5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupation regulations in Bristol County are governed by individual municipal zoning ordinances under MGL Ch. 40A. Each town defines permitted home business activities in residential districts. Most require the business to be incidental to residential use and operated by a resident.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A, § 3 – Subjects which zoning may not regulate
No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the use of materials, or methods of construction of structures regulated by the state building code, nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture...
Home business signage in Bristol County is restricted by individual municipal zoning ordinances. Most towns prohibit exterior commercial signage for home occupations in residential districts to maintain neighborhood character.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A, § 3 – Subjects which zoning may not regulate
No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the use of materials, or methods of construction of structures regulated by the state building code, nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture...
Customer traffic for home businesses in Bristol County is regulated by individual municipal zoning ordinances. Most towns restrict or prohibit client visits to home occupations in residential districts. Some require special permits for home businesses with customer traffic.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40A, § 3 – Subjects which zoning may not regulate
No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the use of materials, or methods of construction of structures regulated by the state building code, nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land for the primary purpose of commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture or viticulture...
Massachusetts Residential Kitchen Operator program under 105 CMR 590 requires registration with local Board of Health. Permitted non-potentially hazardous foods only. Bristol County BOHs (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton) issue permits after inspection.
MGL c. 94 §305B — Medical examination of persons handling food; rules and regulations
Section 305B. The commissioner of public health, on his own initiative or at the request of a local board of health, may require any person working in an establishment engaged wholly or in part in the business of producing, manufacturing, processing, storing or offering or exposing for sale any article of food and whose duties actually involve the handling of food during such production, manufa...
Home childcare in Massachusetts licensed by EEC (Department of Early Education and Care). Family Child Care licenses allow up to 6 or 10 children. MGL ch. 40A §3 prevents local zoning from barring licensed family childcare.
MGL c. 40A §3 — Child care facility zoning protection
Section 3. [...] No zoning ordinance or bylaw in any city or town shall prohibit, or require a special permit for, the use of land or structures, or the expansion of existing structures, for the primary, accessory or incidental purpose of operating a child care facility; provided, however, that such land or structures may be subject to reasonable regulations concerning the bulk and height of st...
4 cities in Bristol County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
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