The Town Clerk’s Office serves as the repository of the town’s vital records. It conducts all activities related to the Annual Street Listing, voter registration, elections, and Town Meeting.
The office administers oaths to all public officials and issues dog licenses and fuel tank registrations. It records vital events, such as births, deaths, and marriages, and issues certified copies of those records.
The Town Clerk’s Office also provides notary public services and oversees compliance with the Conflict of Interest Law and Open Meeting Law for employees and board members. In addition, the office serves as the Town’s Public Records Officer and carries out many other daily responsibilities.
Voters may “insert” articles in the warrant before the Select Board “closes” the warrant. To insert an article in the warrant for the annual Town Meeting, at least 10 registered voters of the town must sign a written request. This is called a Citizen’s Petition. Please speak with the Town Clerk to obtain the appropriate petition form. If you’d like assistance or want to check the legality of a petition, please contact the Town Manager. The petition then gets submitted to the Town Clerk for certification of the signatures obtained. Learn about when petitions are due on the Election Calendar located in the links at the top right of this page.
A Business Certificate is also called a “doing business as (DBA)” form. A business certificate is required if your business operates under any title other than the complete real name of the owner, whether individually or as a partnership; and if a corporation is doing business in Williamstown in a name other than the corporate name (must be filed by a corporate officer). >>>Read More and Download Forms
All town candidates, school committee candidates, and other candidates on the municipal level must file campaign finance forms with the Town Clerk’s office. >>>Read More and Download Forms
The Open Meeting Law requires that most meetings of public bodies be held in public, and it establishes rules that public bodies must follow in the creation and maintenance of records relating to those meetings. We’ve also compiled useful tips and ethics considerations for board and committee members. >>>Read More
The state has mandated that each municipal employee, Board and Committee Member (full-time, part-time, paid and unpaid, and elected official) is required to complete the online Conflict of Interest and Ethics “Training” every other year and submit a “Receipt of Summary” every year.>>>Access Online Training
Yes. If you have a dog friend living at home, you’ll need to register your dog with the town annually. Dogs must be registered on or before March 31st of each year to avoid paying a late fee. If you moved to Williamstown after the deadline, don’t worry. Contact the Clerk’s Office to get set up. >>>Register Your Dog
According to Massachusetts law, you must jointly file intentions to marry, and you may do so with the city or town clerk in any community in the state. You both must apply in person for a marriage license.>>>Learn More
An updated annual Election Calendar with important dates for submitting nomination papers, filing a petition, and voting will be posted near the top of the Town Clerk’s department page.
Williamstown has an “open” town meeting, which means that all registered Williamstown voters are eligible to participate. Some towns in Massachusetts have a “representative” town meeting and elect their Town Meeting members. Attending Town Meeting gives you the opportunity to vote on all key decisions, including local expenditures for schools, roads, police, water/sewer, etc. >>>Read More
Election results are posted on the Town Clerk’s department page.
Using this form will send a message to the designated department contact.
The State Primary Election takes place Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM at Williamstown Elementary School. See the specimen ballots as they will appear when you go to vote.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin directs a change to the primary ballot colors.
Look for a 2026 Vote by Mail Application in your mail. To apply to vote by mail, complete the form and make sure it reaches the Town Clerk’s office by 5:00 PM Tuesday, August 25th.
Williamstown residents can vote early in person ahead of the September 1 Primary and November 3 General Election. See the schedules below for dates, hours, and voter registration deadlines.
31 North Street, First Floor
Williamstown, MA 01267
Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm
