Business Licensing & Operations in Brockton, MA (2026)
5 verified business licensing & operations rules for Brockton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Brockton confines adult bookstores, adult motion picture theaters, adult paraphernalia and video stores, and nude dancing establishments to I-3 Heavy Industrial zones, and only with a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Every such use must sit at least 1,500 feet from residential zones, schools, churches, day care centers, parks and any other adult use citywide.
Brockton Adult Entertainment Zoning Permit
Significant RestrictionsBrockton, MA City Code § 27-24.1(c)
(c)[Special permitted use.] All such adult use activities as defined herein shall be allowed only in I-3 Heavy Industrial Zones and only as a special permitted use subject to the following restrictions: Adult uses shall be permitted only when located outside the area circumscribed by a circle which has a radius consisting of the following distances from the specified uses or zoning districts: O...
Secondhand Dealers
Brockton requires secondhand dealers and collectors of precious metals, gems, electronics and other used goods to hold a city license, cap cash purchases at $50, and hold regulated property twenty-one days before resale, under Sec. 11-43 et seq. The Police Chief inspects records and can flag items tied to a crime.
Brockton Secondhand Dealer Licensing Rules
Significant RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 11-48
(a)A secondhand dealer or secondhand collector shall not make any cash purchase in an amount that exceeds fifty dollars ($50.00).(b)A secondhand dealer must not carry on the business of buying or selling secondhand property except at the premises designated in the dealership license.(c)A secondhand dealer must not purchase any property whose serial number or other identifiable marking has been ...
Pawnbrokers
Brockton caps pawnbroker loan interest at three percent per month, or thirty-six percent a year, under Sec. 11-300, subject to Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks approval. Operating requires a license through Chapter 11's general licensing process, plus a $360 annual license fee set in Sec. 11-200.
Brockton Pawnbroker Interest Rate Limit
Some RestrictionsBrockton City Code § 11-300
The rate of interest to be charged for loans by pawnbrokers shall not exceed three (3) percent per month or thirty-six (36) percent per annum. This rate shall be effective upon approval by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commissioners of Banks.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Brockton licenses motor vehicle repair and auto body shops only where the building inspector certifies the property sits in a C-2 or C-3 zone, so a residential home cannot be licensed for auto repair. Separate home-occupation rules independently bar exterior equipment storage and offensive noise, closing off any driveway repair workaround.
Brockton Home Auto Repair Zoning Limit
Significant RestrictionsBrockton, MA City Code §§ 11-210, 11-212(c)(1), 11-213(a)
Sec. 11-210. - Definitions. Motor vehicle repair shop is defined as any business of a person or firm that maintains, repairs, modifies, remodels, or alters in any way any engine or mechanical parts of a motor vehicle. Sec. 11-212. - Same—Application; contents; fees. (c)The applicant shall include with the application the following:(1)A statement from the building inspector or his designee that ...
Towing Companies
Only companies on the Brockton police chief's official tow list can perform police-requested tows, capped at ten companies who must hold a current Massachusetts DTC license, have operated at least five years, and pay $1,000 for a three-year spot on the rotating call list.
Brockton Police Tow List Requirements
Significant RestrictionsBrockton, MA Code of Ordinances § 12-28
The chief of police ("chief") shall establish a list of towing companies ("company or companies") that are currently and in good standing licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Telecommunications and Energy - Transportation Division ("DTC") formerly the Department of Public Utilities ("DPU") that have a place of business in the City of Brockton ("city") and have been engag...
Looking for Plymouth County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brockton city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Plymouth County →