License Commission

Many types of businesses need to be licensed by the Cambridge License Commission before they are able to conduct business within the City of Cambridge. Find out whether you need a license/permit from us:

Alcohol License - Retail On and Off Premise Common Victualer Entertainment License Innholder and Lodging House Licenses

Hackney License Garage and Flammables Pole Conduit Permits                                 Other Licenses

One-Day Licenses Transportation Licenses Shops and Sales Licenses

Whenever you apply for a license/permit, the Board of License Commissioners may hold a hearing to decide whether the license will be granted. The Board holds meetings, which are open to the public, every month, check the hearing schedule to find out when the next hearing is. Learn more about our hearings below.

Depending on the matter, type of license/permit and/or action taken by the Board of License Commissioners, its decisions are appealable to other agencies or Massachusetts Superior Court. You should ask about your appeal rights and should note that the timeline in which to file an appeal depends on the matter at hand. 

Violation hearings can be based on a complaint received, a CAD or police incident report, or an inspection conducted by the Cambridge Police or a License Commission Investigator or designee.  Hearings are open to the public, and any person testifying as to the matter must do so under oath.  Any person cited for a violation hearing may present evidence through witness testimony, photographs, videos, documents, etc.  The Board decides cases based on the evidence presented to it at the hearing and may take into account any previous complaints and/or disciplinary action. 

Public records fees are as follows**:

Copies - first 50 pages are free.

$.05/page for black and white 8.5" x 11" 

$.20/page for black and white legal size

$.30/page for color 8.5" x 11"

$.40/page for color legal size

The time spent by the License Commission staff to find, segregation, file, archive, and redact will be billed if more than two (2) hours.

* Please note that many of our files contain information that is not public and that must be redacted by law.  Therefore, even if you seek to view a file during our "viewing hours," depending on the size of the file, contents therein and whether the proper staff person to remove the non-public information is available, you may have to make an appointment for a later day or time to view the file. 

** This is not a comprehensive list of all applicable fees.  No fees will be charged until an estimate has been provided to the requester.

The Cambridge License Commission does not issue all types of licenses. The following are examples of licenses which are issued by other departments or state agencies. For a more comprehensive list, please see the state Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation website.

License Type	Contact	Information and Application
Architects	Division of Professional Licensure	Information
Barbers	Division of Professional Licensure	Information
Birth Certificate	Can by obtained at the Clerk's Office of the City or Town your parents lived in at time of birth or where you mother was located when you were born.
Cigarette Sellers License	Department of Revenue	Online Information 617.887.5090
Death Certificates	City Clerk	617.349.4260
Driver's License - Auto	Registry of Motor Vehicles	Online Information
Employment Agencies	Department of Labor Standards	617.727.3696
Financial Advisors	Secretary of State Securities Division	617.727.3548
Fishing License	Dept. of Fish & Game Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
Marriage Licenses	Handled by Local Governments	City Clerk's Office 617.349.4260
Nurses	Division of Registration	Online Information
Social Workers	Division of Registration	Online Information

The Cambridge License Commission holds General Public Hearing at least twice monthly. At the General Public Hearing we hold hearings for license violations, hearings for businesses who are petitioning for a license, permits for one-day licenses and administrative matters.  

Search our Public Calendar for License Commission hearings. Agenda will be posted no later than 48 hours prior to a hearing.
Scheduled items are tentative prior to posting of an official Agenda or Hearing Notice. Refer to the posted Agenda for a full list of scheduled items.
Please check the agenda for the time and location of particular meetings.

Please note: All One-Day Application must be submitted to the Commission by the Thursday two weeks preceding the event. Applications can be filed online. The application must be filled out completely, and bear the applicant’s signature and that of the Police Commissioner’s or designee when submitted. 
We'll let you know when to expect the hearing when you apply.

License Violations Hearings:  During license violation matters we hear from: police officers any victims of the violation people who witnessed the violation, and the person who allegedly violated their license. We'll make a decision of violation, no violation, deferment, or no action.  If there was a violation, we may charge fines or other penalties.

License Petition Hearings: During License petition matters we speak with: the petitioner or license holder witnesses, community members, and neighbors neighborhood associations, and City officials who are in favor of or against the petition.

If you have something to say, you can testify at a hearing. We accept testimonies based on the type of hearing:

• Only witnesses and victims can testify at violation hearings.
• Anyone can testify at a business petition hearing, whether you support or are against the cause.

There are several ways to give us your testimony:

• in person at the hearing
• via email to license@cambridgema.gov
• via fax to (617) 349-6148, or
• by mail to:

Cambridge License Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue, 1st Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139