U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Apply for a Variance or Special Permit

Inspectional Services

The Cambridge Zoning Ordinance regulates the development and use of real property in the City and is controlled by MGL 40A. Some uses and/or developments of real property may require relief from the Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA).

The BZA hears requests for Variances, Special Permits, Comprehensive Permits, and Appeals.

How to Start

  1. Log into the online portal
  2. Enter the information requested
  3. Upload required attachments as a PDF
  4. All fields must be fully and correctly completed to prevent a delay in hearing scheduling. 
  5. This initial online process constitutes a pre-application. 
  6. Once the initial pre-review has been completed and approved, a formal application is created.
  7. Applicant receives an email providing instructions for online payment and the submission of additional documents. 
  8. Once payment has been made and all required documents have been submitted to the Secretary of the Board of Zoning Appeals, the entire submission will constitute a formal application. 
  9. A hearing date will be determined

Requirements

Once formal application is approved, applicant will need to provide:

  • One (1) hard copy of all scanned documents
  • One (1) notarized original ownership form
  • Three (3) copies of the application that will be created electronically from the information provided online and will be delivered as an email attachment. Each copy must have original signatures.

Page was last modified on 4/22/2024 5:14 PM
Contact Us

How can we help?

Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:

As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.

Read our complete privacy statement


Service Requests

Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc.