Housing
The Housing Office has moved to the Parker Annex 3rd floor, 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 175 “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’s Watertown Square plan will include recommended zoning that complies with the MBTA Communities law. The City’s compliance deadline is December 31, 2024.
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 2023 was $.012 per sf, bringing the fee to $11.24.
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
- FY2021 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.