City Clerk's Office

Responsibilities

The City Clerk is responsible for the maintenance of factual public records and the fair administration of elections. The Clerk attends and keeps records of all meetings of the City Council. The Clerk and all members of his staff are Notary Publics and have the authority to notarize documents signed in their presence, as well as swear in Notary Publics.

Permits/Licenses Downloads

Auctioneer License

$100.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Bowling Alley License

$45.00/$30.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Class 1, 2 and 3 Motor Vehicle License

$200.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Entertainment License (6-day license only)*

$100.00 Live Fee
$50.00 Non-Live Fee
Legal Ad Required

Fortune Teller License

$50.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Junk Dealer License

$100.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Inflammables License

Check Fee Schedule
Legal Ad Required

Innholder/Lodging House Licenses

$50.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Limousine License

$35.00/$50.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Pool & Billiard License

$45.00/$30.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Taxi Cab License

$35.00/$50.00 Fee
Legal Ad/CORI & ID Required

Special Permit

Rules & Regulations
$100.00 Ad Fee
Legal Ad Required

Business Certificate

Issued after Building Department has signed off
$20.00 Fee

*Sunday Entertainment Licenses are administered through the Mayor’s Office. Please call 978.538.5702.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file for a Business Certificate?

Massachusetts requires anyone who is conducting business under an alias (i.e. any other name than their own), including corporations, to file a business certificate in the community where their business is principally headquartered. This form, also called a “DBA” which stands for “doing business as”, contains the name and address of the business and the names and residences of the principals of the business. This certificate must be signed in the presence of a designated clerk in the Office of the City Clerk or a Notary Public. The certificate is effective for four years and the filing fee is $20.00. The fee for filing an amendment is $10.00.

How do I protect my business name?

Filing a business certificate at the local level does not protect your name. If you have a business name or a symbol that you consider unique and valuable you may want to register it as a trademark or a service mark. Trademarks are any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination of these used to identify the goods of a business and distinguish those goods from the goods of others. Similarly, there are service marks that may be used to identify and distinguish a business which provides a service rather than goods. You are not required to register your trademark or service mark with any governmental agency. Trademarks are protected under common law. However, by registering your mark, you may gain certain exclusive ownership benefits under statutory law. You should contact the Specialized Section in the Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth for further information

What is the procedure for a Special Permit?

The City Council must formally receive the special permit application at a regularly scheduled meeting prior to a legal ad being published in a newspaper of general circulation. Said legal notice must be published for two consecutive weeks with the first ad being published at least 14 days prior to the public hearing. After the City Council acts on the special permit, a special permit decision is filed in the City Clerk’s office, and there is a 20 day appeal period from the filing date of said decision to the time that an applicant can obtain a building/occupancy permit from the building inspector. It’s at the building inspector’s discretion to issue the same.