City of Lowell Lowell / Code

City of Lowell, Massachusetts

Lowell Zoning Ordinance

Read Chapter 290 Open the map The ordinance as adopted

Text current through March 10, 2026

Districts

Every district links to the map and to the sections that regulate it.

Suburban Neighborhood Single Family10,000 · 12 sectionsSuburban Neighborhood Multi Family20,000 · 9 sectionsTraditional Neighborhood Single Family7,000 · 12 sectionsTraditional Neighborhood Two Family6,000 · 12 sectionsTraditional Neighborhood Multi-Family4,500 · 11 sectionsUrban Neighborhood Single Family3,000 · 11 sectionsUrban Neighborhood Multi-Family3,400 · 11 sectionsRegional Retail District8 sectionsSuburban Mixed-Use District20,000 · 8 sectionsNeighborhood Business District6,000 · 7 sectionsTraditional Mixed-Use District4,500 · 10 sectionsDowntown Mixed-Use District8 sectionsUrban Mixed-Use District3,400 · 10 sectionsOffice/Research Park8 sectionsLight Industry, Manufacturing, & Storage8 sectionsGeneral Industry8 sectionsHigh-Rise Commercial District43,560 · 11 sectionsInstitutional Mixed-Use District8 sectionsPlanned Development – Medical/Institutional4 sectionsHamilton Canal District Form-Based Code2 sectionsArtist Overlay District7 sectionsMulti-family Overlay – High Rise5 sectionsMulti-family Overlay – Mid Rise3 sectionsMulti-family Overlay – Neighborhood3 sectionsDowntown Lowell Smart Growth Overlay District1 sectionDowntown Overlay District2 sections

What is being proposed

39 of 66 sections carry draft amendments. These are proposals, not law — the adopted ordinance stands until Lowell City Council votes.

§ 1.2§ 2§ 3.1§ 4.2§ 4.3§ 4.4§ 4.5§ 5.1§ 5.2§ 5.3§ 6.1§ 6.3§ 6.6§ 6.7§ 6.8§ 7.5§ 7.6§ 7.7§ 7.11§ 7.12§ 7.13§ 8.1§ 8.2§ 8.3§ 9.2§ 9.3§ 9.4§ 9.6§ 9.7§ 9.8§ 9.9§ 10.3§ 11.1§ 11.2§ 11.3§ 11.4§ 11.5§ 12§ code-comparative-table

Code Comparative Table

Where the provisions of the former Chapter 31 landed in this ordinance. A finding aid, not part of the adopted text.

The following table is provided for the convenience of those readers who may be familiar with the former Lowell Zoning Code (1987 Codification & 2001 Compilation), by identifying the new location of like content to the former sections. This table has not been formally accepted by the Lowell City Council as part of the Zoning Ordinance. Where any errors or inconsistencies with the actual expressed text in the Zoning Ordinance or its index and table of contents exist, the expressed text, index, or table of contents shall take precedence.

