Zoning Clinic
The Inspectional Services Department provides a clinic for homeowners and small businesses who have questions regarding the zoning approval process.
The Zoning Clinic creates a customer-friendly atmosphere where anybody trying to navigate through the zoning process has a one-on-one, 15-minute session to discuss general or specific zoning questions.
The clinic takes place every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m.-12 noon at Plans and Zoning, Counter Two, Boston Inspectional Services, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, fifth floor. Please call ahead if translators are needed.
Residential issues covered in the Zoning Clinic include:
- additions,
- change of occupancy from one, two or three-family maximum,
- exterior decks,
- roof decks,
- porches,
- swimming pools,
- extension of floor area to basements and attics,
- fences,
- off-street parking,
- accessory structures as garages,
- sheds,
- patios, and
- sunrooms.
Commercial issues reviewed in the Zoning Clinic include: increasing occupancy loads, signage, take-out restaurant use, offices, home business uses, and more.
Here to Help: The Inspectional Services Department has hired a Customer Service Representative to guide constituents through the permit application process and refer them to the appropriate department. Customer Service Staff members are reflective of a philosophy that the Department is a service-based agency whose processes must be accessible and understandable to the customer.
