The new powers - called Article 4 Directions - mean that planning permission will now need to be granted for changes from employment to residential use in 12 areas.
The measures will seek to avoid Watford Borough from running out of employment space and therefore discouraging new businesses from moving into the area.
The newly protected areas include, Clarendon Road Primary Office Location, Greycaine Road, Odhams and Sandown Road, Imperial Way, Colonial Way and Holly Industrial Estate, Shakespeare Road, Watford Business Park, Wiggenhall Road, Fishers Industrial Estate and Trade City.
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Commenting on the new powers, Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: "Watford is home to thousands of businesses, small to large, which is a good thing for our town. I want to make sure that we have the space to support new and existing businesses in the future.
"It is really frustrating that after working hard to agree and adopt our Local Plan, which would support these new businesses, permitted development rights could prevent us from doing this. We have seen elsewhere businesses losing space because of permitted development and that is why it is right for us to take these steps to protect our valuable employment space."
The Article 4 Direction came into force on Wednesday 14 June 2023. Within six months of this date, the council will confirm if the Direction will be in place for the long-term.
