Massachusetts Department of Public Safety

Welcome to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Website

This is to notify you that the Department of Public Safety’s new Civil Fine Enforcement regulations, 520 CMR 1.00, will go into effect on July 1, 2013. Read more...

The Board of Boiler Rules (“Board”) proposes several amendments to its regulations, 522 CMR.  The proposed regulations reflect and implement the current standards formulated by the recognized engineering organizations for the installation, inspection, and repair and alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, and air tanks. Read more...

Please be advised that the Department has been made aware of an apparent breach of security at a former DPS office in Taunton, MA.   As a result, personal information relative to a limited set of Department licenses, including social security numbers and/or driver’s license numbers, could be vulnerable to fraudulent use. Read more...

The State Board of Building Regulations and Standards will hold a public hearing to address Proposals to the MA State Building Code (780 CMR) that change the present baseline energy code requirements from a MA- amended International Energy Conservation Code-2009 (MA-amended IECC-2009) to a MA-amended IECC-2012. Read more...

The time when licensed construction supervisors will need to demonstrate compliance with continuing education requirements is fast approaching.  Any person with a license expiration date of July 1, 2013 or after will need to comply with continuing education requirements. A licensed construction supervisor must acquire a certain number of continuing education hours each 2 year renewal period based upon license category. Read more...

ELEVATOR CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION

Effective April 1, 2013 all Elevator Contractors doing business in Massachusetts are required to register with the Department of Public Safety. A separate registration must be submitted for each branch office. If a company fails to register with the Department any permit application received from that company after April 1, 2013 will be denied by the Department. You may find the Application for Elevator Contractor Registration in the Elevator Section of this website under Forms and Applications.

The Department of Public Safety’s (“Department”) new ice cream truck vendor regulations, 520 CMR 15.00, will go into effect on February 15, 2013. The regulations implement G.L. c. 270, § 25, which was added by section 122 of chapter 256 of the Acts of 2010, and authorizes the Department to adopt regulations relative to the annual permitting of ice cream truck vendors.  The issuance of the permits and enforcement of the fines will be done at the local level. Read more... 

New building code construction control documents are being provided by the BBRS to ensure uniformity across the State for enforcing construction control requirements, 780 CMR 107.6.  The BBRS intends to evaluate the use of the documents after a six month trial period.  During the trial period changes to the documents can be made by the regulated community.

On Friday, November 23, 2012, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner, Thomas Gatzunis, was informed of an explosion that had rocked a downtown section of Springfield.  The blast sent glass, bricks and other debris flying across a congested part of the city.  Fortunately, there were relatively few injuries and no deaths attributed to the incident; the area in and around the source of the explosion had been evacuated about an hour before the blast due to the report of a gas odor.

On May 31, 2012, Governor Patrick signed in to law a bill that will provide certain exceptions to the Department’s licensing requirements for individuals in the military and armed forces.  The bill has three main components relative to the Department.  These exceptions apply to all licenses and certificates issued by the Department and its boards and commissions. Read more...

A new law was recently enacted which expands the definition of “owner occupied single family residences” to include both attached and detached residences.  As a result, attached and detached single family owner occupied residences will only require inspection every five years rather than the current requirement of every year.  Please note that this provision only applies to elevators in owner occupied residences that serve only the residence. Read more...