The Planning and Development Department’s Preservation Planners are the first stop in the project review process. Types of review include Demolition Review for alterations to or demolition of buildings and structures over 50 years of age, Local Historic District Review for exterior alterations within Newton’s Local Historic Districts, and Landmark Review / Preservation Restriction Review for alterations to Newton City Landmarks or properties which have a Preservation Restriction on them held by the City of Newton. Other types of review including commenting on Section 106 projects or other historic preservation related projects are also provided by the Planning Department and Newton Historical Commission. If you are seeking comments on another type of preservation related project, please submit a letter to Preservation Planner, Planning and Development Department, Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton MA 02459 with a detailed project description and supporting documentation. When contemplating changes, applicants are encouraged to consult the City of Newton Historic Preservation Design Guidelines available on the Reports and Studies webpage.

Applications are available online: https://newtonma.viewpointcloud.com/

To look up property information including historic designations, please use the Newton GIS Browser.

City of Newton Planning Application Process

The City of Newton is moving online to a new system, NewGov (hosted by OpenGov).  NewGov is an interdepartmental software that allows increased efficiency across departments and for the public.

What does this mean?

The process for submitting all planning applications has changed. The Planning Department will stop accepting e-mailed and paper applications (except for 5 paper copies of plans for special permits). NewGov will be how an applicant submits all applications (zoning review, special permits, rezonings, administrative site plan review, variances, ZBA appeals, sign review, historic district review, demolition review, local landmark review, preservation restriction review, wetlands permitting, comprehensive permits, and fence appeals, along with building permits).  You can access the NewGov storefront to submit applications here: https://newtonma.viewpointcloud.com/

How does it work?

NewGov functions like many other online application systems and mirrors the current application requirements and process, however everything will be submitted online.  NewGov allows the applicant and City Staff to communicate within the system at each step of their application and allows applicants to easily track all their applications. Information about creating an account and applying can be found here: https://stories.opengov.com/newtonma/published/aCNzPz4zv

Completed applications must be submitted by 5:00pm 3 weeks before the next scheduled meeting date to the planning and development department’s preservation planner.

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