× IMPORTANT UPDATE: Several City buildings offering municipal services are open to the public by appointment only, including City Hall. More Info

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a volunteer regulatory board consisting of five regular and two associate members appointed by the City Manager. The ZBA holds public hearings concerning the following items:

  • Applications for a special permit to allow certain uses that require discretionary approval of the ZBA. The ZBA considers these cases by evaluating criteria established in the Zoning Ordinance, and may impose conditions on an approval that they deem as necessary to protect the health, safety or general welfare of the public;
  • Applications for a special permit or variance to deviate from specific zoning requirements, such as minimum lot size, dimensional limits on density of development and height of buildings, and required setbacks from adjacent properties;
  • Applications for extension, change or alteration of structures or uses that do not meet current zoning requirements, but did meet regulations in place at the time of their establishment. These “Privledged non-conforming” structures or uses may be extended, changed or altered by grant of a special permit.
  • Appeals of zoning decisions by the Building Commissioner.

Board Profile How to Join

Meetings

Meet 1 - 2 times  per month on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.

Please review the Meeting Schedule for meeting dates and application deadlines.

Date/Time of Next Meeting: Monday October 5th, 2020

Notice: Governor Baker issued an executive order allowing for use of a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. Learn More...

December 9 November 18 October 28 October 7 September 9 August 12 July 22 July 1 June 10 May 20 April 29 April 8 March 18 February 25 February 4 January 14
December 17 November 26 November 5 October 15 October 1 September 17 August 27 August 6 July 16 June 25 May 14 April 23 March 26 March 5 February 12 January 22 January 8
December 11 November 27 November 6 October 16 September 18 August 28 August 7 July 17 June 26 June 5 May 15 April 24 April 5 March 27 March 6 February 13 January 23
December 19 November 28 November 7 October 17 September 19 August 29 August 1 July 11 June 20 May 23 May 2 April 11 March 21 February 29 February 8 January 11
December 14 November 9 October 26 October 5 September 21 August 17 July 27 July 6 June 15 May 18 April 27 April 6 March 16 February 23 February 2 January 12
December 15 December 1 November 10 October 20 September 22 August 18 July 28 July 7 June 16 May 19 May 5 April 7 March 17 February 24 February 3 January 13 March 26
December 2 November 4 October 21 September 30 September 9 August 19 July 29 July 8 June 17 May 20 April 29 April 8 March 25 March 4 February 11 January 28 January 7
December 17 November 26 November 19 October 29 October 15 September 24 September 17 August 27 August 13 July 16 June 25 June 4 May 14 April 23 March 26 March 5 February 13 January 30 January 9
December 12 November 21 October 17 September 19 August 29 August 8 July 18 June 27 June 6 June 1 May 16 April 25 April 20 April 4 March 14 February 28 January 31 January 10
December 20 November 29 November 8 October 21 October 18 September 20 August 30 August 2 July 12 June 21 May 24 May 3 April 12 March 22 March 1 February 8 January 25 January 4
December 21 November 23 November 2 October 19 September 21 August 31 August 10 July 20 June 29 June 10 June 8 May 20 May 11 April 27 April 6 March 23 March 9 February 23 February 9 January 26 January 12
December 15 December 1 November 17 November 3 October 20 October 6 September 22 September 8 August 25 August 11 July 21 June 23 June 9 May 12 April 28 April 7 March 24 March 10 February 25 February 11 January 28 January 14
December 10 November 26 October 29 October 15 September 24 September 10 August 27 August 13 July 23 July 9 June 25 June 11 May 14 April 23 April 9 March 26 March 12 February 26 February 12 January 22 January 8
December 18 November 27 November 13 October 30 October 16 September 25 September 11 August 28 August 14 July 24 July 10 June 26 June 12 May 22 May 8 April 24 April 10 March 27 March 13 February 27 February 13 January 23 January 9
December 19 November 28 November 14 October 17 September 26 September 12 August 15 July 11 June 27 June 13 May 23 May 9 April 25 April 11 March 28 March 14 February 28 February 14 January 24 January 10
December 20 December 6 November 22 November 8 October 18 September 27 September 13 August 16 July 12 June 28 June 14 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 22 March 8 February 23 February 9 January 26 January 12
December 15 December 1 November 17 November 3 October 20 October 6 September 22 September 8 August 11 July 28 July 14 June 23 June 9 May 19 April 28 April 14 March 24 March 10 February 24 February 10 January 27 January 13
December 16 December 2 November 18 November 4 October 21 October 7 September 23 September 9 August 12 July 15 June 17 June 3 May 20 May 6 April 22 March 25 March 11 February 25 February 11 January 28
December 3 November 19 October 29 September 24 September 10 August 13 July 9 June 25 June 11 May 21 May 7 April 23 April 9 March 26 March 12 February 26 February 12 January 22 January 8
December 11 November 27 November 13 October 30 October 16 September 25 September 11 August 14 July 17 June 26 June 12 May 22 April 24 April 10 March 27 March 13 February 28 February 14 January 24 January 10
December 20 November 22 November 8 October 18 September 27 September 13 August 16 July 19 June 28 June 14 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 22 March 8 February 22 February 8 January 11

Applications

The Zoning Board of Appeals' policy regarding receipt of complete applications and procedures for receipt of revisions as well as postponements and continuations has recently changed. Please refer to our Application Review Policy or contact Planning Division staff for more information.

Please note that a digital copy of all applications, plans and materials must be submitted as a PDF file to planning@worcesterma.gov. Please refer to applicable instructions for additional details.

Resources

For information on all city permits, licenses and fees, visit Permit Center

Contact Information

Planning & Regulatory Services
City Hall Room 404
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Accessible via WRTA Bus Line. View Schedules

Phone: 508-799-1400
Fax: 508-799-1406
Email Us

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

More Info - Appointment Hours

About Worcester

Quick Links

City of Worcester
Customer Service Line
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
508-929-1300
Contact Us

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram Icons
ALERTWorcester Logo  Smart911 Logo
City of Worcester Seal Image Worcester Public Schools Seal Image Worcester Public Library Logo
Home | Login | Disclaimer | Site Map

© 2020 Copyright City of Worcester, MA. All Rights Reserved.

Official City of Worcester, MA Website WorcesterMA.gov