Cambridge Community Preservation Act

The Community Preservation Act program is how Cambridge funds affordable housing, open space and historic preservation projects. Created by state law, the CPA was adopted locally by Cambridge voters in 2001, allowing the city to add a 3% surcharge to property tax bills. The Commonwealth adds matching funds each year, with the state match varying based on deed registry fees statewide and the number of communities that have adopted the act.

Each year the city must spend at least 10% of its CPA revenue on each of the three categories, with the remainder available for any of them. Affordable housing has received by far the largest share, about $250.5 million of the more than $323 million appropriated or reserved through FY26. Community organizations can submit letters of interest during the annual cycle, which includes public hearings on proposed projects and on how funding is split.

What to Know

• A nine-member CPA Committee appointed by the City Manager reviews projects and votes on recommendations.
• Each funding cycle produces a published Project Request Book and Project Recommendations Book.
• Meeting minutes, including joint sessions with the Affordable Housing Trust, are posted for public review.
• State matching funds have contributed about $72.5 million to Cambridge projects to date.