Zoning Board of Appeal Tracker

### TO VIEW A GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR THE DIRECTORY - [CLICK HERE](https://data.boston.gov/dataset/zoning-board-of-appeal-tracker/resource/e11dcfa5-6f6f-4999-abc3-741f53c6731f)
 

### WHAT IS THIS TRACKER FOR?
The City of Boston is committed to increasing transparency in the processes around the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA). The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) at the City is tasked with ensuring compliance with the zoning code. If an application for a permit is refused because of a zoning violation, applicants are able to appeal the decision to the ZBA and ask for an exception, sometimes known as a “variance.” If the ZBA grants relief, then the appellant is able to continue with the process of obtaining a permit.  

In order to provide greater transparency in the ZBA process, the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeal tracker is now available on Analyze Boston. Each record in this tracker represents an appeal of a denied permit application; the original permit application is known as the “parent application.” To find out more information about the original permit application, visit our [Permit Finder tool](https://permitfinder.boston.gov/).  To view a map of this data, visit our [ZBA Tracker Map Tool](https://www.boston.gov/appeal-tracker).

__To learn more about the ZBA process and how to file an appeal, [visit our website](https://www.boston.gov/departments/inspectional-services/how-file-appeal-zoning-board#start-the-appeal-process).__ 
   
  

### WHAT DOES EACH STATUS MEAN?
__Appeal Submitted__ - indicates that an appeal of a zoning refusal was successfully submitted into ISD’s tracking system, either in-person at ISD (1010 Massachusetts Ave.) or through the online application portal.

_More Information:_ 

* For detailed information on how to file an appeal, see [this page](http://boston.gov/zba-appeal) on the ISD website. 

_Next steps:_  

* The appeal will undergo an initial review by City staff to ensure that all necessary information and 
    documentation has been included.
* The appellant must pay a fee.
  

__Community Process__ - indicates that City staff have completed their review and signed off for the appeal process to move onto getting community feedback.  

_Contact Information:_

* Use the link below to find the Neighborhood Liaison from the Office of Neighborhood Services for the application’s location.

_Next steps:_    

* The appellant will work with the Mayor’s [Office of Neighborhood Services](https://www.boston.gov/departments/neighborhood-services) to engage with people who own adjacent properties, members of the local community, and other relevant stakeholders.  

* Depending on the type of project, the [Boston Planning and Development Agency](http://www.bostonplans.org/zoning/zoning-board-of-appeals) may also [conduct a review](http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/9b57370e-5a54-4d8d-b275-b93e1d7d42e1).  
  
 
__[Hearing Scheduled](https://www.boston.gov/departments/inspectional-services/zoning-board-appeal)__ - indicates that the appeal has been scheduled for a committee or subcommittee meeting of the ZBA. For this to take place, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services has notified ISD that the appellant has adequately engaged with the community that would be affected, should the zoning relief be granted.  

_Attendance Information:_

* View a schedule of hearings at the ZBA [webpage](https://www.boston.gov/departments/inspectional-services/zoning-board-appeal#UpcomingHearings). Select an Upcoming Hearing to find the list of topics and how to attend.

_Next steps:_  
 
* The appellant will attend the hearing in person (or through the virtual meeting). The appellant will provide the ZBA with reasons why an exception or variance to the zoning code should be granted and answer any questions from the ZBA.  

* At the hearing, members of the public will be able to testify in support or against the appeal.  

* The ZBA will discuss the appeal and vote to approve or deny.  

_Alternatively:_  

* The appellant can request a deferral; if allowed by the ZBA, during the hearing the appeal will receive a new hearing date.  

* The appellant can withdraw the application; if allowed by the ZBA, it can be withdrawn without prejudice.  

__Hearing Rescheduled__ - indicates that the appeal’s scheduled committee meeting has been changed. This can happen for several reasons. For example, the appellant can request a deferral if they need more time to complete or update plans, or the board can defer an appeal if a quorum isn’t present (perhaps due to a recusal). A request for deferral is approved by the board, which also selects a new hearing date.

_Next steps:_

* Same as Hearing Scheduled above.


__Hearing Concluded__ - indicates that the hearing has taken place. The appeal could have been approved, denied, deferred, or withdrawn, with or without additional requirements.  

