Can they turn me down for a housing voucher in Cambridge?
No. Vouchers count as income.
Turning you down for a voucher is illegal.
Why, and the exact law
Depends on the number of units or whether the owner lives in the building.
From the City of Cambridge, read Oct 1, 2026.Show the law
“Under the law, landlords, sellers and rental agents may use any reasonable standard to determine which applicants are selected, as long as that standard is applied equally and uniformly to all applicants …”
Cambridge Mun. Code ch. 14.04 · cambridgema.gov · found word for word in the source
State law applies here too. Where both cover a rental, the stricter city rule usually wins; each rule below says so.
Cambridge lawDepends on the building
Cambridge Fair Housing Ordinance: tenant selection and source-of-income protection
Can they turn me down for a housing voucher?
No. Vouchers count as income.
Turning you down for a voucher is illegal.
Depends on the number of units or whether the owner lives in the building.
Who it covers
Not owner-occupied buildings with 2 units or fewer.
Exemptions: Exemption for 2-family dwellings when the owner lives there.
The law, word for word
“Under the law, landlords, sellers and rental agents may use any reasonable standard to determine which applicants are selected, as long as that standard is applied equally and uniformly to all applicants …”
Fair housing law: ban on discrimination based on public assistance / housing subsidy
Can they turn me down for a housing voucher?
No. Vouchers count as income.
Turning you down for a voucher is illegal.
The law, word for word
“to discriminate against any individual who is a recipient of federal, state, or local public assistance, including medical assistance, or who is a tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements …”