Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-9 § 10-9.3
Policy Statement
Operative Text
It is the policy of the city to ensure that every program and/or initiative which targets or intends to target housing and was/is created, developed, implemented, administered, required, supervised, managed and/or guided by the city shall, to the greatest extent allowable under law, include a preference for Boston residents. Since this policy instills only a preference for Boston residents, it does not, and it is not the intention of this policy to, exclude non-residents of the city from such programs and/or initiatives. This policy shall be construed broadly to effect the intended purpose of installing the aforementioned preference.
Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-9 § 10-9.3 establishes a citywide policy that housing programs and initiatives created, administered, or overseen by the City of Boston must give preference to Boston residents to the fullest extent the law permits. This preference does not amount to an outright exclusion of non-residents, who remain eligible to participate in covered programs. The provision is intended to be interpreted broadly so that the preference is applied as widely as possible across qualifying housing efforts.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers participating in city-administered or city-guided housing programs should be aware that Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-9 § 10-9.3 directs those programs to prioritize Boston residents in their selection or eligibility processes. Compliant operators generally review program guidelines to understand how the residency preference is applied within each specific initiative they participate in. Because the preference does not bar non-residents entirely, operators typically document how applicant pools are structured to reflect the policy's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Boston Municipal Code ch. 10-9 § 10-9.3, Boston residents have a recognized preference in city-connected housing programs and initiatives, which can be relevant when evaluating eligibility or application outcomes. Tenants who believe a city-affiliated housing program has not honored this residency preference may consider raising the issue with the administering agency or a local tenant-rights organization. Non-residents are not excluded from these programs, but understanding how the preference operates within a particular initiative can help applicants navigate the process.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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