CommunityScale’s zoning audits provide a systematic evaluation of a community’s existing zoning code, identifying areas where regulations may conflict with planning goals, create barriers to housing production, or produce unintended outcomes like widespread nonconformity. Audits examine both legal issues, such as compliance with state enabling legislation, and practical issues in dimensional and use tables that may impede desired development patterns. The process identifies opportunities for targeted amendments or helps scope a broader comprehensive rezoning effort.

A typical audit reviews use definitions and their organization, dimensional standards (setbacks, lot coverage, height, FAR), parking requirements, administrative procedures, and design standards. For Massachusetts communities, audits often address compliance with the Affordable Homes Act and MBTA Communities requirements. CommunityScale identifies where outdated provisions are producing nonconformities, blocking housing supply, or conflicting with current zoning best practices.

Projects featuring zoning audits:

• Lynn, MA: comprehensive zoning audit preceding full rewrite
• Everett, MA: zoning audit and recodification
• Melrose, MA: zoning recodification
• Lowell, MA: comprehensive rezoning

Related reading:

• Nesting zoning use definitions into functional groups
• The Affordable Homes Act and planning in Massachusetts communities
• What is 40B Safe Harbor?
• Thoughts on how Everett became a housing boomtown in the Boston area