Variances and Special Permits with status of under review, approved, denied or withdrawn. Cambridge's Board of Zoning Appeal hears and decides appeals, applications for special permits, and appeals and petitions for variances from the terms of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance. This dataset includes available records from October 1, 2013 through current. This dataset does not currently include data from a relatively small number of cases with the type "appeal," because these cases are structured differently from the more common variance and special permit type cases.

This polygon layer contains the zoning overlay districts in the City of Cambridge that set out additional or alternative zoning regulations to an area's base zoning restrictions. Overlay districts typically govern aesthetic and physical features, rather than restricting use. Created as part of Cambridge's Zoning Ordinance to delineate zoning overlay district boundaries.

For more information and download links see:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/gis/gisdatadictionary/cdd/cdd_zoningoverlaydistricts.aspx

This polygon layer contains the City of Cambridge's zoning districts governing land and building use. Created as part of Cambridge's Zoning Ordinance to delineate zoning district boundaries.

For more information and download links see:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/GIS/gisdatadictionary/CDD/CDD_ZoningDistricts.aspx

The Zoning Ordinance’s Section 22.20 – Green Building Requirements ensures that major new projects and substantially rehabilitated buildings are planned, designed and constructed using environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient practices. Projects fall under these requirements when:

• They exceed 25,000 square feet of gross floor area AND
• Require a Special Permit under any provision of the Zoning Ordinance OR
• Are subject to Section 19.50 – Building and Site Requirements

The City of Cambridge does not mandate that projects achieve Certification through a green building rating program. Rather, the intent of the green building ordinance is to use green building rating systems as a technical framework to ensure that buildings throughout the City achieve a higher level in building energy use and efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency.

List of sign permit applications for displaying outdoor signs in Cambridge.