Pop. 57,746 · Norfolk County
Weymouth treats carports more flexibly than most accessory structures. Under Weymouth Code § 120-54 (Confinement of accessory uses to rear yard), private garages and carports are explicitly exempted from the general rule that accessory uses must be confined to the rear yard - though they still may not be placed within the required front yard setback. Permits are issued by the Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections under 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code, Tenth Edition), and dimensional standards in Article XV of Chapter 120 control side and rear setbacks.
Weymouth Town Council passed ADU Ordinance Amendment (Measure 24-119) adding Article 29 to Chapter 120. ADUs are allowed by right on single-family lots up to 900 sq ft or 50% GFA. Lots under 5,000 sq ft are ineligible.
Massachusetts state law preempts STR insurance for Weymouth. MGL c.175, §4F (added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018) requires every short-term rental operator in Weymouth to maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance per stay, unless the booking platform provides equal or greater coverage. Weymouth's Chapter 120 Zoning Ordinance does not impose a separate local insurance requirement above the state floor.
The Town of Weymouth Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 120) does not adopt a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance and does not impose a numeric per-bedroom occupancy formula for STRs. The enforceable occupancy ceiling for a Weymouth STR is the maximum guest count declared on the operator's Massachusetts Department of Revenue STR Registry application under MGL c.64G, combined with the 105 CMR 410 sleeping-room minimums and the 780 CMR (Tenth Edition) bedroom-egress standards.
Short-term rental guests in Weymouth are subject to the same noise regulations as residents under the Code of Ordinances. No separate STR quiet hours exist; general nuisance provisions and the $50 default fine apply.
Weymouth STR operators must collect and remit the Massachusetts state room occupancy excise (5.7%) plus any applicable local option tax under MGL c. 64G. State DOR registration and $1 million liability insurance are mandatory.
STR guests in Weymouth must comply with the town's general parking ordinances. No all-night parking is allowed on any Weymouth street between 12:01 AM and 7:00 AM (Code §13-103(g)). Hosts should inform guests of this ban.
No Weymouth-specific STR ordinance was found in published code. State law (MGL c. 64G) requires all MA STR operators to register with the MA Department of Revenue before operating. Weymouth zoning regulations govern land use for STRs. Operators should contact the Building Department to confirm local requirements.
All consumer fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts under MGL c. 148 §39. The Weymouth Fire Department's materials are titled 'Leave Fireworks to the Professionals,' reflecting full enforcement of the state ban on sparklers, firecrackers, and all consumer pyrotechnics.
Weymouth is not on the Massachusetts year-round open burning ban list. Open burning is permitted seasonally with a $25 permit from the Weymouth Fire Department. Season runs January 15 to May 1; burning hours are 10 AM–4 PM with daily authorization required.
Fire pits in Weymouth used for non-cooking purposes are subject to MassDEP open burning rules and require a seasonal fire department permit. Cooking fires have more flexibility. Burning clean, dry firewood is required; trash burning is prohibited.
Weymouth may require vegetation management for fire safety. MA does not have a statewide defensible space mandate. Local property maintenance applies.
Norfolk County has no designated wildfire hazard zones — not a high-risk WUI region. MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forest Fire Control runs the state wildfire program. Blue Hills Reservation carries moderate risk.
Massachusetts requires a state fire marshal license and local fire chief permit to store flammable gases including propane above specified threshold quantities.
In Weymouth, fences 6 feet and under do not require a building permit. Fences over 6 feet require a permit from the Building Department. Pool enclosure fences always require a permit.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 49 §21 governs shared fence obligations between neighbors. Weymouth does not have a specific local fence neighbor-dispute ordinance. Disputes about fence placement require a property survey.
Weymouth requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet. Fences and plantings within 30 feet of a corner street intersection may not exceed 3 feet above curb level (Zoning §120-46). Commercial/industrial property fences abutting residential uses must be at least 5 feet high.
Norfolk County has no pool barrier rule — 780 CMR (MA Building Code) and 105 CMR 435 apply statewide. Minimum 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates. Enforced by each town's building department.
Norfolk County has no retaining wall rule. 780 CMR (MA Building Code) requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet (measured from bottom of footing) or with surcharge loads. Engineered plans required.
Norfolk County has no fence material ordinance. Towns regulate materials via zoning bylaws. Historic districts (Brookline, Dedham, Milton) require Historic District Commission approval.
