Zero Net Carbon Zoning Implementation
May 19, 2025
The passage of the Zero Net Carbon Zoning in Boston at the end of January, 2025, detailed in this blogpost, means that on July 1, 2025, most new buildings with 15 or more units or 20,000 square feet, and additions of 50,000 square feet, will be required to meet a Net Zero Carbon emissions standard. This standard requires net zero operational emissions upon a building’s opening, embodied carbon reporting, and a LEED certifiable requirement. Labs will be given until 2035 to comply, and hospitals and manufacturing will be given until 2045 to comply with Net Zero Carbon emissions.
The Boston Planning Department requested a focus group with A Better City, held on May 7th, 2025, to discuss implementation of the new zoning regulations. A presentation and recording are available.
The presentation focused on the implementation of procedures and the timeline for small and large project review. The procedure for small project review (15+ units or 20,000+ square feet up to 50,000 square feet) requires:
- A small project review application
- A small project Article 37 checklist
- A Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Acknowledgement Letter (template provided)
- There are NO LEED Green Building requirements for small project applications
The procedure for large project review (50,000 square feet +) requires:
- A large project notification form
- A large project Article 37 checklist
- A LEED certifiable green building summary and report
- An Embodied Carbon Life Cycle Assessment Report
- A Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Acknowledgement Letter (template provided)
The key discussion points focused on the need to streamline reporting requirements including:
- A suggestion not to require full LEED reports to be uploaded when a simple certificate should be adequate to show compliance.
- A request to explain the goals of the Embodied Carbon Reporting, why the discussion on embodied carbon takes place at the beginning of the process, the reason for tracking non-mandated items in the regulations, and to make sure this reporting doesn’t slow down the review process.
- A question about the timing of the Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Acknowledgement Letter at the beginning of the process, and the timing and details of the reporting template that is in development.
- The possibility of providing an expedited review process, and the criteria for this.
We will continue to keep you updated on the ZNC Zoning implementation as the process continues. In the meantime, please reach out to Yve Torrie for more information or with any questions.
