Southborough, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

Section 163-4 is the Town's limit on keeping project and parts vehicles at home. It provides that no person shall permit more than one unregistered motor vehicle or trailer or major parts thereof, except for farm vehicles, to remain ungaraged on his premises at any time. Two exceptions apply: a Class 1 or Class 2 license for sale of motor vehicles under MGL c. 140, §§ 57 through 69, or written authorization by the Select Board following an investigation and report by the Board of Health. The section carries an 11-1-2021 Special Town Meeting Article 2 amendment note.

The authorization has two printed conditions. It shall be granted only if no hazard to health or safety is involved and no unsightly condition visible from adjacent property or public ways is created. A repair project that leaves parts or a second unregistered car in the yard therefore needs the Select Board's written sign-off, and the Board of Health investigates first.

Other rules in the Code add to this. Section 163-5 sets a 10-day limit on partially dismantled, inoperative, wrecked, junked or discarded vehicles on any property, with exceptions for an enclosed building and for a business enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner. Garaging helps: an unregistered vehicle kept in a garage is outside § 163-4.

On the zoning side, Chapter 174 lists "Automotive service, gasoline station or repair garage, automotive sales" among the uses in the BV Business Village District (by special permit from the Planning Board), the BH Highway Business District and the ID Industrial District. The RA Residence A permitted list names customary home occupation but not a repair garage, and § 174-8.2(C) prohibits all uses not listed. The home occupation definition in § 174-2 also bars exterior storage of tools, materials or equipment and limits parking to one commercial vehicle.