Private swimming pools in Weymouth are accessory uses in residential districts and must conform to all zoning yard setback requirements. Building permits are required for pools over 24 inches deep. MA Building Code (780 CMR) and state sanitary code apply.
Above-ground pools in Weymouth over 24 inches deep require a building permit and must meet the same zoning setback and barrier requirements as in-ground pools. Shallow portable pools are generally exempt.
Weymouth pool fencing must comply with Massachusetts Building Code (780 CMR) — minimum 48-inch (4-foot) barrier height. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with latches at least 54 inches above ground. Pool enclosure fences require a building permit.
Norfolk County has no hot tub rule. MA Building Code (780 CMR) requires permit for electrical, GFCI protection, and barriers for tubs over 24 in. deep. 527 CMR 12 (MA Electrical Code) governs wiring.
Norfolk County does not issue pool permits. Pool permits are issued by each municipality under the statewide 780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code, which is uniform across all MA towns.
No specific beekeeping ordinance was found in Weymouth's published Code of Ordinances. Massachusetts requires hive registration with the MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) under MGL c. 128. Residents should contact the Weymouth Board of Health before keeping bees.
Weymouth Code §6-700 requires dogs to be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet when off the owner's property. Dogs are prohibited on any public beach whether leashed or unleashed. Dogs must wear license tags at all times.
Weymouth does not have breed-specific legislation. Massachusetts prohibits BSL under state law. Dangerous dog designations are behavior-based under MGL c. 140.
Weymouth Code Chapter 6 references MGL c. 131 for definitions of prohibited wildlife. Massachusetts prohibits possession of large cats, bears, primates, and venomous reptiles without MassWildlife permits. No specific local exotic pet ordinance was found.
Massachusetts prohibits feeding black bears statewide (321 CMR 2.15). MassWildlife enforces. Norfolk County's Blue Hills and Milton-Canton area see regular bear activity. Deer and turkey feeding also regulated.
Norfolk County does not regulate chickens or livestock. Each town sets its own rules via zoning and board of health regulations. Suburban towns often restrict; rural towns like Medfield and Dover allow chickens.
Animal cruelty including hoarding is criminalized statewide under M.G.L. Chapter 272 Section 77. Hoarding triggers welfare investigations and felony charges in severe cases.
Weymouth's Code of Ordinances addresses noise as a nuisance and public peace matter. No specific published dBA limits were found; the fallback is MassDEP 310 CMR 7.10. The Board of Health and Police enforce noise complaints. Default noncriminal fine is $50 per violation.
Weymouth does not publish specific construction hours in its code. Massachusetts state standards and local nuisance provisions apply. Typically, construction is expected during weekday daytime hours; complaints are handled by Police and the Building Inspector.
Weymouth Code Chapter 6 (Animals) prohibits owners from allowing animals to disturb neighbors. The Animal Control Officer and police handle barking dog complaints. Violation fines escalate to $100 for third offenses.
Norfolk County does not regulate amplified music. Each municipality requires entertainment licenses or one-day amplified sound permits under MGL c. 140 §183A. ABCC-licensed venues must meet state license conditions.
Norfolk County has no county-level leaf blower ordinance. Rules vary dramatically by municipality — Brookline has a full gas leaf blower ban, while other towns only regulate hours.
Massachusetts regulates industrial and commercial noise statewide through the Department of Environmental Protection under the Air Pollution Control regulations, prohibiting noise that creates a condition of air pollution.
Weymouth enforces property maintenance standards through the Health Department and Building Department. No specific published grass-height limit was found in the searchable code, but overgrown vegetation nuisance violations are actionable.
Weymouth does not have a comprehensive private-property tree trimming ordinance. Property owners must maintain trees to prevent hazards to public ways. The Weymouth Conservation Commission regulates work near wetlands under MGL c. 131 §40.
Weymouth is served by the MWRA regional water system. During MassDEP drought declarations, mandatory outdoor watering restrictions apply. No permanent year-round odd/even watering schedule was found in Weymouth's published code.
Weymouth does not have a comprehensive private-property tree removal permit ordinance. Removal near wetlands (within 100 feet) requires Conservation Commission review. Public shade tree removal requires Tree Warden approval.
Norfolk County does not restrict rainwater harvesting. MA has no statewide restrictions on residential rain barrel or cistern use. Many Norfolk County towns offer rain barrel rebate programs.
