Planning & Zoning

The Planning & Zoning offices have moved to the Parker Building room 2A, located at 124 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02472. See the google map and get directions.

The Planning and Zoning Division was created in July 2024 when the DCDP was reorganized. It includes Current Planning, including all land use permitting and site plan review through the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.  It also includes Housing, Transportation, and Historic Preservation Functions. 

photo of a very old house with trees in the background and a cloudy skyHistoric Preservation

photo of a key and house shaped keychain, and a picture of a door lockHousing

photo of two people's hands pointing at a piece of paperLong Range Planning

photo of the side front of a bus, with two people sitting on a bench in the backgroundTransportation

colorful image of a zoning mapZoning


Current Planning

Current Planning includes projects in development or permitting before one of our land use boards including:

This page includes all the information you need to apply for land use permits for one of these boards, review current projects in the process, locate meeting times and agendas, review design guidelines and other city resources and guidance for project development.

Conservation Commission

Historic District Commission

Historical Commission

Planning Board

Zoning Board of Appeals


Not sure where to start?  Contact Zoning and Code Enforcement.


The Planning Board reviews requests for site plan review of larger projects and projects where the uses are “by right” particularly in the Watertown Square area.  In addition, they review all requests for changes to the Zoning Ordinance.

The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews requests for variances from the Zoning Ordinance and for Special Permits as required in the ordinance for specific areas or uses.

    

illustration of a clipboard and pencilphoto of people at a meeting with some of them raising their handsphoto of seven magnifying glasses randomly on a yellow backgroundmap graphic
Apply for a PermitMeetingsProject LookupGuidance and Resources
2025 Meeting Calendar and Deadline Schedule (PDF)

2026 Meeting Calendar and Deadline Schedule

Applications

Policies & Guidance

Planning Board

Zoning Board of Appeals

Developer Community Meetings
Permit & Property Search

Recently Submitted Project Reports
Guidance & Resources Page

Zoning Map

Zoning Ordinance

Flood Information

Design Standards and Guidelines

Massachusetts General Law, c. 40A