Choosing a Location
Zoning & Occupancy
Check zoning online by searching for parcel designation on the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s searchable map, then check whether Restaurant, Take-out, Drive-in, or Live Entertainment uses are Allowed, Forbidden, or Conditional in the Zoning Code (by Neighborhood District in Articles 38-73).
Check the building’s existing legal use and occupancy online through the Building Permit Search.
To change the zoning or use, file a Long Form online and appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeal if it is a conditional or forbidden use at that location.
The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) offers a Zoning Clinic for zoning-related questions every Tuesday from 9am-12 noon at Plans and Zoning, Counter 2, 1010 Mass Ave, Boston, MA.
Maps
- Searchable Map of Zoning Classifications by Address
- See existing food service establishments by location, name, and capacity
