TL;DR: No. Medfield has four local historic districts, and its Historic Districts Bylaw, Chapter 150, Section 150-7A(4), exempts "color or type of paint or roofing" from review. That language dates to an amendment adopted at the April 28, 2014 Annual Town Meeting. The Historic District Commission still asks, in Section 150-7B, to be consulted "in an advisory capacity," and other exterior changes such as windows and doors still need a certificate.
Repainting a house in one of Medfield's districts? Call or text Dave at (774) 217-9567. We can help you put together color samples worth showing the Commission, even when approval is not required.
The question usually comes from someone who has just bought an older house near the center of town and heard that it is "in the historic district." In some Massachusetts towns that would mean a hearing before a color change. In Medfield it does not, but the details are worth knowing before the first coat.
Which parts of Medfield are in a local historic district?
Medfield's bylaw, adopted under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40C, names four local historic districts in Chapter 150 of the town code:
- John Metcalf Historic District, with its map most recently amended and filed with the Massachusetts Historical Commission on April 23, 2004.
- Hospital Farm Historic District, map filed January 18, 1994. A town study report describes it as having "38 historic buildings," in the Queen Anne style.
- Clark-Kingsbury Farm Historic District, map filed January 4, 1997.
- Town Center Historic District, map filed January 13, 2000.
The district maps are attached to Chapter 150 on the town code site. If your house is not on one of them, the Historic District Commission has no review role over it at all, whatever its age.
National Register listing is a separate thing. Medfield State Hospital is listed on the National Register as a district, and under federal law that listing "places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property" unless federal funding or permits are involved, according to the National Park Service.
What does Medfield's bylaw exempt from review?
Section 150-7A lists seven categories the Commission does not review. For a homeowner planning exterior work, the relevant ones are:
- Paint and roofing. "Color or type of paint or roofing," Section 150-7A(4), amended at the April 28, 2014 Town Meeting.
- Appurtenances. Storm doors, storm windows, screens, window air conditioners, lighting fixtures and antennas.
- Grade-level work. Terraces, walks, driveways and sidewalks that do not substantially change the grade.
- Rebuilding after fire or storm. Reconstructing a damaged feature in substantially the same design, begun within one year.
A separate town report on a proposed Peak House district put it plainly: "Medfield's bylaw does not require historic district commission approval to paint one's home a new color," in the 2021 preliminary study report.
What still needs a certificate in a Medfield district?
Anything that alters an exterior architectural feature and is not on the exempt list. Section 150-6 requires a certificate of appropriateness, hardship or nonapplicability before a building in a district is "constructed, demolished, moved or altered in any way that affects exterior architectural features," and the Building Inspector will not issue a permit without one unless the work is exempt.
The bylaw defines exterior architectural features as what is open to view from a public street, way or park, including the architectural style, the kind and texture of exterior materials, and "the type and style of windows, doors, lights, signs and other appurtenant exterior fixtures." So on a paint job, the line is simple. New color on the same trim is exempt. Replacing that trim with a different profile or material, or swapping the windows, is the kind of change to raise with the Commission first.
What does the Commission's advisory role mean for your color?
It is a request, not a requirement. Section 150-7B says that even for the exempt categories, the Commission "recommends that it be consulted in an advisory capacity to aid property owners in choosing cost-effective and the most aesthetically pleasing materials," and would like "an opportunity to make recommendations."
We think that is worth taking up on a house in the Town Center or John Metcalf district. The Commission members know the streetscape, and a color conversation costs nothing. Bring painted sample boards rather than chips, view them on the house in daylight, and treat any suggestions as free advice from people who care about the street. The final choice stays yours.
A separate body, the Medfield Historical Commission, administers an 18-month demolition delay. That one is about demolition, not paint.
How does Medfield compare with nearby towns?
Medfield's approach is the common one in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Historical Commission's guide to establishing local historic districts lists paint color among "typical exemptions from review" and recommends that new districts not include paint color review at all.
Two of our other towns do it differently. In Hopkinton's Center district, only repainting in the existing color or white is exempt, which we cover in Hopkinton's historic district paint color rules. Wellesley exempts color only when it is "in keeping with accepted aesthetic standards," as explained in painting older homes in Wellesley. For the statewide overview, start with historic district paint approval in Massachusetts.
One thing the exemption does not change is the age of the house. About 64.0 percent of Medfield homes were built before 1980 and 49.5 percent before 1970 (ACS 2020-2024, on Census Reporter), and on any house built before 1978 the lead rules apply to the prep whatever the color. Our Massachusetts lead paint guide covers that side. For the job itself, see exterior painting in Medfield, interior painting in Medfield and painters in Medfield, MA.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to paint my house a new color in Medfield's historic district?
No, Section 150-7A(4) of Medfield's Historic Districts Bylaw exempts the color or type of paint from Historic District Commission review, so a new exterior color needs no certificate in any of the four districts.
What are Medfield's four local historic districts?
Medfield's four local historic districts are the John Metcalf, Hospital Farm, Clark-Kingsbury Farm and Town Center Historic Districts, all established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40C and listed in Section 150-3 of the town code.
Should I still talk to the Medfield Historic District Commission about paint color?
It is optional but encouraged: Section 150-7B says the Commission recommends being consulted in an advisory capacity, even on exempt items, to help owners choose cost-effective and aesthetically suitable materials.
What exterior changes do need approval in a Medfield historic district?
Changes that affect exterior architectural features visible from a public street, way or park, such as the type and style of windows, doors and fixtures, need a certificate under Section 150-6 unless an exemption applies.
Does the paint color exemption cover roofing too?
Yes, Section 150-7A(4) exempts the color or type of both paint and roofing, so neither a new paint color nor a new roofing material requires Historic District Commission review in Medfield.
The bottom line
In Medfield's four local historic districts, paint color is yours to choose. The bylaw says so directly, and the Commission asks only to be consulted as an adviser. Windows, doors and other exterior features are a different matter and still need a certificate. The prep, especially on a pre-1978 house, is where the real care goes.
Paint Pro New England has painted older homes in Medfield, Millis, Sherborn, Dover and the rest of our 18 towns since 2011, with Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams products, full insurance, a 2-year warranty and 5.0 stars across 62+ reviews. If you want help choosing and sampling colors for a district house, call (774) 217-9567.
Dave Griffiths
Dave Griffiths is the owner of Paint Pro New England, a professional painting company serving MetroWest Boston since 2011. With 15+ years of interior and exterior painting experience across the region, he leads every project with thorough prep, premium Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams paints, and a 2-year warranty.
