The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) defines Affordable Housing as housing where the occupant is paying no more than 30% of gross income on housing, including utilities. Households paying more than 30% of gross income on housing are considered “cost burdened”.

Generally, the State of Connecticut considers housing to be affordable if total housing costs do not exceed 30% of household income for persons or families whose annual income does not exceed 80% of the lesser of the state or area median income. C.G.S. § 8-30g.

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An individual making less than $69,775 per year can spend $20,932 annually ($1,744 a month) on housing costs including utilities.

A family of four making less than $99,680 per year can spend $29,904 annually ($2,492 a month) on housing costs including utilities.

The median cost of rent (condo/apt) in Westport is $4,300 a month (including utilities).
(November 2025 MLS)

It is important to note that the typical person who qualifies for affordable housing is employed.

• To maintain a diversity of residents of all income levels.
• To address the increase in housing costs and affordability.
• The housing market is inaccessible to those whose only income is from Social Security or a minimum wage job.
  • For more information, please visit the Social Security Administration and CT Department of Labor
• Seniors struggle to find affordable housing when downsizing.
• Many people who work in Westport and who support the community cannot afford to live here.
• Many children who grew up in Westport cannot afford to return.
• Nearly a third (29.2%) of homeowners and over a third (36.8%) of renters in Westport spend more than thirty percent (30%) of their income on housing. Town of Westport Affordable Housing Plan, 2022-2027
• According to the Center for Housing Opportunity, 21% of working families in Westport struggle to afford the basic cost of living.
  • For more information, please visit the The Housing Collective
• To comply with the law

For more information, see the 2025 State of ALICE Connecticut report

• Seniors living on fixed income.
• Families with low to moderate income.
• Persons with disabilities.
• Individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Essential workers, for example, teachers, healthcare providers, service workers and first responders who support the Westport community and who cannot afford the market rate housing.
• Local businesses in need of a more stable workforce.

• Adopted the Town of Westport Affordable Housing Plan, 2022-2027 to assist the town in becoming more accessible to all demographic cohorts.
• Adopted zoning regulations to promote the creation of a variety of housing choices.
• Created by ordinance, an Affordable Housing Trust Fund “to be used for the preservation of existing and the creation of new affordable rental and home ownership in the Town”.
  • See Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article VI

Westport currently has 420 units of affordable housing

The State of Connecticut established a goal that affordable housing should represent 10% of the total housing inventory in each municipality throughout the State.

C.G.S. § 8-30g was enacted in 1989 as a way to facilitate the construction of affordable housing. It provides a special appeals process to a developer in the event a housing development containing a specified minimum amount of affordable housing is denied by a local land use board. This appeals process is only applicable to communities that do not meet the state’s affordable housing goal.

• “Assisted Housing” – housing development that receives financial assistance under any government program
• “Set-aside development” – development where not less than 30% of the dwelling units are conveyed by deed containing covenants or restrictions which require that, for at least 40 years after the initial occupation of the development, such dwelling units will be sold or rented at, or below, prices which are 30% or less of a person’s or family’s annual income, where such income is less than or equal to 80%of the state median income or area median income, whichever is less.

In towns that have less than 10% affordable housing:

• §8-30g allows a developer to override local zoning regulations (e.g. with respect to building size, set back and other zoning rules), and build housing, as long as the developer “sets aside” 30% of the dwelling units as affordable for a period of not less than forty (40) years.
  • 15% of the “set aside” units must be available to persons or households with incomes at or below 80% of the lesser of state or area median income.
  • 15% of the “set aside” units must be available to persons or households with incomes at or below 60% of the lesser of state or median income.
  • Rent can be no more than 30% of income thresholds.
  • Units must be on site.
• In traditional land use appeals, the developer must convince the court that the municipality acted illegally, arbitrarily, or abused its discretion. C.G.S §8-30g shifts the burden of proof from the applicant to the municipality.
• In order to reject an 8-30g application, the municipality must prove, based upon the evidence presented, that: (a) the denial was necessary to protect substantial public interests in health, safety, or other matters that the municipality may legally consider; (b) these public interests clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing; and (c) the public interests cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the proposed affordable housing development.