Business Licensing & Operations in Quincy, MA (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Quincy, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Quincy requires a special permit for adult uses and bars locating one within 1,500 feet of a residential district, another adult use, or a liquor-licensed establishment under the Norfolk County city's zoning ordinance.
Quincy Adult Use Permit and Spacing Rules
Significant RestrictionsQuincy Zoning Ordinance § 6.4.4 (Quincy Municipal Code Ch. 375)
No adult use shall be located within 1,500 linear feet of: 1. Any residential district as designated herein; 2. Any other adult use; or 3. Any establishment licensed under the provisions of MGL c. 138, § 12.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) requires a Health Department license for every tattoo or piercing practitioner and a separate establishment permit, which the city bars within 1,000 feet of any school under City Code §§ 124-4 and 124-5.
Quincy Body Art License Rules
Significant RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code § 124-4; § 124-5
§ 124-4: No person shall conduct any form of body art activity unless such person holds a valid body art practitioner license issued by the Department pursuant to this chapter. § 124-5: No person shall establish a facility for the conduct of a business...without a valid permit...issued by the Department in accordance with this chapter. No such facility shall be permitted within 1,000 feet of an...
Tobacco Retail License
Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) bars selling tobacco products over the counter or from vending machines without a $50-a-year license for location of tobacco sales issued by the Quincy Health Department.
Quincy Tobacco Retail Location License
Some RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code § 288-8
No person or entity shall sell tobacco products over the counter or in vending machines within the City of Quincy without license for location of tobacco sales issued by the Health Department. The fee for this license will be $50 renewable annually by July 1.
Secondhand Dealers
Quincy, Massachusetts requires anyone who buys, sells or stores junk, old metal or secondhand articles to hold a Board of Licensing Commissioners license before opening or operating.
Quincy Junk and Secondhand Dealer License
Significant RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code § 189-1
No person shall collect, deal in or keep a shop for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or secondhand articles or keep or store the same in any building or place within the limits of the City without a license from the Board of Licensing Commissioners.
Pawnbrokers
Quincy, Massachusetts (Norfolk County) requires anyone operating a pawnbroking business to hold a license from the Board of Licensing Commissioners, backed by a $100 fee and a $300 bond.
Quincy Pawnbroker License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code § 226-1(A)
License required. The Board of Licensing Commissioners may license suitable persons to carry on the business of pawnbrokers in Quincy, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 226 of the General Laws and of Chapter 14 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Quincy, 1993. No person shall operate a pawnbroking business unless licensed. B. The Board of Licensing Commissioners may deny the applica...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Quincy's zoning ordinance flatly prohibits commercial auto repair or service as an accessory use in every residence district, and separately excludes motor vehicle repair from the home-occupation businesses residents may run out of a house.
Quincy Bans Home Auto Repair Businesses
Heavy RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code, Ch. 375 (Zoning Ordinance) § 3.2.3(4)(d) (Accessory Uses in the Residence Districts)
Prohibited accessory uses. In the residence districts, the following accessory uses are prohibited: a. Kennels. b. Contractor's yard for the storage of building materials or equipment. c. The storage or keeping of commercial landscaping equipment, materials, supplies, or piles. d. Commercial auto repair or service.
Towing Companies
Quincy, Massachusetts requires towing companies to notify Quincy Police before any trespass tow from private property, cap fees at state DPU rates, and store towed vehicles within the city, with fines of up to $100 per violation.
Quincy Trespass Tow Company Rules
Some RestrictionsQuincy Municipal Code § 196-15B(2)
No vehicle shall be removed from any private property or way without the consent of the vehicle's owner or operator unless and until notification has been made to the Quincy Police Department that such vehicle is to be removed. Notification shall be made to a Police Department dispatcher in person or by telephone. Upon receipt of the trespass tow notification, an entry into the Quincy Police CA...
Looking for Norfolk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Quincy city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Norfolk County →