The Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) is a quasi-judicial body of seven members who are appointed by the Mayor. The ZBA hears requests for conditional use permits, variances, permission to expand/change nonconforming uses, and similar zoning relief. The ZBA is not part of the BPDA but is instead managed by the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston.
The BPDA interacts with the ZBA in two main ways. BPDA planners create non-binding recommendations on ZBA applications, which are provided to the ZBA for their consideration. BPDA recommendations to the ZBA can be found by ZBA hearing date below. In addition, the ZBA may require BPDA design review as a condition of zoning relief.
ZBA Project Tracker
The City's Inspectional Services Department has launched an online Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) project tracker, available here. The tracker is designed for anyone to be able to quickly search and identify the status of the appeal that has been submitted to the ZBA. To learn more, please visit: boston.gov/news/zoning-board-appeal-project-tracker-now-available-online.
BPDA Recommendations to the ZBA
Quarterly Reports
These are quarterly reports offered by the planning staff to the BPDA Board that summarize and highlight the trends in the recommendations and ZBA Cases.
September-December 2023 ZBA Recs Memo
September-December 2023 ZBA Recs Presentation
July-September 2023 ZBA Recs Memo
July-September 2023 ZBA Recs Presentation
April 2024
04/30/24 ZBA Hearing
04/25/24 ZBA Hearing
04/09/24 ZBA Hearing
March 2024
03/26/24 ZBA Hearing
03/21/24 ZBA Hearing
03/12/24 ZBA Hearing
February 2024
02/27/24 ZBA Hearing
02/15/24 ZBA Hearing
02/06/24 ZBA Hearing
January 2024
01/23/24 ZBA Hearing
01/18/24 ZBA Hearing
01/09/24 ZBA Hearing
December 2023
12/12/23 ZBA Hearing
12/07/23 ZBA Hearing
12/05/23 ZBA Hearing
November 2023
11/28/23 ZBA Hearing
11/14/23 ZBA Hearing
11/09/23 ZBA Hearing
October 2023
10/31/23 ZBA Hearing
10/26/23 ZBA Hearing
10/17/23 ZBA Hearing
September 2023
09/26/23 ZBA Hearing
09/21/23 ZBA Hearing
09/12/23 ZBA Hearing
August 2023
08/29/23 ZBA Hearing