55 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(4) | none(4) |
| Min. side yard (ft) | none | none |
| Min. rear yard (ft) | 12 | 20 |
Table E — Residential and Related Uses Off-Street Parking Requirements
| Use | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Dormitory/Fraternity Uses | 0.5 |
| Hotel Uses | 0.7 |
| Residential Uses — Elderly Housing | 0.5 |
| Residential Uses — Group Residence Limited | 0.5 |
| Residential Uses — Homeless Shelter | 0.25 |
| Residential Uses — Lodging House | 0.5 |
| Residential Uses — Other Residential Uses | 1.0 |
| Residential Uses — Transitional Housing | 0.25 |
Ratios as listed in Table E. The unit each ratio applies to (dwelling units or floor area) is set out in the Code table.
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 54.
See what fits on a North End 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.