Code

Zoning

Law Ledger (92)

help_center Help

ecode

Login

City of Watertown, MA chevron_right chevron_right Title XV: Land Usage chevron_right Chapter 155 Zoning Code

Chapter 155 Zoning Code

MapLink

Online GIS : Up to date and interactive GIS map with the City's zoning, parcel, and other mapping information: City of Watertown GIS Mapping with Parcels and Zoning

Click here to access an interactive zoning hub for the City of Watertown (NOTE: This is OUTDATED zoning data layers/mapping AS OF 2/20/2025)

2025-04-25

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 - Zoning Map

Attachment 2 - Appendix I, Legislative Chronology

Article I Purpose and Interpretation

§ 1.00 Purpose of Zoning Ordinance.

§ 1.01 Interpretation.

Article II Definitions

note

§ 2.00 Definitions.

§ 2.01 Accessory.

§ 2.02 Agriculture.

§ 2.03 Adult stores.

§ 2.04 Adult theater.

§ 2.05 Assisted living.

§ 2.06 Basement.

§ 2.07 Buffer zone.

§ 2.08 Build-to-line.

§ 2.09 Building.

§ 2.10 Building area.

§ 2.11 Building coverage.

§ 2.12 Building front yard.

§ 2.13 Building, principal.

§ 2.14 Business accessory use, usual.

§ 2.15 Corner lot.

§ 2.16 Conversion.

§ 2.17 Driveway.

§ 2.18 Dwelling.

§ 2.19 Dwelling unit.

§ 2.21 Exempt religious or educational use.

§ 2.22 Existing.

§ 2.23 Family/Household.

§ 2.24 Family day care.

§ 2.25 Fast food establishment.

§ 2.27 Firearms business.

§ 2.28 Flood, base.

§ 2.29 (Reserved for future use)

§ 2.30 Floor area ratio (FAR).

§ 2.31 Front building line.

§ 2.32 Frontage.

§ 2.33 Gasoline service station.

§ 2.34 Gross floor area.

§ 2.35 Height of building.

§ 2.36 Home occupation.

§ 2.37 Home office.

§ 2.38 Hotel, motel.

§ 2.39 Impervious coverage.

§ 2.40 Industry, heavy.

§ 2.41 Industry, light.

§ 2.42 Interested party.

§ 2.43 Landscaped.

§ 2.44 Licensed day care.

§ 2.45 Lodger.

§ 2.46 Lodging house, licensed.

§ 2.48 Lot area.

§ 2.49 Lot frontage.

§ 2.50 Lot line, front.

§ 2.51 Lot line, side.

§ 2.52 Lot line, street or street line.

§ 2.53 Lot line, rear.

§ 2.54 Lot width.

§ 2.55 Low impact development.

§ 2.56 Mixed use development.

§ 2.57 Motor vehicle body work establishment.

§ 2.58 Motor vehicle repair establishment.

§ 2.59 Non-conforming building or lot.

§ 2.60 Non-conforming use.

§ 2.61 Occupied.

§ 2.62 Open space.

§ 2.63 Open space, publicly usable.

§ 2.64 Operable (motor vehicle).

§ 2.65 Principal use.

§ 2.66 Profession.

§ 2.67 Renewable or alternative energy.

§ 2.68 Renewable or alternative energy research, development or manufacturing facilities.

§ 2.69 Research facility.

§ 2.70 Restaurant, drive-in; refreshment stand, drive-in; eating establishment, drive-through.

§ 2.71 Retail.

§ 2.72 Retaining wall.

§ 2.73 Screening.

§ 2.74 Self-service storage facility.

§ 2.75 Setback.

§ 2.77 Sign, area of.

§ 2.78 Smart growth.

§ 2.79 Special permit.

§ 2.80 Story, half-story.

§ 2.81 Street.

§ 2.82 Structure.

§ 2.83 Transportation demand management plan (TDM plan).

§ 2.85 Variance.

§ 2.86 Wholesale.

§ 2.87 Wireless telecommunications facility.

§ 2.88 Yard, front.

§ 2.89 Yard, side.

§ 2.90 Yard, rear.

Article III Establishment of Zoning Districts

note

§ 3.00 Division of the City into districts.

§ 3.01 Classification of districts.

§ 3.02 Boundaries of the districts.

Article IV General Use and Dimensional Regulations

§ 4.00 Applicability of use regulations.

§ 4.01 Permitted uses.

§ 4.02 Uses subject to other regulations.

§ 4.03 Accessory uses.

§ 4.04 Prohibited uses.

§ 4.05 Continuance of non-conforming use.

§ 4.06 Alteration of non-conforming uses and buildings/structures.

