What does Residence B zoning mean in Springfield?

Residence B is one of Springfield's moderate-density residential districts, generally permitting two- and multi-family housing at higher density than the city's single-family Residence A districts.

Is Springfield subject to the MBTA Communities multifamily law?

No. The MBTA Communities law (Section 3A) applies to cities and towns within the MBTA service area in eastern Massachusetts. Springfield is served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority rather than the MBTA, so it falls outside that mandate's reach.

How do I find the zoning for an address in Springfield?

Springfield's Office of Planning and Economic Development maintains an online GIS zoning map; use it to identify the base district, then confirm use and dimensional requirements in the published zoning ordinance.

Springfield, Massachusetts · city zoning districts · 16 districts

Springfield, MA zoning map & districts

Springfield's zoning ordinance is administered by the city's Office of Planning and Economic Development, with the Zoning Board of Appeals handling variances and special permits. Springfield's base code follows a conventional New England residential/business/industrial letter-suffix structure, with density and use intensity increasing from the Residence districts through the Business and Industrial districts.

The code City of Springfield Zoning Ordinance

Springfield zoning map

Springfield's Office of Planning and Economic Development publishes the zoning ordinance and an online GIS zoning/parcel viewer; the Zoning Board of Appeals hears variance and special permit requests.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the Springfield planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

How zoning works in Springfield

Unlike many eastern Massachusetts cities, Springfield sits outside the MBTA service area — it is served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority rather than the MBTA — so it is not subject to the state's MBTA Communities (Section 3A) multifamily-zoning mandate that applies to cities and towns within MBTA territory.

Springfield zoning districts by family

The 16 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in Springfield, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the City of Springfield Zoning Ordinance — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 7 districts
Res A-1	Residential A-1	Suburban Residential; lowest-density district, single-family dwellings only.
Res A	Residential A	Low Density Residential; single-family detached district.
Res B	Residential B	Urban Residential; single- and two-family at medium density.
Res B-1	Residential B-1	Medium Density Residential; single- and two-family at higher density than Res B.
Res C	Residential C	High Density Residential; single-, two-, and multi-family dwellings.
Res C-1	Residential C-1	Clustered multi-family project areas and garden apartments.
Res C-2	Residential C-2	High-rise apartment district on collector/arterial streets; ground-floor business allowed.
Commercial 4 districts
Com A	Commercial A	Neighborhood Commercial; small-scale retail/service, residential also allowed.
Bus A	Business A	General Business; Main Street/pedestrian-oriented shopping, residential allowed.
Bus B	Business B	Service Business; highway-oriented automotive and service uses, more intense than Bus A.
Bus D	Business D	Regional Shopping; anchor-tenant centers serving beyond the city.
Downtown / core 1 district
Bus C	Business C	Central Business; downtown high-rise district with pedestrian amenities and mixed uses.
Industrial 3 districts
MUI	Mixed Use Industrial	Former industrial sites allowing residential, services, retail, light industrial, office.
IP	Industrial Park	Light industrial, R&D, and flex-space in a landscaped business-park setting.
IA	Industrial A	General Industrial; full range of industrial/business uses, special review for hazardous uses.
Special purpose 1 district
RF	Riverfront	Connecticut Riverfront district; mixed-use buildings, medium-density residential, lodging, recreation.

Springfield zoning — common questions

What does Residence B zoning mean in Springfield?: Residence B is one of Springfield's moderate-density residential districts, generally permitting two- and multi-family housing at higher density than the city's single-family Residence A districts.
Is Springfield subject to the MBTA Communities multifamily law?: No. The MBTA Communities law (Section 3A) applies to cities and towns within the MBTA service area in eastern Massachusetts. Springfield is served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority rather than the MBTA, so it falls outside that mandate's reach.
How do I find the zoning for an address in Springfield?: Springfield's Office of Planning and Economic Development maintains an online GIS zoning map; use it to identify the base district, then confirm use and dimensional requirements in the published zoning ordinance.

Working in Massachusetts? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when Massachusetts opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← Massachusetts zoning — who holds the zoning power in Massachusetts, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other Massachusetts cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

Springfield zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.