Establishing a Business in Northampton
Contact the Community and Economic Development Director for more information and assistance on starting a business in Northampton.
413-587-1253
Business Certificates (Doing Business As)
The City Clerk issues Business Certificates for registering a business in Northampton. A Business Certificate is commonly referred to as a "D/B/A form" or a "Doing Business As form".
Registering as a corporation in MA
New for profit and non-profit corporations must register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of MA. This can be done on-line at the Secretary of State's Office. Existing corporations and trademarks in MA can be searched on-line at the Secretary's corporate divisions section of their website.
Guidelines for Starting a Business in MA
The Western MA Small Business Development Center provides information and resources on their website for starting a business in MA including: model business and financing plan and business obligations checklists.
Finding A Site
The Office of Community and Economic Development provides site selection services and keeps an listing of available commercial and industrial properties in Northampton to help you locate a suitable property to meet your needs. The inventory is posted on this website at the link below. Call the Economic Development Director for more information. Site Selection Services
Zoning and Land Use Permitting
It is important to confirm that your business will be located in the proper zoning district. The Office of Community and Economic Development or the Office of Planning & Development can help identify appropriate zoning districts for your business. Some businesses are also allowed as home occupations.
The Office of Planning & Development can provide information on all land use permits that might be required for your business. Carolyn Misch, Permits Manager, can be reached at 587-1287. See the OPD website pages for more information:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/opd/
A copy of the Northampton Zoning Ordinance and other land use regulations can be found on-line at:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/opd/Regulations/
Building Permits
The Building Commissioner's Office issues permits for building construction, plumbing, electrical, gas, signs, and initial zoning review. The Building Commissioner's Office can be reached at 587-1240. Building Commissioners Office