§ 4.07 Reconstruction of a non-conforming building after catastrophe.

§ 4.08 Applicability of dimensional regulations.

§ 4.09 Exceptions to lot size regulations.

§ 4.10 Exceptions to height regulations.

§ 4.11 Exceptions to setback requirements.

§ 4.12 Required corner clearance for visibility.

§ 4.13 Transition requirements.

§ 4.14 Screening.

§ 4.15 Discouraged exterior cladding materials.

Article V Tables of District Regulations

§ 5.00 Interpretation.

§ 5.01 Table of Use Regulations.

§ 5.02 Table of Accessory Use Regulations.

§ 5.03 Notes to Table of Use Regulations.

§ 5.04 Table of Dimensional Regulations.

§ 5.05 Notes to Table of Dimensional Regulations.

§ 5.06 Floodplain District.

§ 5.07 Affordable housing.

§ 5.08 Watertown Square/Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts (WSQ1, WSQ2, WSQ3, NMU).

§ 5.09 Transit Oriented Development Overlay (TODO).

§ 5.10 Limited Redevelopment District (RD).

§ 5.11 Assisted Living Overlay District (ALOD).

§ 5.12 Arsenal Overlay Development District (AODD).

§ 5.13 Wireless telecommunications facilities.

§ 5.14 Religious/School Building Overlay District (R/SOD).

§ 5.15 Municipal reuse and development.

§ 5.16 Pleasant Street Corridor District (PSCD).

§ 5.17 Design guidelines.

§ 5.18 Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD).

Article VI Automotive and Bicycle Parking Requirements

§ 6.00 Intent of requirements.

§ 6.01 Required off-street parking spaces.

§ 6.02 Location and design of off-street parking spaces.

§ 6.03 Required off-street loading spaces.

§ 6.04 Design and layout of off-street loading facilities.

§ 6.05 Outdoor automobile storage, new or used vehicles.

§ 6.06 Gasoline service stations.

§ 6.07 Bicycle parking.

Article VII Signs and Illumination

note

§ 7.00 Intent and purpose.

§ 7.01 Definition of terms.

§ 7.02 Application and procedure.

§ 7.03 Signs in all districts.

§ 7.04 Signs in S-10, S-6, SC, CR, T and OSC Districts.

§ 7.05 Signs in R.75 and R1.2 Districts, and for residential uses in the I-3 and RMUD District.

§ 7.06 Signs in the NB, LB, WSQ, NMU, I, RMUD, and PSCD Districts.

§ 7.07 Sign special permit.

§ 7.08 Permitted illumination.

§ 7.09 Non-conformance.

§ 7.10 Hotel and motel signs.

§ 7.11 Exterior lighting standards.

§ 7.12 Exterior lighting technical submittals.

Article VIII Sustainability, Solar, and Other Regulations

§ 8.00 Sustainability and resiliency.

§ 8.01 Solar energy systems.

§ 8.02 Regulation of soil removal or ledge.

§ 8.03 Overhanging shrubs or evergreens.

§ 8.04 Sale of products on public rights of way.

§ 8.05 Yard sales.

§ 8.06 Medical marijuana treatment centers and adult use marijuana establishments.

Article IX Enforcement and Application Procedures

§ 9.00 Enforcement; violations.

§ 9.01 Building permits and occupancy permits.

§ 9.02 Noticing and preliminary review requirements.

§ 9.03 Site plan review of certain residential and non-residential developments.

§ 9.04 Application and hearing procedures for special permits, site plan review permits and variances.

§ 9.05 Special permit: conditions for approval.

§ 9.06 Special permit criteria for I-1 and I-2 Districts.

§ 9.07 Special permit criteria for I-3 District.

§ 9.08 Special permit criteria for I-3 District - lot size.

§ 9.09 Limited approval of special permit.

§ 9.10 Withdrawal of limited special permit.

§ 9.11 Special permit for temporary structures.

§ 9.12 Special permit approval of reduced or increased parking supply.

§ 9.13 Lapse of special permit.

§ 9.14 Variances.

§ 9.15 Conditions for approval of a variance.

§ 9.16 Lapse of variance.

§ 9.17 Special permits and variances: effective dates.

§ 9.18 Special permits and variances; withdrawal without prejudice; reconsideration.

§ 9.19 Right of appeal.

§ 9.20 Amendments to zoning ordinance.

§ 9.21 Public hearings for amendments.

§ 9.22 Notice of public hearings for amendments.

Article X Administrative Provisions

§ 10.00 Provision for Board of Appeals.

§ 10.01 Validity.

§ 10.02 Effective date.

By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.