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Doing Business Here
Watertown’s Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP) is committed to supporting all types of business and industry in Watertown. With staff dedicated to transportation, zoning, code enforcement, sustainability, conservation, arts & culture, and economic development, the Department should be your first stop for any business inquiries in Watertown! View the DCDP Directory to connect with staff.
Economic Development Toolkit for guidance on doing business in Watertown. (Coming Soon)
1. Starting a business: talk to Economic Development early in your process to help navigate site selection, permitting, and other startup needs.
2. Check the zoning maps to make sure your business is allowed. Take a look at our Simplified Use Table for reference, but bear in mind that it is not an official or regulatory document. The official zoning code and ordinances take precedence over any information on this site or the PDF use table.
3. Watertown offices: depending on the type of business you operate, you may need to get licenses and permits from a number of Watertown boards or offices. See below. (Note – this is not a comprehensive list. Check with these offices directly for the most accurate information.)
| City Clerk | Board of Health | Licensing Board | Planning Board | Zoning Board of Appeals | Inspectional Services Division |
| Common Victualler’s License; Food Service permit; liquor license; certificate of business | Sanitation codes and wastewater management; one-day licenses for food or alcohol | Liquor licenses; entertainment license; auto repair; cab/limousine operator | Site and design review; special permits | Site and design review; special permits | Building codes; certificate of occupancy |
4. Other Resources: Economic Development can also connect you to state agencies and resources for technical assistance, funding opportunities, and more. We’re always happy to make an introduction:
Mass Office of Business Development (MOBD)
MOBD helps businesses of all sizes with relocating or expanding their operations in Massachusetts. Their particular focus is on job creation and retention, and their regional directors work directly with businesses to connect them with resources and assistance.
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio)
A membership organization dedicated to the promotion and support of the biosciences. Members benefit from the organization’s policy and advocacy work, as well as resources and networking opportunities.
Mass Life Sciences Center was established in 2007 with a $1.6 billion investment from the Commonwealth. Since their founding, they have deployed more than $700 million of funding into the life sciences sector. Their funding programs are open to everyone from high school students to for-profit corporations to university researchers.
Mass Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
MassCEC administers programs to support emerging climate tech companies, technologies and jobs. They work to position the Commonwealth as the number one hub for climate and clean energy innovations, much as Mass Life Sciences Center has done for the life sciences industry. Their funding programs cover a range of opportunities.
Mass Development offers programs to support community development and other real estate ventures in the Commonwealth. They have non-traditional financing programs that can help fund capital projects for both public and private use.
Mass Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC)
MGCC provides technical and financial assistance to small businesses in the Commonwealth. Their programs include microloans, crowdfunding matches through Biz-M-Power, and special financing for up to $2 million for capital needs.
Mass Econ is a membership organization that promotes doing business in the Commonwealth. Their Ready Mass 100 database identifies properties that are certified as already zoned, permitted, served by infrastructure, and ready for move-in. They also maintain demographic snapshots of all the communities in Massachusetts and offer comparison tools.