Zoning › State preemptions › Massachusetts

Massachusetts Outstanding Resource Waters & DCR Watershed Protection (MA)

Tracked preemption from the Massachusetts overlay bundle.

Overview

← All state preemptionsMassachusetts overlay roll-upMassachusetts zoning wikiMassachusetts building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Not flagged
Effective
1992-01-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:MA
Other Massachusetts preemptions
Massachusetts Chapter 40Y — Starter Home Zoning Districts (Opt-In)Massachusetts MBTA Communities Act — Multi-Family Zoning Requirement (MGL c. 40A §3A)Massachusetts Chapter 40S — Smart Growth School Cost ReimbursementMassachusetts Chapter 40R — Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District (Opt-In)Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act — Riverfront Area (MGL c. 131 §40)Boston Planning Department (former BPDA) Article 80 Development ReviewCape Cod Commission Regional Land Use Authority (St. 1989, c. 716)Massachusetts Solar PV Siting — DOER Statutory Preference (MGL c. 40A §3 ¶9)

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

OR
  • parcel.in_orw_watershed == True
  • parcel.in_dcr_watershed_protection_area == True

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
base_districts[*].discharge_permitsconstrainno_new_discharges_orwORW classification under 314 CMR 4.04(3): no new or increased discharges of pollutants except as authorized by DEP variance
base_districts[*].allowed_usesconstrainper_350_cmr_11_watershed_protectionWithin Quabbin/Wachusett/Ware watersheds: 350 CMR 11.00 restricts certain land uses (e.g., underground storage of regulated substances, large-scale animal operations) regardless of municipal zoning

Citation

Authority source
MGL c. 92 §§103-109 (Watershed Protection Act); 314 CMR 4.00 (Surface Water Quality Standards); 350 CMR 11.00 (DCR Watershed Protection Regulations)
§ MGL c. 92 §§103-109; 314 CMR 4.04(3); 350 CMR 11.00
https://www.mass.gov/regulations/350-CMR-1100-watershed-protection

Research notes

Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) per 314 CMR 4.04(3) include: all Class A public water supplies and tributaries, all ACEC waters, certified vernal pools, Wild & Scenic River segments. Watershed Protection Act (1992) — administered by DCR Division of Water Supply Protection — applies within Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, and Ware River watersheds (37 municipalities). 350 CMR 11.00 establishes Primary Protection Zone (within 400 ft of reservoir / 200 ft of tributary) and Secondary Zone with use restrictions. DCR review required for activities within zones; can override local zoning that would allow prohibited uses.