Annual City Census

Every January / February the City Clerk's Office is required under Massachusetts General Law to mail the annual street listing form to every household in Fitchburg. Residents are urged to check the information contained on the form, make any necessary corrections, sign the form and return it to the Clerk's Office as soon as possible. 

Ignoring the first mailing leads to additional costs to taxpayers because the City is required to print additional notices and pay postage. If you or someone listed in your household has moved, please include a forwarding address.

A dog license application, which is due by May 31 is attached to the census. If you do not have a dog, you can disregard that section of the form. You can also renew your dog license here.

Moved or Failure to Receive Census

Anyone who does not receive a census form or has moved to Fitchburg since January 1st can complete the form (PDF) and return it to the City Clerk's Office or by email at vote@fitchburgma.gov

Importance of Returning your Census

The top 5 reasons to return your census form are because it is used in:

  • Assisting public safety and emergency responders
  • Calculating state and federal aid and representatives
  • Projecting future school enrollment and costs
  • Serving as proof of residency, which is needed for things like veterans' benefits, in-state college tuition, and more
  • Maintaining the voter list - Inactive voters must fill out an affidavit when they appear to vote and are at risk of being deleted from the voter list if they remain inactive for several years

Failure to return census will make you inactive on the voter list. Inactive voters will need to provide identification and fill out an affidavit at the polls. 

Once the census forms have been returned, the Board of Registrars will print the Annual List of Residents books, which can be viewed or purchased at the City Clerk's Office.

If you have additional questions, you can call the City Clerk's Office at (978) 829-1820.

We appreciate your assistance in gathering this information and keeping our residential records and voter list up-to-date!


2025 City Census

The City of Fitchburg Office of the City Clerk has begun the 2025 City Census.  The census form will be mailed out along with a return envelope.  Below you will find instructions on how to complete the census.  Thank you for your co-operation. The City of Fitchburg Office of the City Clerk has begun the 2025 City Census.  The census form will be mailed out along with a return envelope.  Below you will find instructions on how to complete the census.  Thank you for your co-operation. 

General Instructions

Please verify and/or complete all information listed on the form. List all family or household members including infants and young children whose legal address is the same. Include any member of the family in the Military Service, away at school or confined to a Nursing Home whose legal address is the same. Make all changes in a blank box underneath the existing data. If a new member has been added to the household, enter on any blank line below the rest of the household.

Cross off any resident no longer residing at this address and list his/her new address. The front of this form MUST be signed by person completing the form. To return the form, fold the form and insert it into the return envelope provided and mail.

Due to privacy laws the City is unable to print minor's information. Please include minors living in your household year to year

Special Instructions

Return immediately to the City Clerk’s Office. Compliance with this State requirement, provides proof of residence to protect voting rights, veteran’s bonus, housing for the elderly and related benefits. This form does not register you as a voter. If there is nothing marked in the box labeled PARTY you are NOT a registered voter. If you are a registered voter, failure to respond to this annual listing may result in the voter’s name being removed from the voter’s list.

Descriptions of Fields

Below you will find a list of fields that you will find on the census and what they mean.  The "Mail To" and "Telephone" fields are optional.

  • Party- enrollment or designation Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, unenrolled(formerly Independent). Political Designation
  • Name - print or verify the name of each individual in the household.
  •  Mail To- please indicate if individual is considered Head of Household.
  •  Previous Address - please list if at this address for less than 12 months.
  •  Date of Birth - enter the Month, Day and full 4-digit Year of birth.
  • Occupation - enter occupation, not place of employment.
  • Nationally - enter only if not a US Citizen.
  • Moved/Deceased - if individual has moved or is deceased, please indicate with a 'M' or 'D'
  • US Veteran - if Veteran answer YES = Y or NO = N.
  •  Number of Dogs - number of dogs licensed to this individual.
  •   Public Safety - please check if you are a Public Safety Employee who lives and works in the City of Fitchburg.