Planning Board | City of Worcester
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The City of Worcester Planning Board has issued a public alert about scams involving impersonation of city officials requesting wire transfers for permits, clarifying that the city only accepts checks or online payments through official channels at planning@worcesterma.gov. The board reviews site plans, parking plans, subdivision plans, and makes recommendations on zoning changes; as of July 2025, all meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are available through the OneMeeting portal (with archived materials going back to 2021), and the board has recently updated its application review policy. The Planning Board accepts various permit applications including definitive site plans, subdivisions, parking plans, and special permits, which must be submitted as digital PDFs to the official planning email address.
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PLANNING BOARD Important Notice: Please be advised of an ongoing scam where City officials are being impersonated asking for payment related to planning and zoning permits. The City of Worcester will never request wire transfers. All email correspondence regarding pending board/commission applications will come from an @worcesterma.gov email address (e.g., planning@worcesterma.gov) and any fees due in connection with an application will be requested by check, to be delivered in person or by mail to 455 Main Street, 4th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 or will be requested within the OpenGov Permitting and licensing portal for any on-line applications. The Planning Board's responsibilities include reviewing site plans, parking plans and subdivision plans; proposing and making recommendations regarding zoning ordinance changes; and supporting long-range planning initiatives. Board Profile How to Join UPCOMING MEETINGS Please review the Meeting Schedule for meeting dates and application deadlines. If you wish to submit comments to the Planning & Regulatory Services Division on a project, please submit our Board & Commissions Public Comment Form no less than 48 hours before the public meeting. As of July 2025, all current/upcoming agendas and archived meeting minutes are now available through our partner OneMeeting. Archived agendas and minutes are currently available going back to 2021, with older archived files added on an ongoing basis. For meeting materials prior to this time period, please submit a Public Records Request. Additionally, all meeting videos will be available on the OneMeeting Portal from July 2025 moving forward. Videos prior to this time will still be available in our Video On Demand, but will be migrated to the OneMeeting portal on an ongoing basis. View Meetings Applications & Meeting Materials PERMITS & APPLICATIONS The Planning Board's 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. Applications: 81-G Street Opening ANR (Approval Under Subdivision Not Required) - Apply Online Definitive Site Plan Definitive Site Plan - Amendment Definitive Site Plan - Extension of Time Definitive Subdivisions Definitive Subdivisions Amendment Definitive Subdivisions Frontage Definitive Subdivisions Plan - More than One Building on a Lot Parking Plan - Accessory Lots Parking Plan - Amendment Parking Plan - Non-Accessory or Display Lots Preliminary Site Plan Preliminary Subdivisions Preliminary Subdivisions Plan - More than One Building on a Lot Special Permit - Accessory Dwelling Unit Special Permit - Adaptive Reuse of Non-Profit School Special Permit - Adaptive Reuse Overlay District Special Permit - Adult Use Marijuana Special Permit – Amendment Special Permit - Cluster Zoning Special Permit - Commercial Corridor Overlay District (CCOD) Special Permit - Common Driveway Special Permit - Comprehensive Sign Plan Approval Special Permit - Continuing Care - Retirement Community Special Permit - Extension of Time Special Permit - Inclusionary Zoning Incentives Special Permit - Water Resources Protection Overlay District Special Permit - Wind Energy Conversion Facility Please note the following: The ANR (Approval Under Subdivision Not Required) is available on our online permitting portal. If needed, certified abutters lists should be obtained from the City's Assessing Office, Room 209, City Hall for a small fee. Please contact Assessing at least one week in advance to ensure timely receipt. NEW STREET NUMBERING / CHANGE OF ADDRESS REQUEST The City of Worcester's Planning and Regulatory Services Division is responsible for the assignment of addresses and unit numbers under Worcester GRO Chapter 12 § 9. Worcester offers a number of services related to address assignment: New Street Number/Address Address Verification Changing an Address Learn More ZONING ORDINANCE & MAP The City's Zoning Ordinance and Map are tools for land use planning. Each zone classification guides the physical development of the city through a set of requirements set forth in the City of Worcester's Zoning Ordinance as amended. Learn More GUIDELINES Angled Parking Guidelines Design Guidelines 2012 Guidelines for Traffic Studies Tree Planting for Resilience Guide Recommended Tree Species for Worcester Streetscape Policy 2012 WFD Truck Details and Dimensions RULES & REGULATIONS Application Fee Schedule Parking Plan Approvals Site Plan Approvals Special Permits Street Naming Guidelines Subdivisions RESOURCES Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission Visit Site Inclusionary Zoning Visit Site Inclusionary Zoning Density Bonus Worksheet - Working Version, April 2024 (Excel File) View Zoning Determination Form View CONTACT INFORMATION Address Planning & Regulatory Services City Hall Room 404 455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608 Contact Phone: 508-799-1400 Fax: 508-799-1406 Email Us Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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The City of Worcester's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a five-member volunteer regulatory board appointed by the City Manager that holds public hearings on special permit applications, variance requests to deviate from zoning requirements, applications for privileged non-conforming structures, and appeals of Building Commissioner zoning decisions. The ZBA evaluates applications against criteria in the Zoning Ordinance and may impose conditions on approvals to protect public health, safety, or welfare. As of July 2025, all current and upcoming agendas, archived meeting minutes dating back to 2021, and meeting videos are available through the OneMeeting portal; public comments must be submitted at least 48 hours before meetings using the Board & Commissions Public Comment Form. The City of Worcester warns of ongoing scams impersonating city officials requesting wire transfers for permits, and clarifies that legitimate permit fees are requested by check or through the OpenGov portal only.
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