BOSTON ZONING

MASSACHUSETTS LAWS

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A Zoning

Boston Zoning Code and Enabling Act, Chapter 665 of the Acts, 1956

Volume I

Enabling Act / General Code

Volume II

Downtown Districts, Central Artery,Special District, Harborway Park

Volume III

Neighborhood Districts

ZONING DECISIONS

Boston Housing Court

Social Law Library On-Line Databases

Online from Suffolk Law Campus

Land Court

Land Court Reporter

LAW RESERVE  

KFM2512.A517 M37

or

Social Law Library On-Line Databases

Online from Suffolk Law Campus

Superior Court

Massachusetts Law Reporter

LAW RESERVE

KFM2445.A2 M37

or

Social Law Library On-Line Databases

Online from Suffolk Law Campus

ARTICLES & LAW REVIEWS

Mark Bobrowski, "Recent Developments in Community Growth Control: Site
Plan Review and Access Adequacy Regulations",

73 Mass L Rev 36, (March 1988).

Mark Bobrowski, "The Zoning Act's 'Person Aggrieved' Standard: From
Barvenik to Marashlian", 18 W New Eng L Rev 385 (1996).

Mark Bobrowski,"Reform of the Zoning Act: An Open Letter to the Legislature",

34 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 19 (2000).

Robert A. Cohen, "Zoning In Boston: An Overview of the Process", Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, May 25, 1998.

Hon. Joseph Ford, "Guidelines for Judicial Review in Zoning Variance Cases"

58 Mass L Q 15, (March 1973).

Hon. Joseph Ford, "Judicial Review in Zoning Variance Cases and Related Matters",
61 Mass L Q 24, (Spring 1976).

Martin Healy, "Massachusetts Zoning Practice Under the Amended Zoning
Enabling Act", 64 Mass L Rev 157, (October 1979).

Martin Healy, "Zoning Variance Trials in Massachusetts Part I: Groundrules
for Trials, Defenses, and Landowner Review of Decisions",

68 Mass L Rev 108, (September 1983).

Martin Healy, "Zoning Variance Trials in Massachusetts Part II: Challenges to Variance Decisions", 68 Mass L Rev 154, (December 1983).

Dunbar Holmes, "Zoning Limitations--Limiting Enforcement of Laws Relating

to Buildings", 55 Mass L Q 377 (1970).

Clinton Kellogg, "Appeals from Planning Boards and the Board of Appeal", 43 Mass L Q 21 (1958).

Clinton Kellogg, "Some Comments on Zoning Appeals", 48 Mass L Q 505 (1963).

Walter H. McLaughlin, "The Obligation of the State Legislature to Amend the
New Zoning Act", 63 Mass L Rev 149, (August 1978).

Teresa Rohwedder, "Regulation of Zoning Nonconformities in Massachusetts: The 'Difficult and Infelicitous' Language of Section 6, Chapter 40A, Massachusetts Zoning Act ",
28 New Eng.L. Rev. 1123, (Summer 1994).

William E. Rychman Jr., "Judicial and Administrative Review in Massachusetts Zoning and
Subdivision Control Cases - Part One", see 52 Mass L Q 297 (1967).

William E. Rychman Jr., "Judicial and Administrative Review in Massachusetts Zoning and
Subdivision Control Cases - Part Two", see 53 Mass L Q 23 (1968).

William E. Rychman Jr., "Judicial and Administrative Review in Massachusetts Zoning and
Subdivision Control Cases - Part Three", see 53 Mass L Q 129 (1968).

Edward Woll Jr., "A Fresh Look at De Novo Review in Chapter 40A, Section 17
Actions and the Role of Aesthetics in Zoning Decisions.

88 Mass L Rev 205 (Spring 2004).

BOOKS

Boston zoning : a lawyer's handbook / Cynthia M. Barr Boston, MA : Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, c2003 LAW RESERVE KFX1142 .B37 2003 

City of Boston zoning code / prepared by Landlaw, Inc LAW RESERVE KFX1142 .C58 1996  V. 1 - 5  

City of Boston zoning maps LAW RESERVE  KFX1142 .C582 1994   

Massachusetts zoning manual / editors, Martin R. Healy, Robert W. Mack ; authors, Peter A. Alpert ... [et al.], Boston, MA : Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 1999-
LAW RESERVE KFM2858 .M372  V. 1 - 2, LAW CD-ROM NETWORK 

Levey, Massachusetts Zoning and Land Use Law (Michie)

LAW RESERVE KFM2858 .L48 1996 

Levey, Massachusetts Zoning and Land Use Law (Michie) §§ 3-5, 5-26,
5-28-5-32, 5-36, 5-37, 7-5, 7-7, 7-21, 7-22, 8-5, 8-11, 8-12.

Marzelli and Marzelli, Massachusetts Real Estate, 2d ed. (Michie)
§§ 2:1-2:9, Zoning, Forms 35-37.1.
Mendler, Massachusetts Conveyancers' Handbook with Forms, §§
11:1-11:7, Zoning.

MASSACHUSETTS PRACTICE

17C Mass. Prac., Prima Facie Case § 64.7 (4th ed.)
Massachusetts Practice Series
Prima Facie Case--Proof And Defense
Updated By Pocket Part
Richard W. Bishop

Part IV. Miscellaneous

Chapter 64. Zoning Variances
A. The Plaintiff's Case
§ 64.7 Judicial Review

18A Mass. Prac., Municipal Law and Practice § 645 (4th ed.)
Massachusetts Practice Series
Municipal Law and Practice
Updated By Pocket Part
Douglas A. Randall, Douglas E. Franklin

Chapter 17. Zoning Ordinances And Bylaws
G. Administrative Relief
§ 645. Variances--Condition Affecting Land and Structures

18A Mass. Prac., Municipal Law and Practice § 661 (4th ed.)
Massachusetts Practice Series
Municipal Law and Practice
Updated By Pocket Part
Douglas A. Randall, Douglas E. Franklin;

Chapter 17. Zoning Ordinances And Bylaws
I. Judicial Review
§ 661. Judicial Review--Generally

18A Mass. Prac., Municipal Law and Practice § 662 (4th ed.)

Massachusetts Practice Series
Municipal Law and Practice
Updated By Pocket Part
Douglas A. Randall, Douglas E. Franklin

Chapter 17. Zoning Ordinances And Bylaws
I. Judicial Review
§ 662. Function of Court on Appeal

WEBSITES

Boston Inspectional Services

Apply for permits, search for permits.

Boston Inspectional Services Document Search

Look up building permits for Boston.

Boston Redevelopment Authority

Boston's Planning and Development Agency.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Useful information on Boston's Zoning Code. Also, a guide to the Appeal process if you do not receive a building permit. By the Boston Inspectional Services Department.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Links to the Zoning Code and Zoning maps. A Guide to understanding Zoning. By the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email:
Rick Buckingham , Reference Librarian.
Last modified: July 25, 2006.