The Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) is a quasi-judicial body of seven members who are appointed by the Mayor. The ZBA hears requests for conditional use permits, variances, permission to expand/change nonconforming uses, and similar zoning relief. The ZBA is managed by the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston.

The Planning Department interacts with the ZBA in two main ways. Planning staff create non-binding recommendations on ZBA applications, which are provided to the ZBA for their consideration. Recommendations to the ZBA can be found by ZBA hearing date below. In addition, the ZBA may require design review as a condition of zoning relief.

ZBA Project Tracker

The City's Inspectional Services Department has launched an online Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) project tracker, available here. The tracker is designed for anyone to be able to quickly search and identify the status of the appeal that has been submitted to the ZBA. To learn more, please visit: boston.gov/news/zoning-board-appeal-project-tracker-now-available-online.

Recommendations to the ZBA

Quarterly Reports 

These are quarterly reports offered by Planning staff to the BPDA Board that summarize and highlight the trends in the recommendations and ZBA Cases.

• Q3- January 2025-March 2025 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation
• Q2 - October 2024 - December 2024 ZBA Recs| Memo | Presentation
• Q1 - July 2024 - September 2024 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation

• Q4- April 2024 - June 2024 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation
• Q3- January 2024-March 2024 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation
• Q2- September-December 2023 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation
• Q1-  July-September 2023 ZBA Recs | Memo | Presentation