Housing

The Housing office has moved to the Parker Building room 2A, located at 124 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02472. See the google map and get directions.

Watertown Planning Office

The Planning Office is charged with overseeing the City's Affordable Housing Requirements (section 5.07 of the Watertown Zoning Ordinance), administering the HOME Investment Partnership Program funds, providing staff support to the Watertown Housing Partnership, and coordinating other housing-related projects and programs.

Watertown Housing Plan

The City Council approved a new Housing Plan (PDF) on March 23, 2021. The Council's Committees on Economic Development & Planning and Human Services will review proposals to implement the Plan's recommended strategies. The Watertown Housing Partnership developed the Plan, which covers the years 2021 through 2025.

Watertown Affordable Housing Trust

For information on the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust and its members, please read this page.

MBTA Communities Legislation

The state’s zoning statute was amended in 2021 to require 177 “MBTA Communities” to have at least one zoning district of “reasonable size” in which multi-family housing is permitted “as of right” within ½ mile of a transit station. The City Council adopted zoning that complies with the MBTA Communities law on November 14, 2024. The Commonwealth issued a determination of compliance on April 9, 2025.

Fair Housing

The 1968 Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability, and commits recipients of federal funding to affirmatively further fair housing in their communities.  As stated most recently in a 2021 City Council resolution, Watertown as an inclusive community committed to fair housing and promoting appropriate activities by private and public entities to provide and advocate for equal housing opportunities for all residents and prospective residents.  If you think you might have a fair housing complaint, please read the City’s complaint procedure (PDF) and complaint forms (PDF).

Linkage fee for Affordable Housing

In April 2023, the City adopted a linkage fee for affordable housing. The fee applies to new non-residential developments of 30,000 square feet or more. Section 5.07, Zoning Ordinance. The linkage fee was set at $11.12 per square foot, plus an annual inflation adjustment. The adjustment for the April-December 2023 period was $.012 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.24. The adjustment for the full year 2024 was $.026 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.50. 

WestMetro HOME Consortium

The WestMetro HOME Consortium provides funding and technical assistance to its 14 member communities to support local and regional affordable housing goals. In addition to Watertown, the HOME Consortium communities include:

Since 1992, the Consortium has provided grants and loans of HOME funds to for-and non-profit developers and directly to low-income households to create over 550 units of affordable housing within the Consortium member communities.

Housing Resources

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Services Available

Watertown partners with Cambridge Neighborhood Apartment Housing Services, Inc. (CNAHS) to provide foreclosure prevention counseling services to Watertown residents. If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, call CNAHS at 617-491-1545. 

Shelter Directory

See a list of shelters (PDF) for men, women, families and youth as produced by Health Care Without Walls, a charitable organization based in Wellesley, MA.

HOME Program Plans

• West Metro HOME Consortium Consolidated Plan
• Annual Action Plan
• Revised Citizen Participation Plan (PDF): The Citizen Participation Plan for the Annual Action Plan and Consolidated Plan.

Metro West Collaborative Development

Watertown works closely with Metro West Collaborative Development, a private, non-profit located at 79-B Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458 to develop affordable housing.

Metro West Collaborative Housing Clinics

MWCD offers housing clinics (PDF) on filling out applications, information on new vacancies, and the overall affordable housing process.