Family child care in Middlesex County requires licensure from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care under 606 CMR 7.00, and local zoning bylaws must permit the use per MGL c.40A s.3.
Operating a family child care home in any Middlesex County municipality requires a state license issued by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) under MGL c.28A and 606 CMR 7.00. A licensed family child care provider may care for up to 6 children (or up to 10 with an approved assistant as a large family child care) in their residence. Applicants must pass a CORI/SORI background check, complete orientation and ongoing professional development, meet health and safety standards for the home including fire and lead paint compliance, and maintain liability insurance. Under MGL c.40A s.3 (the Dover Amendment for child care), municipal zoning cannot prohibit licensed family child care from residential districts, though reasonable regulations on parking, signage, and loading are permitted. Middlesex towns typically require off-street drop-off and limit pickup hours. Unlicensed home daycare is illegal in Massachusetts.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
See how Middlesex County's home daycare rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.