I apologize in advance. I have searched this, but I have few solid answers. I would like to see a good answer to this. Maybe a sticky here.
I have the C&R but want a Dealer FFL. I could get a storefront, but chances are I would rarely be there, and don't want to store my firearms in some low rent property. I want to keep the investment low. So for having a Dealer FFL;
Is it a federal law that you must have a storefront?
Is it a State law that you must have a storefront?
Is there town regulations?
Can a city/town police chief sponsor you for a home FFL?
I see a ton of websites that promote home FFL's and see it weekly in Shotgun News. I am not paying $15 to hear I can't do it. I have also made previous posts on Manufacturer which tell me I need a storefront. Any straight answers here?
As someone who as applied for a FFL from there home address, it ain't gonna happen in MA without a storefront. Its a matter of State law.
The Feds could care less where an FFL is, assuming it meets local law. This includes zoning laws, etc.
When I applied, the examiner checked with my local PD before visiting me. My local PD would not process an application for a state dealer or state gunsmith license, because neither can be licensed at a residence.
I ended up withdrawing my application.
While it is possible to come up with the unique set of circumstances to obtain an FFL at a residence in MA, it's not easy and probably not a good idea anyways. If you are applying for an FFL, you must be actively involved in the business that requires the FFL. So getting a FFL without a State Sales license would not allow you to sell guns, thus you can't make any money, thus your not in the trade and you don't need an FFL. Same deal with gunsmithing. No State license at a residence, no FFL.
If you intend to apply for a manufactures license, the ATF requires more documentation including zoning (is your house zoned for light manufacturing?), and will actually want to see machines (Bridgeport, lathe, etc). If you have no way to manufacture things, you can't really be in the business of making guns. Also, the ATF is getting ticked off at the amount of post-86 machine guns out there in the hands of random FFLs, and is starting to become more stingy with allowing people with no intention of making guns an easy way to get fun guns to blast with their friends.
Even if you go to the effort, jump through the hoops, and get the FFL, if your activity is low enough, there is a good chance your license won't be renewed. Remember, you atleast need to try to make money at it! If all your doing is buying guns for your own consumption or a buddy or two, it will get someone at the ATF upset... It can also lead to tax evasion problems regarding Federal Excise Tax (10% on long guns, 11% on handguns) and NFA taxes, if you end up with NFA weapons you have no intention of selling.
Last reason not to get an FFL out of your house is the inspection problem. By law, the ATF can inspect your inventory and bound book any time during your regular business hours. (You where aware you needed to actually have regular hours, right?) This has major 4th Amendment implications. Your effectively giving up some of your constitutional protections. Also, if you somehow where to be able to do it, and had a State license with your residence as the address, you are subject to inspection once a year by the local licensing authority (your local PD). Same deal... You want a local cop going through your stuff cause you wanted to save a few hundred bucks on a Glock?
--EasyD