Massachusetts·Data as of Q4 2025

Boston, MA CAM Reconciliation Guide

Vacancy rates, property tax system, operating expense benchmarks, and market-specific CAM billing considerations for Boston, MA commercial landlords.

Current Vacancy Rates

19.2%
Office Vacancy
3.8%
Retail Vacancy
5.5%
Industrial Vacancy

Source: CBRE/JLL Q4 2025 Market Reports

Average CAM per Square Foot

$20.50
Office /SF/yr
$14.25
Retail /SF/yr
$6.75
Industrial /SF/yr

Property Tax System

Assessment Authority

City of Boston Assessing Department / Municipal assessors

Protest Procedure

File abatement application with local assessor by February 1. Appeal to Appellate Tax Board (ATB) if denied. Annual reassessment.

Effective Tax Rate

~1.7-2.5% (varies by municipality; Boston commercial rate ~2.5%)

Key Submarkets

Back Bay/PrudentialSeaport/Innovation DistrictCambridge/Kendall SquareFinancial DistrictRoute 128/BurlingtonWaltham/Watertown

CAM Billing Considerations

  • Life science/lab space creates unique CAM categories (HVAC intensity, clean rooms)
  • Split tax rates — commercial rate higher than residential in Boston
  • Seaport District flood/climate resilience costs emerging as CAM items
  • Kendall Square lab space has specialized operating expense structures
  • Older Back Bay buildings have complex base-year escalation structures
Local BOMA Chapter

BOMA Boston

Market Context

Boston's concentration of life science and lab space creates specialized CAM categories not found in typical office buildings. The split tax rate means commercial properties pay significantly more than residential, making tax pass-throughs a key audit focus.

Reconcile Boston, MA Properties

CapVeri accounts for market-specific vacancy, local tax timing, and property-type-specific expense pools in your reconciliation.

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