21.218 An Ordinance to Amend Zero Lot Line Section of Code - POST CRCity of Northampton
MASSACHUSETTS
In the Year Two Thousand Twenty One
Upon the Recommendation of Mayor David J. Narkewicz and Planning & Sustainability
21.218 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ZERO LOT LINE SECTION OF CODE
An Ordinance of the City of Northampton, Massachusetts, providing that the Code of Ordinances, City of
Northampton, Massachusetts, be amended to alter the requirements of Zero Lot Line projects in order
to maintain more consistent setbacks within neighborhoods.
Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Northampton, in City Council assembled, as follows:
Move subsection 10.14 to a new Subsection in Chapter 350-6 and amend as shown
§ 350-10.146.13Zero lot line (ZLL) developments.
Zero lot line (ZLL) developments are developments, or portions of developments, where house
lots have a minimum side yard setback of zero feet on one side (the "zero lot line"), while the
opposite side meets the standard side yard setback of the district, if the following standards are
met:
A. If a garage or other parking structure is built, it must be set back at least twice the
normal front yard setback, or the garage/structure must cover no more than 25% of the
front facade of the principal structure; and
B.A. The zero lot line side of a house must:
1) Abut permanently protected open space where the owner can show a
maintenance easement, as defined below, will be granted; or
2) Abut the lot line of a lot which is under the control of the same property owner at
the time the zero lot line development is proposed and
i. shares a party wall with the abutting structure on the separate parcel OR
has a reduced side setback of up to 5’.
i.ii. Abuts the typical setback area of an adjoining zero lot line lot under the
same ownership. However the last such lot in a series as described under
the same ownership shall have 2x the typical setback on the shared
setback and a typical setback on the side of a non-zero lot line.;
i.
ii.
C.B. A five-foot maintenance easement must be granted to the owner of a house on a
zero lot line by the abutting property in 2(ii) above to allow normal maintenance. Said
easement may allow a roof overhang of up to two feet and may allow roof drainage to
sheet flow into the easement area. In addition, private covenants may be required to
insure proper maintenance of the house abutting the zero lot line; and
C. There shall be a minimum of four shade trees of not less than 2.51.5 inches' caliper
planted or maintained on each lot in accordance with the City’s Tree List & Planting
Guidelines, including two along the street frontage. (See also § 350-6.5D.)
D. Only one principal structure per lot is allowed.
E. Any detached accessory structure on the lot must meet the minimum setbacks for such
structures.