Current Zoning Proposals

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.

See current zoning proposals below:

Tufts/Boston Ave Zoning Proposal

There will be a public information session and Q&A on this proposal on Thursday, April 30 at 6pm at the Medford Public Library and via Zoom.

Current zoning and land use
Public meeting documents and recordings

Current zoning and land use

Public meeting documents and recordings

Medford Square Zoning Proposal

On December 16, 2025, the City Council voted to withdraw the Residential, ADU, and Squares proposals from consideration. The City Council also voted to sever the Squares proposal, creating a separate proposal for Medford Square and West Medford Square respectively.

The City Council voted to refer the Medford Square proposal to the Community Development Board. The Board held joint public hearings on this proposal on January 21, March 3, and March 25.

At a glance

The City Council Planning & Permitting Committee, in collaboration with residents, City staff, and the City’s zoning consultant, is in the process of developing a proposal for updated zoning for Medford Square. This proposal is one part of the effort to update zoning for all of Medford’s major commercial and mixed-use districts, citywide. It will be followed by a proposal for updated zoning for West Medford Square and other main corridors.

The image is a commercial framework map that displays various zones, roads, and other geographic features within a specific region.

This zoning proposal encompasses the area north of the Mystic River from the Winthrop Street rotary to 93. Towards the center of the Square, the district will extend north of High Street and Salem Street for 1–2 blocks to allow for a transition into the surrounding residential district.

The image is a detailed map of the Medford Square Proposal 02, showing various land use zones, transportation infrastructure, and other urban planning elements within the area.

Goals of this zoning

Medford Square is a critical locus for businesses, residents, and important community functions. The goal of the in-progress zoning proposal is to enable Medford Square to grow into a robust, accessible, vibrant downtown while adding housing options in the heart of the City.

Through Medford’s Comprehensive Planning process, residents expressed an eagerness to see Medford Square blossom into a destination – building on the Square’s existing beloved businesses and attractions to become a hub of gathering places, shopping, and business for residents and visitors alike. In addition, there is a need for more housing options in this central and connected area of the City. Mixed-use zoning will help support the community’s vision for a thriving downtown with commercial activation along Medford Square’s streetscape and multiunit residences on buildings’ upper floors.

This zoning proposal builds upon existing by-right uses to allow greater development potential, both residential and mixed-use, so that this neighborhood can grow to accommodate more residents and support more businesses. This proposal aims to create a gradient of residential types from the center of the Square out towards the surrounding residential neighborhoods. The draft zoning aims to collaborate with the topography of the Square in the allocation of different by-right heights, and to consider the sightline to the Mystic River and downtown Boston in crafting the map of Medford Square zoning. Finally, this zoning will also consider ways to maintain parking access while prioritizing an active streetscape.

Current zoning vs. proposed zoning

Medford Square’s current zoning is a mix of Commercial-1, Apartment-2, General Residential, and Single Family 1 zoning.

The current Commercial-1 zoning allows for 6-story residential buildings by-right; 4-story commercial buildings by-right; and other permitted structures to be 15 stories by-right.
The current Apartment-2 zoning allows for 6-story residential buildings by-right; does not permit commercial uses; and allows 15-story hotels by-right.
General residential zoning allows for single-unit homes, two-unit homes, and ADUs. Single-family zoning allows for single-unit homes and ADUs.

The image is a zoning map that displays the current zoning designations for an urban area, with various colored zones representing different land use categories such as residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

The current zoning represents a shorter transition from greater by-right heights into the surrounding ring of single-family zoning. In addition, mixed-use zoning is not allowed by-right under the current zoning. In contrast, the draft proposed zoning would:

Allow for mixed-use zoning by-right instead of separating residential and commercial uses
Allow mixed-use buildings of greater height with residential uses on top of ground-floor commercial, while eliminating the special 15-story by-right height allowance for hotel uses
Provide a more graded transition from larger-scale mixed-use development and higher-density residential uses in the heart of the Square and along 93, towards the residential neighborhoods that surround the Square
Build upon existing by-right heights to increase development potential to allow for more local business activity and housing more residents

The image is a map depicting the proposed zoning for Medford Square, with various land use designations such as residential, commercial, and open space areas clearly marked.

Mixed-use and residential districts in this proposal

These are the height standards that apply to the Mixed-Use subdistricts within the proposed Medford Square zoning district.

Mixed-Use 1
- 4 stories by-right
- 1 additional story allowed through Incentive Zoning (IZ)
Mixed-Use 2A
- 5 stories by-right
- 2 additional stories allowed through Incentive Zoning (IZ)
Mixed-Use 2B
- 7 stories by-right
- 2 additional stories allowed through Incentive Zoning (IZ)
Mixed-Use 3
- 8 stories by-right
- 4 additional stories allowed through Incentive Zoning (IZ)

Urban Residential 1
- 2-unit dwellings by-right
- 3-unit dwellings by-right
- Townhouses by-right
- Historic conversion of 2-5 units by-right
- Multiplexes (4-6 units) by-right
- ADUs by-right for lots with a 1, 2, or 3-unit dwelling
Neighborhood Residential 3
- Single-unit dwellings by-right
- 2-unit dwellings by-right
- 3-unit dwellings by-right
- Townhouses by-right
- Historic conversion of 2-4 units by-right
- ADUs by-right

Public meeting documents and recordings

3/25/26: City Council and Community Development Board joint public hearing presentation, meeting video, and full meeting materials
3/11/26: City staff, City Council members, and consultants hold a community meeting on the Medford Square zoning proposal.
2/18/2026: Community Development Board technical meeting presentation.
1/21/2026: City Council and Community Development Board joint public hearing presentation
6/4/2025 Community Development Board Public Hearing slide deck
5/8/2025 Public Q&A slide deck
4/30/2025 Planning and Permitting Committee slide deck, packet and video recording – updated proposal and analysis for West Medford Square zoning
3/26/2025 Planning and Permitting Committee slide deck, packet and video recording – preliminary proposal and analysis for for Medford Square zoning
3/12/2025 Planning and Permitting Committee slide deck, packet, and video recording – introductory framework for Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts

In This Section

In This Section

Current Zoning Proposals

Tufts/Boston Ave Zoning Proposal

Current zoning and land use

Existing Zoning

Existing Land Use

Public meeting documents and recordings

Medford Square Zoning Proposal

At a glance

Goals of this zoning

Current zoning vs. proposed zoning

Mixed-use and residential districts in this proposal

Public meeting documents and recordings