On February 10, 2025, The Cambridge, MA City Council approved a major revision of it's zoning rules to allow multifamily housing citywide along with other major changes.
The new zoning code makes the following significant changes:
- Almost all residential neighborhoods are now zoned as “Residence C-1” (Res. C-1). The previous Residence districts A-1, A-2, B, and C are now all Residence C-1 districts.
- Establishes a new height limit for Res. C-1 that allows residential (single or multifamily) developments up to four stories (45 feet).
- Allows residential buildings up to six stories (74 feet) if:
- the lot size is at least 5,000 square feet, AND
- 20% of the residential units are inclusionary (income-restricted affordable housing)
- Removes any limit on the number of residential units (which may or may not be condominiums) within a building. State building code still needs to be met.
- Removes any requirement to meet Floor-To-Area-Ratios (FAR). Previously, FAR would limit the size of your dwelling or the number of units depending on the size of the lot.
There are also standards for development that are outside of zoning and are unchanged, including:
- Building codes (including fire safety, sanitary codes, energy codes).
- Historical Commission review (demolition permits, development in historic districts).
- Tree Protection Ordinance.
Parking Previously Eliminated:
In 2022, Cambridge eliminated all minimum parking requirements for new residential and commercial developments citywide. Developers are no longer required to provide any off-street parking spaces.
There are some exceptions, such as special parking requirements for townhouse developments, planned unit developments, projects in the Mixed Use Development District, or special permits specified elsewhere in the Zoning Ordinance.Commercial uses are still required to provide parking spaces for each commercial vehicle customarily used in conjunction with the operation of such use at such location.
