HomeMy WebLinkAboutObjective Subjective During Review ProcessHome Occupation and Business License
Zoning Review
Participants
Building Commissioner / Zoning Enforcement OƯicer
Deputy Director ISD
Permit / SPR Coordinator
Further review by other agencies as determined by this process
Application
Home Occupation Registration (240-46) and Business License (MGL c. 110.5)
applications are regulatorily required approvals.
Home occupation and Business License applications are entered into the Town’s
permitting system by the applicant.
The application(s) contains a series of questions from the Home Occupation
restrictions that are designed to trigger higher scrutiny by the zoning enforcement
oƯicer depending on how they are answered.
o Reference: §240-46 B. (1)-(15) https://ecode360.com/6559568
Applications that trigger this type of zoning review include:
o Home occupation (240-46)
o Business license (110.5 CMR) and
o Building Permit (780 CMR)
Process
Zoning reviews of these applications typically take place on Fridays
We verify:
Zoning district
Water protection overlay district
Type of use proposed
Description of the proposed use
Business license
Business license applications that do not comply with the zoning ordinance are denied,
moved to Site Plan Review or referred to a multi-member board (ZBA, PB, ConCom etc.).
Applications that Involve Business Use on a Residential Parcel (Home Occupation)
The following Home Occupation regulations/restrictions are strictly applied to the
application during this zoning review process: [the following is paraphrased]
NOTE: Avoid subjective statements in regulation:
Objective: The activity must be conducted by residents of the dwelling.
Objective: The use must be incidental and subordinate to the residential use.
Objective: The use may occupy no more than 20% of the dwelling unit.
Subjective/Objective: There are no external alterations to the dwelling that are not
customary to residences.
Subjective: The use may not be objectionable or detrimental to the neighborhood.
Subjective/Objective: TraƯic generated shall not be more disruptive to the
neighborhood than normal residential district traƯic.
Subjective: The use shall not include the production of oƯensive conditions.
Objective: There is no storage or use of toxic or hazardous materials permitted
beyond normal household quantities (25 gal.).
Objective: Parking generated [by the home occupation] is kept on the same lot
containing the home occupation, and not within the front yard. (excluding driveway
and roadway)
Subjective: There is no exterior storage or display of materials or equipment.
Objective: No more than one vehicle exceeding one-ton capacity and one trailer not
to exceed 20 feet in length with more than four tires.
Objective: No signs are allowed to be displayed on the premises.
Objective/Impractical: Advertising by the business may not include the residential
address.
Objective: There are no more than one nonresident employee allowed.
Objective/Discretionary: Specific restricted uses are prohibited such as (retail,
barber, vehicle repair etc.).
Approvals
Business Licenses that comply with zoning are given a business license by the Town
Clerk
Home Occupations that comply with zoning are given a Certificate of Registration
along with their business and license.
The Zoning Enforcement OƯicer identifies and lists any conditions for approval as
well as any restrictions that apply to the use on the face of either the Home
Occupation Registration Certificate or the Business License.
Rejected Applications
Business licenses and Home Occupations that do not comply with zoning but might be
able to comply if they modify their plans are given options to do so. We try to work with the
applicants to help them get to an approvable condition, but those that simply cannot are
rejected at the Zoning Review process and given information pertaining to multi-member
board access or their rights to an appeal.