Hair Salon Permit Requirements in Boston, MA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   You need an EIN from the IRS to hire employees, to operate a partnership or corporation, to pay certain excise taxes, or if you elect corporate tax treatment. A single-member LLC with no employees is not required to have one and may use the owner's Social Security number instead, though most banks want an EIN to open a business account. Apply with the IRS's online tool using the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. If you are forming an LLC or corporation, register the entity with the Secretary of the Commonwealth first — applying before the state filing can delay your EIN. Beware of websites that charge for an EIN; you never have to pay a fee.

   Official government source

   Free·Issued immediately online. You must complete the application in one session — it expires after 15 minutes of inactivity — and you can obtain only one EIN per responsible party per day.

   Free

   Issued immediately online. You must complete the application in one session — it expires after 15 minutes of inactivity — and you can obtain only one EIN per responsible party per day.

1. Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering — Cosmetology Salon License

   Every hair salon in Massachusetts must hold a salon license issued by the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering, part of the Division of Occupational Licensure. Applications are filed online through eLIPSE and must include a scaled floor plan labelling all stations, chairs, manicuring tables and aesthetics rooms with square footage, additional sinks (not in a bathroom and not a shampoo bowl), the shop sign and bathrooms; a 2x2 photo and government photo ID for each owner; the cosmetology license of a person who will work at the salon; a notarized CORI form for each owner; plumbing and electrical forms (or a No Work Required form); entity formation documents; and a price list (gender pricing is prohibited). The salon must be fully set up and ready for business to pass the investigator's final inspection, and a new business or new location must remain closed until the license is approved. The license is not transferable — a new location, new space at the same address, or a change of ownership requires a new application, and a renovation requires a salon expansion application. The Board no longer issues booth renter or booth shop licenses.

   Official government source

   $136 salon license application (non-refundable); renewal is $82 every two years, due December 31 of even years. Late renewal adds $57.·Allow several weeks for processing; an inspector then contacts you to schedule the final inspection

   $136 salon license application (non-refundable); renewal is $82 every two years, due December 31 of even years. Late renewal adds $57.

   Allow several weeks for processing; an inspector then contacts you to schedule the final inspection

2. Massachusetts Cosmetologist License (individual stylists)

   Every stylist working in the salon must hold a Massachusetts cosmetologist license from the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure). Licensure requires completing a 1,000-hour cosmetology course at a board-approved school, then applying, paying the application fee, and passing a written theory exam administered by PSI — the Board must approve your application before PSI will let you schedule. Barbers also complete a 1,000-hour course; manicurists complete 100 hours and aestheticians 600 hours. Incomplete applications are held open 180 days before you must reapply and pay again.

   Official government source

   $68 cosmetologist application fee (barber $20, manicurist $68, aesthetician $68, electrology $97), plus the PSI exam fee. Renewal is $68 every two years, tied to your birthday; late renewal adds $57.·After the application is processed PSI emails you to schedule the exam; allow additional time for scheduling and results

   $68 cosmetologist application fee (barber $20, manicurist $68, aesthetician $68, electrology $97), plus the PSI exam fee. Renewal is $68 every two years, tied to your birthday; late renewal adds $57.

   After the application is processed PSI emails you to schedule the exam; allow additional time for scheduling and results

3. Massachusetts Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration (retail products only)

   Massachusetts sales tax applies to sales of tangible personal property, not to services, so hairdressing and personal care services are not subject to sales tax. If the salon sells retail products — shampoo, styling products, tools — those goods are taxable at 6.25% and the salon must register as a sales tax vendor with the Department of Revenue through MassTaxConnect and collect and remit the tax. A salon that sells no products has no sales tax registration obligation for its service revenue.

