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Zoning

Our zoning code is the laws that govern what may be built where, for what purpose, and under what conditions. Through zoning, we direct the long-term look, feeling, and function of our community. 

The City Administration and City Council, together with zoning consultant Innes Associates, are comprehensively reviewing and updating Medford’s zoning ordinance. This process involves the whole City: squares, major corridors, and residential neighborhoods. 

This process has been years in the making. The zoning proposals to come out of this process are guided by the input from thousands of residents that became Medford’s Comprehensive Plan, Housing Production Plan, and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan over a multi-year community process. These documents and the goals within them – increasing our housing supply, reducing emissions, promoting vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, and more – form the basis for our work to update Medford’s zoning. 

Next zoning meetings: 

  • 4/30/2025 Planning & Permitting Committee Meeting, 6:00pm – discussion of Medford Square and West Medford Square zoning proposals

  • 5/7/2025 Community Development Board Public Hearing on Neighborhood & Urban Residential zoning proposal, Zoom only, 6:30pm

Meeting details, hybrid accessibility information, and agendas are published on medfordma.org/events when available.

Zoning Topics Timeline

Click here to download image.

  • Blue text: Meetings of the Medford City Council Planning & Permitting Committee. This is the first step for every zoning topic. At these meetings, the zoning consultant presents the topic and answers questions; Committee members deliberate and workshop the proposal; City staff make suggestions; and the public may give comment. There are multiple Committee meetings for each zoning topic. 

  • Black text: Community Development Board (CDB) Public Hearings. These meetings are a legally-required part of the zoning process. Each zoning proposal must be reviewed by the CDB before it is voted on by the City Council. At these meetings, the zoning consultant presents the topic and answers questions, and Board members deliberate and make recommendations. By law, CDB Public Hearings always include designated time for public comment. 

  • Green text: Public, in-person Q&A sessions on a specific zoning topic or group of topics. City staff, the zoning consultant, and City Councilors present the topic, facilitate a question and answer session, and hear comment.

Do you have questions about zoning or a specific proposal? 

This project is collaboratively managed by City Council leadership and the Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability in collaboration with the City Administration and the City’s zoning consultant, Innes Associates. This page will be updated to share summaries, FAQs, diagrams, current statuses, and upcoming meetings for each zoning topic. With further questions, please contact the Planning Office at ocd@medford-ma.gov or contact City Council leadership

Current Proposals

These are the zoning proposals currently making their way through the zoning process timeline. More information on each is below.

West Medford Square Zoning Proposal

Upcoming Meetings

The Planning & Permitting Committee will review this zoning proposal again at its April 30th meeting.

Medford Square Zoning Proposal

Upcoming Meetings

The Planning & Permitting Committee will review this zoning proposal again at its April 30th meeting.

Updates to ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)

Upcoming Meetings

The Planning & Permitting Committee will review this topic again before referring to the Community Development Board for Public Hearings. Meeting date will be updated when confirmed. The Community Development Board will have an informational Public Hearing on this topic on April 16th at 6:30pm via Zoom only.

Neighborhood and Urban Residential Zoning Proposal

Upcoming Meetings

The Community Development Board is continuing its Public Hearing on this proposal to Wednesday, April 16th at 6:30pm via Zoom.

Adopted Proposals

These zoning ordinances have gone through the zoning process and have been adopted. Scroll down for more information on each.

Salem Street Corridor District (SSCD)

Green Score

Mystic Avenue Corridor District (MACD)

About “Phase 1” Zoning Updates and Amendment

General Information on Zoning

In early 2024, the City, in partnership with Innes Associates, began to comprehensively overhaul its zoning ordinance to streamline and modernize the development process, which will encourage multimodal, mixed-use developments in squares and corridors throughout Medford.