Zoning Report
Springfield, Massachusetts Zoning
Springfield’s zoning is governed by a citywide zoning ordinance originally enacted in 2013 and available on the city planning website as amended through December 16, 2025. The ordinance organizes regulation into base districts, use tables, dimensional standards, special use regulations, site regulations, overlay districts, signs, nonconforming rules, and tiered review procedures. Springfield uses a tiered entitlement system that routes projects to administrative site plan review, Planning Board site plan review, or City Council special permit review depending on the use and scale of development.
Last researched April 2026
Zoning Districts in Springfield, Massachusetts
Residential A-1
Lowest-density residential district focused on single-family homes.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling
Residential A
Low-density residential district for single-family homes on somewhat smaller lots than A-1.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling
Residential B
Moderate-density residential district allowing single-family and two-family housing.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling
Residential B-1
Higher-density neighborhood residential district that adds townhouse options and smaller-lot housing.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, townhouse
Residential C
Urban residential district allowing a wider range of multifamily housing forms.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, townhouse, apartment building
Residential C-1 Residential Project District
Residential project district intended for larger planned residential development formats.
Allowed uses: single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, townhouse, apartment building
Residential C-2 High-Rise Apartment District
High-density apartment district for larger multifamily buildings.
Allowed uses: townhouse, apartment building
Office A Residence-Office
Office and residential-office transition district listed in the ordinance district schedule.
Commercial A Neighborhood Commercial
Neighborhood-scale commercial district intended to serve nearby residents and walkable business areas.
Business A General Business
General business district for a broader mix of commercial activity.
Business B Service Business
Service-oriented commercial district that, according to 2026 reporting on a proposed rezoning, can accommodate a variety of multifamily and mixed-use development along with auto repair and civic uses.
Allowed uses: variety of multifamily housing, mixed-use buildings, home businesses, auto repair, courthouse, according to 2026 news report describing the district
Business C Central Business
Downtown central business district.
Industrial Park
Industrial district listed in the ordinance for planned industrial development.
Industrial A
General industrial district. A 2026 proposed downtown rezoning article notes that Industrial A does not allow residential uses and historically tracked rail-oriented industrial land.
Recent Zoning Changes
The city’s official zoning ordinance posted by Springfield is current through December 16, 2025, indicating multiple adopted amendments since the 2013 enactment. A major recent adopted change was Springfield’s January 2025 ADU ordinance update responding to the new state by-right ADU law. A separate northeast downtown rezoning from Industrial A to Business B was reported in February 2026 as recommended by the Planning Board and headed to City Council, so that item should be treated as pending rather than current law based on the provided sources.
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