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Hingham, Massachusetts: what can you build or do?

Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Hingham's published bylaws, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.

Last reviewed 2026-10-05

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. Hingham's Zoning By-Law allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot by right in Residence A, B, C and E, with a building permit. It can be no bigger than half the main home's floor area or 900 sq ft, whichever is smaller, needs one extra parking space, and can't be used as a short-term rental.Allowed with a permit
• Backyard Chickens
  Yes. Under Hingham's Board of Health animal regulation, 10 chickens count as one "animal unit," and a Keeping of Animals Permit is needed only at 1.5 animal units (15 or more chickens). Roosters always need a specific permit, and coops need at least 3 sq ft of floor space per bird.Allowed
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  Generally no. Hingham's Zoning By-Law says no dwelling unit may be leased or rented for less than 30 consecutive days, and accessory dwelling units can't be used as short-term rentals. The only route to nightly guests is a Bed & Breakfast in an owner-occupied single-family home, which needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.Not allowed
• Fences
  Hingham has no separate fence by-law. Under the Zoning By-Law, a fence or wall 6 feet or less in height isn't a "structure," so yard setbacks don't apply to it; a taller fence counts as a structure and must meet the district's setbacks. On corner lots, nothing between 2.5 and 8 feet high may block the view within the 15-foot sight triangle at the intersection.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Yes. In Hingham's residential districts, one small shed of up to 64 sq ft and 9 feet tall can go behind the house as close as 5 feet to the side or rear lot line. Larger accessory buildings must meet the full district setbacks (for example 15 ft side/rear in Residence A, 20 ft in Residence B, C and E) and be no more than two stories or 30 feet tall.Allowed
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  You can burn brush in Hingham only with a Fire Department burn permit, only from January 15 to May 1 between 10 AM and 4 PM, and only after notifying the department each day you burn. Fires must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings; the burning limits don't apply to outdoor cooking.Allowed with a permit
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes, in most residence districts. Hingham's Zoning By-Law permits a customary home occupation run by a resident with no more than one other regular employee, no outdoor storage and no product display visible from the street. Resident professional offices (doctor, lawyer, architect and similar) may have up to three people working on site. In Residence E these uses need a special permit.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Yes, but Hingham's Board of Health must approve any residential pool in writing before you build it and inspect it before use. Any pool 2 feet deep or more needs a durable fence at least 6 feet high with a self-latching gate. Zoning has no pool-specific setback, but treated as a structure a pool must meet the district yard setbacks (for example 15 ft side/rear in Residence A, 20 ft in Residence B, C and E).Allowed with a permit
• Building Near the Water (Wetlands Rules)
  Work within 100 feet of any wetland, bank, beach, marsh, pond, stream or the ocean (or 200 feet of a river) needs Conservation Commission approval under Hingham's Wetlands Protection By-Law. The local regulations set a 50-foot minimum setback from resource areas for houses, decks, garages, pools, driveways and clearing; within 50 feet, new buildings, sheds, pools and vegetation removal are prohibited unless the Commission makes a special finding.Allowed with board review
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Possibly, with Conservation Commission approval. Hingham's wetland regulations limit a private residential pier to 4 feet wide and 150 feet long, with a 6-by-8-foot platform and one float of up to 10 by 20 feet, and only one pier per property. In the Floodplain Protection Overlay District a dock also needs a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit, and a float on a mooring needs a Harbormaster permit.Allowed with board review