Bay Village is one of the smallest and least recognized neighborhoods in Boston, it borders the Back Bay and South End. The architecture is similar to that of Beacon Hill. The craftspeople who built the homes on Beacon Hill settled in Bay Village and built their local residences for their own use. In 1983, the Boston City Council enacted an ordinance forbidding exterior alterations in the Bay Village without the approval of a Historic District Commission, thus preserving Bay Village's charm and uniqueness for generations to come.