_Additional Information:_

* Meeting minutes from each committee meeting are available to download from the ZBA [webpage](https://www.boston.gov/departments/inspectional-services/zoning-board-appeal).

_Next steps:_  

* The ZBA Executive Secretary finalizes the Board’s decision in writing or the appellant’s attorney submits a finalized decision for ISD Legal Team review.  
  

__[ZBA Decision Finalized](https://www.boston.gov/departments/inspectional-services/zoning-board-appeal-decisions)__ - indicates the date on the ZBA’s written decision letter. The decision is listed under the ‘result’ field.  
 
_Next steps:_    

*  Neighboring property owners are notified of the decision shortly after this date  

* Beginning on the Final Decision Date, neighboring property owners and other involved parties who disagree with the ZBA’s decision have twenty days to file an appeal in Suffolk County Superior Court or Boston Housing Court. (For detailed information on the Zoning Commission and appeal process, please refer to Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, available [here](https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2020/02/Zoning%20Commission.pdf))  
  

__Appeal Closed__ - indicates the appeal’s outcome has been finalized and the twenty day Appeal period has ended.

_Next steps:_  

* Depending on the ZBA decision, the appellant may or may not be able to continue the process for seeking the permit for which zoning relief was requested.  

* If the ZBA approved or sustained with proviso, the appellant must take additional steps before continuing the permitting process.  

### WHAT DOES EACH RESULT MEAN?  
__Approved__ - means the zoning relief requested has been granted.  

__Approved with Proviso__ - means the zoning relief requested has been granted, with some conditions that must be fulfilled before the permitting process can continue. These conditions will be detailed in the written decision of the ZBA. Examples of such conditions could include: having the Boston Planning and Development Agency review updated plans; submitting more detailed plans; or obtaining additional engineer reports.  

__Denied__ - means the zoning relief requested was not granted. The appellant must wait a year before submitting a new appeal on a project for the same site.   

__Denied without Prejudice__ - means the zoning relief requested was not granted. However, the appellant only has to wait thirty days before submitting an appeal on a new project at the same site.  
   
__Withdrawn__ - means the appellant has chosen to remove the appeal from the ZBA’s consideration. The appellant does not have to wait a year to appeal the same zoning violations.    

_Note: If there is no result listed, it means that the ZBA has not issued its final written decision on the appeal. This may be the case even for appeals that have been heard by the ZBA._  
 

### HOW DO I USE THIS TRACKER?  
This tracker is designed for members of the public and City of Boston employees to be able to quickly search for a specific appeal that has been submitted to the ZBA, or to search for appeals based on criteria such as location or primary contact, in order to identify the status of the appeal. 
 
Below, under the "Data and Resources" header, you will see the "Zoning Board of Appeal Tracker" dataset:
 
* To __look__ at the directory - click the "Preview" button and you will be taken to a spreadsheet-like view of the directory data.


* To __expand__ the number of applications available to scroll through, click the "Show _ Entries" drop down at the top left of the data table and select your desired number. Alternatively, you can scroll to the bottom right of the dataset and select your desired page number.


* To __search__ the tracker - use the search box to the top right of the data table to search for any keyword in the dataset. For example, if you are looking for a certain contact, type the name into the search box and see what comes back.


* To __filter__ the data, click the blue "Add Filter" link at the top left of the data table, select the field you would like to filter on, and select the corresponding value of that field that you would like to display. For example - if you wanted to show applications for properties in Charlestown, you would click "Add Filter", select the "city" field, and select "Charlestown". You can add multiple filters.


* To __sort__ the data based on a specific field, click the arrows next to the field name to sort in either ascending or descending order.


* To __hide__ columns that aren't relevant to you, click the blue "Hide/Unhide Columns" button at the top right of the data table, and click on the desired column names. Hidden column names will be highlighted in white. To unhide a column, simply click it again.


* The Data Dictionary - which explains what each field means and what the values of each field mean - is available as a table below the directory, and is also available as a PDF under the "Data and Resources" header.


* If you prefer to work with this data on your own in Microsoft Excel or another tool - you can click "Download". Any filters you apply or columns you hide will be reflected in the download.

Tags: appeal, board of appeal, construction, development, housing, inspectional services, permit, permitting, planning, zoning
Organization: Inspectional Services Department