- Home occupation permit required:
- Yes
- Details:
- Retail Residential Kitchen permit required from local town/city Board of Health. Massachusetts also requires a home occupation permit per MGL c.40A for home-based businesses in residential zones. Hampden County unincorporated areas require home occupation permit from municipality. No external evidence of business; no on-site employees beyond family; no customer traffic increase.
- Home kitchen:
- Massachusetts requires a Retail Residential Kitchen permit issued by the local Board of Health under 105 CMR 590. The kitchen must be inspected before the permit is issued. Only non-potentially-hazardous (non-TCS) foods allowed (baked goods, jams, jellies, confections, dry goods). No mail order. No catering. No wholesale under retail permit. Hampden County has local-control structure; each town Board of Health (Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, etc.) administers permits and may impose additional requirements including food safety training.
Last verified 2026-05-05. Not legal advice.
