Business Licensing & Operations in Cambridge, MA (2026)
3 verified business licensing & operations rules for Cambridge, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tobacco Retail License
Selling tobacco products anywhere in Cambridge requires a tobacco sales permit from the Inspectional Services Department under Section 8.28.030(C). Permits are renewed every July 1, a separate permit is required for each location, and the fee is set by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services rather than fixed in the ordinance itself.
Cambridge Tobacco Retail Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsCambridge Municipal Code § 8.28.030(C)
C.Tobacco sales permit.1.No person shall sell tobacco products within the City without first obtaining a tobacco sales permit issued by the inspectional services department. ... 4.The fee for a tobacco sales permit shall be determined by the Commissioner of inspectional services. All such permits shall be renewed annually on July 1.5.A separate permit is needed for each location.6.Each tobacco ...
Secondhand Dealers
Cambridge requires anyone who deals in junk, old metals, secondhand goods or rags to hold an annual license from the Board of License Commissioners before buying, storing or selling such items. Chapter 5.28 of the Municipal Code sets tiered fees, restricts hours to daylight through 10 p.m., and forces dealers to log every purchase in an inspectable book.
Cambridge Secondhand and Junk Dealer License
Some RestrictionsCambridge Municipal Code § 5.28.010
No person shall solicit for, be a collector of, or a dealer in junk, old metals, secondhand articles or rags, cotton, feathers, paper stock, excelsior, straw or other inflammable junk, or be a keeper of a shop for the keeping, purchase, storage, sale or barter of junk, old metals, secondhand articles or rags, cotton, feathers, paper stock, excelsior, straw or other inflammable junk, in the City...
Pawnbrokers
Cambridge pawnbrokers operate under a Board of License Commissioners license issued per state pawnbroking law, plus a city-set hours rule. Chapter 5.32 confines business to eight a.m. through six p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, and eight a.m. through nine p.m. Thursday and Friday, with no Sunday hours listed at all.
Cambridge Pawnbroker License and Hours
Some RestrictionsCambridge Municipal Code §§ 5.32.010, 5.32.020
The Board of License Commissioners shall issue licenses to pawnbrokers in accordance with the provisions of and subject to the limitations in 4 G.L., c. 140, §§ 70-85, inclusive, and any other acts relative to the business of pawnbrokers and any acts in amendment thereto now or hereafter passed.