Zoning districts · Article 48
Stuart Street District zoning
Stuart Street District is governed by Article 48 of the Boston Zoning Code. It has 4 subdistrict types. Below are the height and floor area ratio limits set out in the Article 48 text.
Last verified Oct 2026. All 14 values shown were checked against the Article 48 text in the official Boston Zoning Code published on Municode and the BPDA Article 48 PDF (bostonplans.org/getattachment/e4b17cd1-207d-4049-b39d-3366e2850a9c). This downtown article sets height and FAR in its text rather than in a dimensional table, so only those limits are shown; yards, open space and parking are set elsewhere in the Code. Large Project Review certification means a Certification of Compliance under Section 80B-6. The Area 2–4 limits in Table 1 also require compliance with Sections 48-6 and 48-8. Source: Boston Zoning Code, Article 48.
Subdistricts
| Map code | Subdistrict type |
|---|---|
| Area 1 | Stuart Street District Area 1 |
| Area 2 | Stuart Street District Area 2 |
| Area 3 | Stuart Street District Area 3 |
| Area 4 | Stuart Street District Area 4 |
Table 1 — Stuart Street District Maximum Building Heights and FAR (Section 48-5)
| Requirement | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. building height (ft) | 155 ft | 155 ft | 155 ft | 155 ft |
| Max. floor area ratio (FAR) | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Max. height with Large Project Review certification (ft) | — | 280 ft | 356 ft | 400 ft |
| Max. FAR with Large Project Review certification | — | 17.5 | 17.5 | 17.5 |
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 48.
See what fits on a Back Bay 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.