Housing
Watertown Planning Office
The Department of Community Development & Planning, Division of Planning & Zoning is charged with overseeing the City's Affordable Housing Requirements (section 5.07 of the Watertown Zoning Ordinance), administering the City's HOME Investment Partnership Program funds, providing staff support to the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, and coordinating other housing-related projects and programs.
Watertown Housing Plan
The Watertown Affordable Housing Trust adopted a new Housing Plan on April 21, 2026. The Plan has been referred to the City Council's Committees on Economic Development & Planning and Human Services. The Council or its Committees will review proposals to implement the Plan's recommended strategies. The Plan was developed by the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust and covers the years 2026-2030.
The previous Housing Plan covered the years 2021-2025 and was approved by the City Council on March 23, 2015.
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).
Affordable Housing Incentives Study
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council completed an Affordable Housing Incentives Study in June 2026. The Study analyses incentives for more or deeper affordability within market rate developments and to incentivize affordable developments. The City Council's Committee on Human Services recommended the City Council direct the City administration to further analyze the study and develop options for implementing specific programs and policies based on the recommendations. Any future proposals to implement the Study's recommendations will be reviewed by the City Council.
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 $0.12 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.24. The adjustment for the full year 2024 was $0.26 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.50. The adjustment for the full year 2025 was $0.31 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.81.
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:
| Newton (lead member) | Bedford | Belmont | Brookline |
| Concord | Framingham | Lexington | Lincoln |
| Natick | Needham | Sudbury | Waltham |
| Wayland |
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 on filling out applications, information on new vacancies, and the overall affordable housing process.