Former sectionTopicNow at
31-0Title Cited§ 1.1
31-1DefinitionsArticle II
31-2Purposes§ 1.2
31-3Applicability of Provisions§ 1.4
31-4Interpretation & Application§ 1.5
31-5Agreements & Covenants§ 1.6
31-6Districts Enumerated§ 3.1
31-7District Boundaries§ 3.3.1
31-8Zoning Map§ 3.3.1
31-9Permits & Licenses§ 11.1.1
31-10Reasons for Refusal Must be in WritingBuilding Code
31-11Filing of Plans§ 11.1.2
31-12Permits Prior to Amendment of Chapter§ 4.5.1
31-13Alter, Enlargement of Non-Conforming Uses§ 4.5
31-14Certificate of OccupancyBuilding Code
31-15Special Permits§ 11.3
31-16Variances§ 11.2
31-17Amendment Procedures§ 1.7
31-18Applicability to Existing Buildings, Uses, etc§ 5.1.4
31-19(a)Lot Frontage§ 5.1
31-19(b)Reduction of Lot Area§ 5.1.9
31-20Nonconforming Uses§ 4.5
31-21Accessory UsesArticle XIII
31-22Signs§ 6.3
31-23Illumination§ 6.4
31-24Transition Requirements§ 5.2.5
31-25Removal of Material§ 7.4
31-26Board of Appeals§ 11.2
31-27Enforcement of Provisions§ 11.1.3
31-28Proceedings Regarding Violations§ 11.1.3
31.29Right of Entry§ 11.1.5
31-30Penalty for Violations§ 11.1
31-31District Uses§ 4.2
31-32Table of Use RegulationsArticle XII
31-33(a)Dimensional Regulations§ 5.1
31-33(b)Computation of Lot Area§ 5.1.2(1)
31-33(c)Lots with Multiple Buildings§ 5.1.3
31-33(d)Certain Residential Uses§ 5.2.1
31-33(e)S1 & S2 Districts§ 5.2.2
31-33(f)Construction Near Wetlands§ 5.2.35.2.2
31-33(g)Conversion of Larger Buildings§ 8.1
31-34Table of Dimensional Requirements§ 5.1
31-35(a)ANR LotsMGL c40A, s6
31-35(b)Lots in IPHR District§ 5.1.5
31-36Building Bulk§ 5.1.8
31-37Height Exceptions§ 5.2.75.2.5
31-38(a)Yards§ 5.1.6
31-38(b)Projections in Yards§ 5.1.7
31-38(c)Corner Lots§ 5.2.45.2.3
31-38(d)Exceptions to Yard Requirements§ 5.2.65.2.4
31-38(e)Private Yard Spacedeleted
31-38(f)Corner Clearance§ 5.2.85.2.6
31-39Open Space§ 5.3
31-40Intent & Application of Parking Requirements§ 6.1.1-6.1.3
31-41(a-c)Notes to Table of Parking Requirements§ 6.1.5
31-41(d)Parking in IPHR Districts§ 6.1.6(2)
31-41(e)Table of Parking Requirements§ 6.1.4
31-42(a-c)Location and Layout of Parking Facilities§ 6.1.6
31-42(d)Standards for Parking Facilities§ 6.1.7-6.1.9
31-42(e)Table of Parking Dimensions§ 6.1.10
31-42(f)Notes to Parking Dimensions§ 6.1.11
31-42(g)Garage Setbacks§ 5.1
31-42(h)Prohibitions in Parking Areas§ 6.1.12
31-43Intent and Application of Loading Requirements§ 6.2.1-6.2.3
31-44Table of Loading Requirements§§ 6.2.4, 6.2.5
31-45Location and Layout of Loading Facilities§ 6.2.6
31-46Flood Plain District Applicability§ 9.1.3
31-47Flood Plain District Purpose§ 9.1.1
31-48Flood Plain Definitions§ 9.1.4
31-49Floodplain District§ 9.1.2
31-50Floodplain Use Regulations§ 9.1.12
31-51Variances from Floodplain Regulations§§ 9.1.13, 9.1.14
31-52Conditions for Variances from Floodplain Regs.§§ 9.1.14, 11.2.2
31-53Floodplain Health Regulations§ 9.1.15
31-54Flood Insurance Study§ 9.1.16
31-54.1Wetlands Regulations5-120
Article VIISite Plan Review§ 11.4
Article VIIITelecommunications Overlay District§ 7.6
Article IXArtist Overlay District§ 9.2
Article XPlanned Development Mixed Use§ 10.1
Article XIPlanned Development Residential§ 8.2

Diagrams have been included in this zoning book for illustrative purposes only and have not been formally adopted as part of the Lowell Zoning Ordinance. The diagrams shall not be construed as altering any regulations expressed herein. Where a conflict exists, the expressed regulations in the Zoning Ordinances shall have precedence over the diagrams.

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