Can I run a business from home in Scituate, Massachusetts?
Yes. Scituate's zoning bylaw allows a resident to use rooms in the home or an accessory building as an office, studio or workroom for a home occupation as of right, if the business stays secondary to the home, has no more than one non-resident employee, keeps no regular stock in trade, and shows no outside sign of the business beyond one small permitted sign (up to 2 sq ft, with a sign permit).
| Approval needed | None for the use itself (allowed as of right as a residential accessory use) [1] |
| Non-resident employees | No more than 1 [2] |
| Stock in trade | Not regularly maintained [2] |
| Exterior display or storage | Not allowed, including outside parking of commercial vehicles [3] |
| Sign | 1 sign up to 2 sq ft with a Building Commissioner permit; 2-10 sq ft by special permit [4] |
| Commercial vehicle | 1 ungaraged commercial vehicle up to 1 ton [5] |
What counts as a home occupation
Scituate's zoning bylaw treats a home occupation as a "residential accessory use," which the use table allows as of right in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts [1]. A person who lives on the premises may use a room or rooms in the house, or in a building accessory to it, as an office, studio or workroom [2].
Conditions
The home occupation must meet all of these conditions [2][3]:
- It is clearly incidental and secondary to using the home as a dwelling.
- No more than one person other than residents is regularly employed there.
- No stock in trade is regularly kept.
- No offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat or glare.
- No exterior display and no exterior sign except as the sign rules allow.
- No outside storage of materials or equipment, no outside parking of commercial vehicles beyond what's allowed, and nothing else outside that shows a change from the home's residential character.
Separately, a homeowner may store or park one ungaraged commercial vehicle of up to one ton capacity [5].
Signs
In a residential district, one sign up to 2 sq ft is allowed for a home occupation once the Building Commissioner (or designee) issues a sign permit. The Board of Appeals may grant a special permit for a sign between 2 and 10 sq ft [4].
Customers and prohibited uses
The bylaw doesn't set a limit on customer visits or a list of banned home businesses. Instead, any business that brings noise, outdoor storage, extra vehicles or other visible signs of commercial activity would fail the conditions above. Uses that the use table lists separately (for example retail stores, contractor's yards or repair shops) aren't allowed in residential districts.
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Next steps
- Check your business against the six conditions in Zoning Sec. 430.2(A)(5), especially the one-employee and no-outside-storage limits.
- If you want a sign, apply to the Building Commissioner (Building Department, 781-545-8716) for a sign permit for one sign up to 2 sq ft.
- If you'll operate under a name other than your own, file a business certificate (DBA) with the Scituate Town Clerk.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from my home in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- Yes. A home occupation is allowed as of right, using rooms in the home or an accessory building, if it stays secondary to the home.
- Can I have employees at a home business in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- No more than 1 non-resident employee. The business also can't regularly keep stock in trade.
- Can I put up a sign for my home business in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- One sign up to 2 sq ft is allowed with a Building Commissioner permit. A sign of 2-10 sq ft needs a special permit. No other outside sign is allowed.
- Can I park a work vehicle at my home business in Scituate, Massachusetts?
- 1 ungaraged commercial vehicle up to 1 ton is allowed. Exterior display or storage, including outside parking of other commercial vehicles, is not.
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. 420 (Table of Use Regulations, 1.C), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 23
C. Residential Accessory use Y Y Y Y
- Sec. 430.2(A)(5), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 27
5. The use of room or rooms in a dwelling or building accessory thereto by a person resident on the premises as an office, studio or workroom for a home occupation, provided that a. Such use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the premises for dwelling purposes. b. Not more than one person other than residents of the premises is regularly employed thereon in connection with such use. c. No stock in trade is regularly maintained.
- Sec. 430.2(A)(5)(d)-(f), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 27
d. No offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat or glare is produced. e. There is no exterior display and no exterior sign, except as hereinafter permitted. f. There is no exterior storage of material or equipment (including the exterior parking of commercial vehicles, except as, otherwise permitted herein) and no other exterior indication
- Sec. 710.11 (Accessory Use Signs), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 120
A. In a residential district, one sign not over 2 square feet is allowed as of right for a home occupation or other permitted accessory use upon the issuance of a permit by the Building Commissioner or his designee. B. The Board of Appeals may grant a special permit for an accessory use sign between 2 and 10 square feet.
- Sec. 430.2(A)(6), Zoning Bylaw (including changes approved by April 13, 2026 Annual Town Meeting; AG approved July 9, 2026), p. 28
6. The storage or parking of one ungaraged commercial vehicle of not more than one ton capacity.