Can I run a business from home in Cumberland, Maine?
Yes. Home occupations are allowed in any single- or two-family home or its accessory building, and the Code Enforcement Officer issues a change of use permit if the business meets the standards, including no more than 2 non-family employees and inconspicuous signs. A business that doesn't meet every standard needs a special exception from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
| Where allowed | Any single- or two-family structure or its accessory structure [1] |
| Approval | Change of use permit from the Code Enforcement Officer [2] |
| Non-family employees | No more than 2 [3] |
| Who runs it | A family member living in the home [10] |
| Neighbor notice | Decision mailed to owners within 500 ft [6] |
| If standards aren't met | Special exception from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals [5] |
| Sign size | Max 4 sq ft, on the building (or at the entrance if building not visible) [7] |
What counts
A home occupation is an occupation carried on in a dwelling or accessory structure by its residents that is accessory to the residential use, clearly incidental and secondary to it, and doesn't change the character of the dwelling [8]. Examples include arts and crafts, tutoring, music teaching, a bed-and-breakfast, a day-care home, and professional offices. A home-based occupation is one based at the home but performed mainly elsewhere (for example, a contractor). Retail marijuana uses are excluded.
Approval
Home occupations and home-based occupations are permitted in any single- or two-family structure or its accessory structure [1]. The Code Enforcement Officer approves a change of use permit for applications that meet all the criteria in § 315-53A(1) [2]: the business is owned or run by a family member living there [10]; no more than two non-family employees (for a home-based occupation, no more than two present at the home at once) [3]; no noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat or glare detectable beyond the property; no more traffic than normal for the neighborhood; enough off-street parking, as set by the Code Enforcement Officer; inconspicuous exterior displays, storage and signs [4]; no threat to public health or safety; and no violation of deed restrictions.
If the business doesn't meet every standard, it needs special exception approval from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals [5]. The district use lists still show home occupations as special exceptions [9], but § 315-53 says the CEO's permit applies notwithstanding other provisions. The approval is personal: it lasts only while the applicant lives at the property. The Code Enforcement Officer's written decision is mailed to property owners within 500 feet [6], who can appeal.
Signs
A home occupation sign may be up to four square feet, placed on the building where the business is located (or at the property entrance if the building isn't visible from the road), and may show only the name, address and type of occupation [7].
A Chapter 315 amendment adopted August 10, 2026 may not be reflected in the online text we reviewed.
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Next steps
- Check the § 315-53 criteria against your plans (employees, parking, traffic, noise and outside storage).
- Apply to the Cumberland Code Enforcement Office (207-829-2207) for a home occupation change of use permit, with a description of the business and parking plan.
- Expect the decision to be mailed to neighbors within 500 feet; if your business can't meet all standards, apply to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals for a special exception.
- If you want a sign, apply for a sign permit through the Town Planner (max 4 sq ft).
Common questions
- Can I run a business from my home in Cumberland, Maine?
- Yes. Home occupations are allowed in any single- or two-family home or its accessory building. The Code Enforcement Officer issues a change of use permit if the business meets the standards. A business that doesn't meet every standard needs a special exception from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
- How many employees can a home business have in Cumberland, Maine?
- No more than 2 non-family employees. The business must be owned or run by a family member living in the home.
- Can I put up a sign for my home business in Cumberland, Maine?
- Yes, up to 4 sq ft, on the building or at the property entrance if the building isn't visible from the road. It may show only the name, address and type of occupation.
- Will my neighbors be notified about my home business in Cumberland, Maine?
- Yes. The Code Enforcement Officer's written decision is mailed to property owners within 500 feet, who can appeal.
Maine state rules for home businesses
Maine has no statewide home-occupation law. Whether you can run a business from home, and with what limits, is mostly up to your town's zoning. A few state rules may apply:
- Sales tax registration: If you regularly sell taxable goods or services from home, you must register with Maine Revenue Services and collect sales tax.
- Home food businesses: Making shelf-stable foods (baked goods, jams and similar) to sell requires a Home Food License from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It costs $20 a year and needs an initial kitchen inspection. Foods that must be refrigerated need a commercial license instead.
- Family child care: A state law (30-A M.R.S. §4364-D) makes family child care providers a permitted use in residential zones, under the same zoning rules as a single-family home. As amended in 2026, towns must follow it starting July 1, 2027. State child care licensing applies separately.
- Shoreland zone: The DEP's model shoreland ordinance defines a home occupation as one clearly incidental to the home, with no more than 2 employees besides family members living there. It requires a planning board permit in Limited Residential, Resource Protection and Stream Protection districts, and a code officer permit in Limited Commercial districts.
What the ordinance says
- § 315-53A, Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
Home occupations and home-based occupations are permitted in any single- or two-family structure or any structure that is accessory to a single- or two-family structure.
- § 315-53A(1), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Code Enforcement Officer will approve and issue a change of use permit for home occupation and home-based occupation applications that meet the criteria listed below:
- § 315-53A(1)(b), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
In the case of a home occupation, no more than two employees who are not members of the family are employed in the occupation;
- § 315-53A(1)(g), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
Exterior displays, exterior storage of materials, and exterior indications of the home occupation or home-based occupation, including signs, are inconspicuous;
- § 315-53A(2), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
A home occupation that does not meet all of the above-listed standards shall require special exception approval from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
- § 315-53C, Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
The decision of the Code Enforcement Officer shall be mailed to property owners within 500 feet from the property boundary line.
- § 315-63H(4)(a) Home occupation signs, Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
Home occupation signs shall be permitted in all districts. Home occupation signs may not exceed four square feet in surface area.
- § 315-4 Definitions, Home occupation, Chapter 315 Zoning, Article I Title, Purpose and Definitions
Home occupations may include, but are not necessarily limited to, arts and crafts work, dressmaking, tutoring, music teaching, and the use of a portion of a dwelling as a bed-and-breakfast, a day-care home, a professional office such as that of a physician, dentist, lawyer, engineer, architect, hairdresser, barber, real estate broker, insurance agent, or accountant, or similar uses.
- § 315-7B (Low-Density Residential District), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article II Zoning Districts
The following uses are allowed as special exceptions in the LDR District, requiring the approval of the Board of Adjustment and Appeals: (1) Home occupations.
- § 315-53A(1)(a), Chapter 315 Zoning, Article VI General Regulations
The occupation is owned or operated by a member of the family residing within the dwelling unit;