Can I run a business from home in Medford, Massachusetts?
Yes. In Medford a quiet home business run only by the people who live there, with no customer visits, no nonresident employees and at most a 2-square-foot sign, is allowed as of right. A business with clients coming to the house or up to two nonresident employees needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which the use table doesn't allow in the apartment (APT) districts.
| As-of-right home occupation | Residents only; no customer or client trips; no nonresident employees [3] |
| Sign (as of right) | One pole or wall sign up to 2 sq ft [2] |
| Nonresident employees (special permit) | Up to 2 [5] |
| Approval for larger home business | Special permit from the Board of Appeals [4] |
| Retail sales | No retail sale of merchandise on the premises [7] |
As of right
Under Sec. 94-3.4.1, a home occupation is allowed without a special permit if it is conducted solely within the dwelling by the people who live there as their primary residence [1]. It must be clearly secondary to the residential use, can't produce offensive noise, smoke, odors or similar effects, and can't involve regular sales of goods or outdoor storage of materials or equipment (including parking commercial vehicles). The only exterior sign of the business allowed is a pole or wall sign no larger than two square feet [2]. It also can't generate any customer or client trips and can't have nonresident employees [3]. A typical home office, remote job or online business fits here.
By special permit
If you need clients to visit or want help from outside the household, one home occupation per lot may be allowed by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals [4]. It still has to meet the noise, sales and outdoor storage limits, and it can have no more than two nonresident employees; employees who leave their vehicles at the house while working elsewhere count toward that limit [5]. The board can set conditions on hours, floor area, off-street parking and the number of daily customer or vehicle trips. Any sign must follow the city's sign rules (Sec. 94-6.2). The special permit ends when the property is sold or the lease ends [6].
The Table of Use Regulations marks the special-permit home occupation as available (Y) in the ROS, SF-1, SF-2 and GR districts but not permitted (N) in the APT-1, APT-2 and APT-3 apartment districts [9]. The table uses "Y" for this row even though the text requires a Board of Appeals special permit. If you live in an apartment district, confirm with the Building Department before applying.
Definition and limits
The ordinance defines a home occupation as an accessory use carried on entirely within a dwelling unit, with no retail sale of merchandise on the premises [7]. In residence districts, commercial auto repair, outdoor storage or display of goods, and overnight parking of commercial vehicles over 15,000 pounds (outside an enclosed garage) are prohibited accessory uses [8]. Licensed family child care is handled separately and allowed as of right.
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Next steps
- Check your plan against Sec. 94-3.4.1: residents only, no client visits, no outside employees, sign 2 sq ft or less. If it fits, no zoning permit is needed.
- If you'll have client visits or up to two nonresident employees, apply to the Medford Zoning Board of Appeals for a home occupation special permit.
- If you use a business name other than your own, file a business certificate with the Medford City Clerk.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from home in Medford, MA?
- Yes. A quiet home business run only by the residents, with no customer visits and no nonresident employees, is allowed as of right. A typical home office, remote job or online business fits.
- Do I need a special permit for a home business in Medford, Massachusetts?
- Only if clients visit or you want outside help. Then you need a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit, which allows up to two nonresident employees; the use table doesn't allow it in the APT districts.
- Can I have a sign for a home business in Medford, MA?
- Yes. As of right, one pole or wall sign up to 2 sq ft is allowed.
- Can I sell products from my home in Medford, Massachusetts?
- No. Home occupations can't involve regular sales of goods or retail sale of merchandise on the premises, or outdoor storage of materials or equipment.
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
- Sec. 94-3.4.1(1), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Is conducted solely within a dwelling and solely by the person(s) occupying the dwelling as a primary residence;
- Sec. 94-3.4.1(6), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Does not exhibit any exterior indication of its presence or any variation from residential appearance, except a pole sign or wall sign no larger than two square feet;
- Sec. 94-3.4.1(7), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Does not produce any customer or client trips to the location and has no nonresident employees.
- Sec. 94-3.4.2, Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
One home occupation may be allowed by special permit issued by the board of appeals on a lot, provided that it:
- Sec. 94-3.4.2(2), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
Is conducted within a dwelling and solely by the person(s) occupying the dwelling as a primary residence and, in addition to the residents of the premises, by not more than two nonresident employees; where employees leave vehicles on the premises while conducting business elsewhere, they shall be counted as nonresident employees;
- Sec. 94-3.4.2(5), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
The special permit shall terminate at transfer of ownership of the property or end of lease term for the property.
- Sec. 94-12.0, "Home occupation", Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
An accessory use which by custom has been carried on entirely within a dwelling unit, and is incidental and subordinate to the dwelling us. In connection with such use, there shall be no retail sale of merchandise on the premises.
- Sec. 94-3.3.6(2), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
In the Residence Districts, the following accessory uses are prohibited:
- Table A, K.1 (Home occupation), Revised Ordinances Chapter 94 - Zoning (Municode, Supp. No. 18, codified through Ord. No. 889 adopted April 16, 2024), p. 1
By special permit Y Y Y Y N N N