Can I run a business from home in Falmouth, Massachusetts?
Allowed
Yes. Falmouth allows a home-based business by right if it uses no more than 30% of your home's floor area, has no outside change or exterior storage, adds no more than 2 parked vehicles, and has one unlit sign of up to 2 sq ft. Only family members living there may work on site. Up to 2 outside employees, company vehicles or outdoor storage need a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit.
| Max floor area used | 30% of the dwelling's gross floor area [2] |
| Sign | One non-illuminated sign, max 2 sq ft [1] |
| Exterior storage (by right) | None allowed [1] |
| Extra parking | Up to 2 additional vehicles, on-site, not in front yard or within 5 ft of side/rear lines [3] |
| Employees (by right) | Family residents only [4] |
| Non-family employees | Up to 2 with ZBA special permit [4] |
| Company vehicles on the driveway (special permit) | Max 2 [9] |
| Company vehicles overnight (special permit) | Up to 4 [6] |
| Business hours (special permit) | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday [8] |
By-right home businesses
Under Section 240-9.6, adopted at the November 18, 2024 Town Meeting, you can run a home-based business without special approval if you meet these standards:
- Appearance: no change to the outside of the house and no exterior storage. One non-illuminated sign up to 2 sq ft is allowed [1].
- Space: no more than 30% of the dwelling's gross floor area, which can be split between the house and an accessory building [2].
- Traffic and parking: no more traffic than is normal for the neighborhood, and no more than 2 extra vehicles parked at a time. They must be on your lot, outside the required front yard and at least 5 feet from side and rear lines [3].
- Employees: only family members who live there may regularly work on the premises [4].
When you need a special permit
A business with possible off-site impacts needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. That covers noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference noticeable beyond the lot. The 30% floor-area cap still applies, and the permit is personal: it can't be transferred to another person or location [5]. With a special permit, the ZBA may allow:
- Up to 2 non-family employees working on site [4].
- Up to 4 company vehicles parked overnight, no more than 2 on the driveway [6][9], generally 13,000 lbs GVW or less.
- Screened exterior storage of up to 10% of the lot, kept 30 feet from neighbors' houses and out of the front yard.
Special-permit businesses are limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for work and for loading [8]. No home business may stockpile landscape materials such as topsoil, mulch or crushed stone for resale.
Other notes
The 2022 bylaw PDF still shows the older "home occupation" and "home-based service business" rules. These have been replaced by the 2024 section.
See how Falmouth compares with 8+ other Massachusetts towns on home-based businesses →
Next steps
- Check your plan against the by-right limits: 30% of floor area, no exterior storage, 2 sq ft unlit sign, family-only staff, 2 extra parking spaces.
- If you need outside employees, company vehicles or outdoor storage, apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit under § 240-9.6C.
- Ask the Building Department/Zoning Administrator (508-495-7470) to confirm your business fits the by-right standards.
- If you operate under a name other than your own, file a business certificate with the Town Clerk.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from my home in Falmouth, Massachusetts?
- Yes. A home-based business is allowed by right if it uses no more than 30% of your home's floor area and has no outside change or exterior storage. Only family members living there may work on site.
- Can I have a sign for a home business in Falmouth, Massachusetts?
- Yes, one unlit sign of up to 2 sq ft.
- Can I hire employees for a home business in Falmouth, Massachusetts?
- Up to 2 outside employees, company vehicles or outdoor storage need a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit.
- How many vehicles can a home business have in Falmouth, Massachusetts?
- By right, a home business can add no more than 2 parked vehicles.
Massachusetts state rules for home businesses
Massachusetts has no general state law on home occupations. Whether you can run a business from home, and what limits apply (employees, signs, client visits, parking), is set by your town's zoning bylaw. State law does protect some home-based uses and add a few requirements:
- Family child care is protected: a licensed family child care home or large family child care home (licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care) is an allowed use everywhere. Towns may not prohibit or regulate it through zoning (M.G.L. c. 40A, §3). A family child care home serves up to 6 children under 16, counting the provider's own children who are cared for there.
- The "Dover Amendment" (also c. 40A, §3) bars zoning from prohibiting religious or nonprofit educational uses and child care facilities. Towns can still apply reasonable rules on bulk, height, setbacks, open space and parking. This mainly matters for institutions, not typical home offices.
- Business certificate ("DBA"): if you do business under any name other than your own legal name, you must file a business certificate with the city or town clerk where your office is located (M.G.L. c. 110, §5).
- Farm stands and agriculture get zoning protection only on qualifying farm parcels (generally 5+ acres, or 2+ acres with $1,000 per acre in yearly sales).
- State licensing for specific trades (cosmetology, food production, etc.) applies no matter where you work.
What the bylaw says
- § 240-9.6B(1) Outward Appearance, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
(1) Outward Appearance – There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the premises, nor any other visible evidence of such home based business other than one nonilluminated sign, not exceeding 2 square feet in area.
- § 240-9.6B(2) Gross Floor Area, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
(2) Gross Floor Area – A home based business is allowed provided that not more than 30% of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of any or all home based businesses.
- § 240-9.6B(3) Traffic and Parking, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
A home based business may increase parking by not more than 2 additional vehicles at a time. Parking generated by the conduct of the home based business shall be provided on the same lot as the home based business and shall not be located in a required front yard or within 5 feet of any side or rear property line.
- § 240-9.6B(4) Employee, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
(4) Employee – Only family residents may be regularly employed on the premises in connection with the home based business. The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a special permit for up to two people who are not family members, to be a regularly employed on the premises of the home based business.
- § 240-9.6C Special Permit Required, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
The special permit shall be issued to the Applicant only, for their residence, and shall not be transferable to another person, or to another location.
- § 240-9.6C(1)(a)(i) Company vehicles, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 1
i. Up to 4 company vehicles may be allowed to park overnight on the premises with the following conditions:
- § 240-9.6C(1)(a)(ii) Exterior storage, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 2
ii. The maximum amount of exterior storage shall not exceed 10% of the lot area, with the following conditions:
- § 240-9.6C(1)(a)(iv) Hours of operation, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 2
• Except for emergency situations, regular business hours for the home based business, as well as any loading or off-loading of equipment, materials or supplies, shall be limited to between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
- § 240-9.6C(1)(a)(i) Company vehicles, Zoning Bylaw Section 240-9.6 Home Based Business (approved by Town Meeting Nov. 18, 2024), p. 2
• No more than 2 company vehicles may be kept on any driveway area.
This page summarizes Falmouth's posted bylaws as of 2026-10-03. Bylaws are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Building Department / Inspectional Services (508-495-7470 (main/inspections); counter 508-495-7469) before you build. Spot an error?