Brookline enacted the first MA town-wide ban on new artificial turf on town property (2023 Town Meeting Art. 14). Other Norfolk County towns allow turf residentially. State regulations on PFAS in turf evolving.
Norfolk County has no native plant rule. MA Pollinator Plan and Stretch Code encourage natives. Brookline and Quincy offer climate-resilient landscape guidance. MA prohibits sale of listed invasive species.
Norfolk County does not enforce weed abatement. Individual municipalities enforce property maintenance under MGL c. 111 §122 (nuisance) and the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) for rental property.
Weymouth Code §13-103(g) prohibits all-night parking on any public street between 12:01 AM and 7:00 AM. Two-hour parking limits apply in certain commercial areas during business hours. Enforcement is by Weymouth Police.
Weymouth's zoning ordinance governs driveway curb cuts and access. Blocking a public driveway on a street is prohibited. Weymouth requires review for curb cuts within 200 feet of intersections or over 30 feet wide.
Weymouth's all-night parking ban (12:01 AM–7:00 AM) applies to all vehicles on public streets, effectively prohibiting overnight RV or trailer street parking. No specific RV permits were found in published code.
Weymouth's all-night parking ban under §13-103(g) applies to all vehicles including commercial vehicles. No specific commercial vehicle permit program was found. Commercial vehicles used for business are subject to general overnight and time-limit restrictions.
Many Norfolk County towns enforce overnight parking bans. Quincy bans 1-6 AM year-round (no permit option). Brookline prohibits 2-6 AM with limited permit program. Weymouth has winter overnight ban November 1-April 1.
Norfolk County has no EV charging rule. MA Stretch Code and Specialized Code require EV-ready parking in new residential construction. Brookline, Quincy, and Weymouth each adopted the Stretch Code.
Norfolk County does not handle abandoned vehicles. MGL c. 90B §2 allows police to remove abandoned vehicles after 72 hours. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth tag and tow via local ordinance.
Weymouth Zoning Ordinance §120-12 permits home occupations in residential districts if no goods are displayed from the street, no non-resident employee is used, and the business occupies no more than one-third of the gross floor area.
Weymouth's home occupation rules (ZO §120-12) require no commercial display visible from the street and no non-resident employees, limiting customer traffic to low-impact levels consistent with residential neighborhoods.
Weymouth Zoning §120-64 limits residential district signs to one sign not exceeding 2 square feet pertaining to the use or occupant. Signs must be attached to the building or on a post not more than 6 feet high and at least 3 feet from the street line.
Family childcare in MA is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) under 606 CMR. MGL c. 40A §3 protects family daycare (up to 6-10 kids) as a by-right residential use — no local zoning can exclude it.
Massachusetts expanded cottage food under MGL c. 94 §305A (2023 act). Residential kitchens may produce non-potentially-hazardous foods for direct sale up to $25,000/year. Local BOH inspection required.
Weymouth is a coastal community with significant FEMA-designated flood zones along the Fore River, Back River, and coastal areas. The Weymouth Conservation Commission enforces wetlands protections under MGL c. 131 §40 and the Weymouth Wetlands Protection Ordinance (Ch. 7-301).
Norfolk County has coastal frontage in Quincy, Weymouth, and Cohasset. Coastal development is regulated by MA Coastal Zone Management (CZM), Wetlands Protection Act, and Chapter 91 (tidelands law) — not by the county.
Norfolk County does not administer stormwater programs. All Norfolk County towns are EPA MS4 permittees, enforcing stormwater standards under 310 CMR 10.05 (Wetlands) and town stormwater bylaws.
Norfolk County does not regulate grading. Each municipality requires grading permits under 780 CMR building code. Drainage cannot be diverted onto neighboring property under MA common law.
Norfolk County does not enforce erosion control. Each municipality requires erosion and sediment controls on construction sites under local bylaws, the Wetlands Protection Act, and EPA construction general permit.
Weymouth enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.
Norfolk County operates no parks. State DCR properties (Blue Hills, Wollaston Beach) close dusk-to-dawn under 302 CMR 12.00. Municipal parks have town-specific hours, typically dusk or 10 PM closing.
Norfolk County does not regulate trees. Public shade trees statewide are protected under MGL c. 87. Private tree removal permits exist in some Norfolk County towns (Brookline, Milton, Newton-adjacent) but not most.
