Cambridge Zoning Provisions Recognizing the Value of Solar

Cambridge’s zoning code defines solar energy systems and explicitly finds that they “are viewed as potentially valuable contributors to meeting the City’s objective of encouraging sustainable development and energy conservation. However, the complex nature of urban development in the city limits the extent to which the city’s zoning regulations can be employed to guarantee long-term access to sunlight on a wide geographic basis. Therefore, the following provisions are intended to provide limited support for such systems and to raise awareness of their contribution to the objectives of this Article 22.000 on the part of the general public and property owners.” Under separate provisions, rooftop solar equipment is exempt from otherwise applicable height restrictions. See Cambridge, Mass. Zoning Code § 5.23.