   Official government source

   Free — sales tax vendor registration through MassTaxConnect has no fee·Register online through MassTaxConnect; you get a confirmation email on completion and a registration certificate is mailed once approved

   Free — sales tax vendor registration through MassTaxConnect has no fee

   Register online through MassTaxConnect; you get a confirmation email on completion and a registration certificate is mailed once approved

1. Boston Inspectional Services — Certificate of Use and Occupancy

   Before opening a hair salon in Boston you need a Certificate of Use and Occupancy, issued by Inspectional Services with Boston Fire Department sign-off, confirming the space meets code for personal service use. If you are doing tenant improvements, the building permit comes first, and ISD will not issue the certificate until the building permit has final sign-off from each trade inspector and all associated permits (electrical, plumbing, gas, sprinkler, sheet metal) are finalized. The salon itself must separately hold a cosmetology salon license from the state Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering.

   Official government source

   Per Boston's published ISD fee schedule: 'use of premises' $50 primary fee; change of occupancy $50 for commercial; long form building permit $50 primary plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work (short form $20 plus $10 per $1,000); plumbing $20 plus $5 per fixture.·3-6 weeks where a fit-out, inspections and fire sign-off are involved

   Per Boston's published ISD fee schedule: 'use of premises' $50 primary fee; change of occupancy $50 for commercial; long form building permit $50 primary plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work (short form $20 plus $10 per $1,000); plumbing $20 plus $5 per fixture.

   3-6 weeks where a fit-out, inspections and fire sign-off are involved

2. Boston Inspectional Services — Plumbing Permit

   Hair salons need plumbing connections for shampoo bowls and sinks, and any new plumbing installation requires a plumbing permit from Boston Inspectional Services, pulled by a Massachusetts-licensed plumber. The work must be inspected and approved by the ISD plumbing inspector before use, and the permit must be finalized by the building inspector before ISD will issue a Certificate of Use and Occupancy. Gas-fired equipment requires a separate gas permit.

   Official government source

   Per Boston's published ISD fee schedule: plumbing $20 primary fee plus $5 for each fixture; gas $20 primary fee plus $5 per appliance or meter approved. Off-hour inspections are $250 per inspector.·Varies with inspection scheduling; confirm current turnaround with ISD

   Per Boston's published ISD fee schedule: plumbing $20 primary fee plus $5 for each fixture; gas $20 primary fee plus $5 per appliance or meter approved. Off-hour inspections are $250 per inspector.

   Varies with inspection scheduling; confirm current turnaround with ISD

3. City of Boston — Business Certificate (DBA)

   If operating under a trade name in Boston, file a Business Certificate with the Boston City Clerk's office under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 110, Section 5. Renewed every 4 years.

   Official government source

   $65·Same day to 1 week

   $65

   Same day to 1 week

4. Boston Fire Department Requirements for a Hair Salon

   Hair salons keep flammable chemicals, so Boston Fire Prevention Division requirements apply: chemical storage, fire extinguisher placement, exit signage, and unobstructed lit means of egress. The Fire Department also reviews fire protection and life safety and signs off electronically before Inspectional Services will issue a Certificate of Occupancy, so its involvement is part of opening the space rather than a standalone salon inspection. If your storage of flammable liquids exceeds the state Fire Safety Board's threshold quantities, a separate license under M.G.L. c. 148, s. 13 applies, with an annual certificate of registration filed with the Boston fire commissioner by April 30. Fire Prevention runs an online portal for related permits.

   Official government source

   Boston's Fire Prevention Code sets license, registration, and permit fees by City ordinance rather than publishing a schedule. Call Fire Prevention at 617-343-3628 for the amount that applies to your situation.·Fire Department sign-off is a prerequisite for the Certificate of Occupancy, so build it into your build-out schedule rather than treating it as a final step before opening.

   Boston's Fire Prevention Code sets license, registration, and permit fees by City ordinance rather than publishing a schedule. Call Fire Prevention at 617-343-3628 for the amount that applies to your situation.

   Fire Department sign-off is a prerequisite for the Certificate of Occupancy, so build it into your build-out schedule rather than treating it as a final step before opening.

Official Sources

• Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetologists
• Boston Inspectional Services Department
• Boston City Clerk — Business Certificate
• MassTaxConnect

Related Guides