Norfolk County has no heritage tree program. Brookline designates heritage trees under its tree bylaw. Statewide, MA does not operate a heritage/landmark tree registry.
Norfolk County has no tree replacement rule. MGL c. 87 §7 requires replacement for removed public shade trees. Municipal bylaws in Brookline, Milton require private tree replacement; most other towns do not.
Norfolk County has no garage sale sign rule. Brookline, Quincy, and Weymouth all prohibit signs in public ROW and on utility poles. Signs must be on private property with owner consent.
Norfolk County has no holiday display rule. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth allow residential holiday decorations without permits. Electrical and fire safety codes apply, especially in Brookline's historic districts.
Norfolk County has no political sign rule. Under MGL c. 40 §21(19), MA towns may regulate temporary political signs but cannot impose content-based restrictions. Post-Reed v. Gilbert, most Norfolk County towns removed pre-election time limits.
Norfolk County does not set height limits. Each town's zoning bylaw caps building heights. Residential zones typically allow 35 ft or 2.5 stories. 780 CMR building code enforces construction standards.
Norfolk County does not regulate lot coverage. Each town's zoning bylaw sets maximum coverage and Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Residential typically 25-50% coverage. Stormwater rules may apply above thresholds.
Norfolk County does not regulate setbacks. Each town's zoning bylaw sets minimum setbacks under MGL c. 40A (Zoning Act). Norfolk County zoning varies widely — dense Brookline requires only 15 ft fronts; rural Dover requires 40+ ft.
Norfolk County has no vending zone rules. Each town designates approved locations; most restrict food trucks near brick-and-mortar restaurants and schools. Private property requires owner permission plus zoning review.
Norfolk County does not license food trucks. Mobile food vendors need a common victualler license from each town plus a food service permit from the local board of health under 105 CMR 590.
Norfolk County does not handle light trespass complaints. Each town's code enforcement, with common-law nuisance backstop, addresses light trespass. Residential limits typically 0.5-1.0 foot-candles at property line.
Norfolk County does not regulate outdoor lighting. Several towns (Dover, Sherborn, Medfield) have dark-sky bylaws. State-level, MGL c. 40 §21 enables local light pollution control.
Norfolk County does not regulate garage sale property maintenance. Each town enforces property maintenance bylaws and the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) to prevent yard sale blight.
Norfolk County does not collect trash. Quincy uses automated single-stream carts with placement rules. Brookline provides DPW collection under Art. 8.18. Weymouth contracts with Republic Services.
Norfolk County does not enforce blight. MA State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) sets minimum housing standards. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth enforce via BOH and building inspector. MA vacant property registration common.
Norfolk County does not enforce snow clearing. Each municipality requires property owners to clear adjacent sidewalks after snowfall. Brookline: 3 hours daylight / 24 hours night. Quincy: 6 hours. Most: 24-48 hours.
Norfolk County does not enforce vacant lot maintenance. Quincy and Brookline have vacant property registries. Grass/weed limits typically 8-12 inches under each town's BOH rules and 105 CMR 410.600.
Norfolk County has no frequency limit. Most municipalities cap household yard sales at 2-4 per year to prevent ongoing retail activity, which would trigger MGL c. 101 transient vendor regulation.
Norfolk County does not restrict garage sale hours. Municipal rules typically limit sales to 8 AM-6 PM. Sales must not violate local noise bylaws or block traffic.
Norfolk County does not regulate garage sales. Most member municipalities require no permit for residential yard sales. A few towns (Brookline, Milton) require free registration or have signage restrictions.
Norfolk County does not register rentals. Quincy requires annual rental registration and inspection (Ch. 11.16). Brookline requires rental registration under Art. 8.26. Weymouth has no general rental registry.
Norfolk County does not regulate rents. Massachusetts banned local rent control statewide via 1994 Question 9 (MGL c. 40P). No Norfolk County town currently has rent control. Tenant protections remain under MGL c. 186 and c. 239.
Norfolk County has no county-level eviction rules. Massachusetts is a strong tenant-protection state under MGL c. 239 and c. 186. Brookline adopted a local Just Cause Eviction bylaw in 2023 covering buildings with 4+ units.
Massachusetts has no solar-access statute protecting homeowners from HOA/condo bans. Unlike CA or FL, MA condo associations can restrict solar. Brookline and Quincy condo associations commonly regulate rooftop solar.
Norfolk County has no solar permit role. MA protects solar as-of-right under MGL c. 40A §3. Quincy, Brookline, and Weymouth all use the MA uniform solar permit process and 780 CMR building code.
Norfolk County does not regulate commercial drones. FAA Part 107 certification is required. LAANC authorization needed for much of the county due to Logan airspace.
Norfolk County does not regulate drones. Recreational drone use follows federal FAA Part 107 Exception (49 USC §44809). Individual towns and DCR may restrict drones in parks.
Norfolk County does not zone dispensaries. Each municipality decides host community agreements and zoning under MGL c. 94G §3. Brookline, Quincy, Weymouth, Dedham host dispensaries; several towns (Westwood, Dover, Sherborn) opted out.
Norfolk County does not regulate cannabis. Under MA state law (MGL c. 94G §7), adults 21+ may grow up to 6 plants per person, 12 per household. Plants must be enclosed and not visible from public view.
Norfolk County has no bin placement rule. Each town's DPW regulations or contract terms specify curbside placement time, retrieval deadlines, and storage between pickups.
Norfolk County does not administer recycling. MA has strong state waste bans (310 CMR 19.017) enforced statewide. Single-stream recycling is standard across Norfolk County municipalities.
Norfolk County does not offer bulk pickup. Each municipality runs its own bulk program — some free, others require scheduled appointment or sticker. Mattresses and textiles are banned from disposal statewide.
Norfolk County does not operate trash collection. Each of the 28 municipalities contracts its own waste hauler or runs municipal DPW pickup. Schedules and rules differ significantly town by town.
Norfolk County has no no-knock registry. Several member municipalities (Quincy, Brookline, Dedham, Weymouth) maintain their own no-soliciting lists. Posted no-soliciting signs must be respected by permitted solicitors.
Norfolk County does not issue solicitor permits. Each municipality requires door-to-door commercial solicitors to obtain a local hawker/peddler or solicitor permit under MGL c. 101.
Massachusetts sets a statewide minimum wage of $15.00 per hour under MGL Chapter 151, and generally preempts cities from adopting higher local minimum wages.
Massachusetts provides paid family and medical leave through the PFML program under MGL Chapter 175M, plus paid sick time under the Earned Sick Time Law for most employees.
Massachusetts has no statewide predictive scheduling law, leaving most scheduling rules to standard wage and hour law under MGL Chapter 151 with limited reporting-pay protections.
Massachusetts requires a License to Carry under MGL Chapter 140 Section 131 to carry concealed handguns, with applications processed by local police chiefs subject to suitability review.
Massachusetts grants local police chiefs significant licensing authority over firearms while state law sets uniform standards through MGL Chapter 140 for licensing, sales, and possession statewide.
Massachusetts technically permits open carry with a valid License to Carry, but the practice is rare and discouraged, with municipalities and businesses commonly prohibiting visible firearms.
Massachusetts requires a valid License to Carry under MGL Chapter 140 Section 131 to transport loaded handguns in a vehicle, with strict storage rules applying to long guns and unlicensed possession.
Massachusetts protects agricultural land use through MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, exempting agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture from most local zoning restrictions on parcels of five acres or more.
Massachusetts protects commercial agriculture from nuisance lawsuits under MGL Chapter 111 Section 125A, recognizing farms operating consistent with generally accepted practices as not constituting a nuisance.
Massachusetts has no statewide plastic bag ban or preemption, allowing over 160 cities and towns to enact their own single-use plastic bag prohibitions under home-rule authority.
Massachusetts has not enacted a statewide polystyrene ban, but dozens of cities and towns prohibit foam food containers, and state procurement rules limit foam in agency purchases.
Massachusetts does not regulate plastic straws statewide, but several cities and towns require restaurants to provide straws only on request or use compostable alternatives.
Massachusetts requires purchasers of tobacco and vape products to be at least 21 years of age under MGL Chapter 270 Section 6, predating the 2019 federal Tobacco 21 law.
Massachusetts became the first state to ban all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes and flavored vapes under MGL Chapter 270 Section 6, effective June 2020.
Massachusetts heavily restricts vape retail under MGL Chapter 270 Section 6, banning flavored vape products statewide and limiting nicotine vape sales to licensed adult-only smoking bars.