Massachusetts Department of Public Safety

Welcome to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Website

We have all been deeply affected by the Marathon bombings on April 15th which left so many innocent people seriously injured.  Like many of you, the Department is looking for ways to help the survivors of the bombings.  Towards this end, the Department has established the Boston Survivors Accessibility Alliance (BSAA) to assist those who may need assistance with renovations to help transition to a new lifestyle. Read more...

The Department of Public Safety will hold a public hearing on July 12, 2013, at 10:00 AM at One Ashburton Place, Ashburton Café Conference Room, Boston, MA, regarding several proposed changes to 520 CMR 13.00 relative to horse drawn carriages. Read more... 

The Board of Elevator Regulations will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday June 18, 2013 for the purpose of hearing proposals to change the elevator code found at 524CMR.  The Public Hearing is in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 143, s.69.  The Board was unable to hold its mandatory May 2013 hearing under this provision, and, as a result, this meeting will serve as the first bi-annual Board of Elevator Regulations Public Hearing…read more

The Board of Building Regulations and Standards encourages homeowners to check for radon.  Read more...

The Department of Public Safety (“Department”) will hold a public hearing on July 8, 2013, at 10 AM at One Ashburton Place, Ashburton Café Conference Room, Boston, MA, regarding several proposed changes to 520 CMR 6.00 relative to hoisting machinery.  Many of the proposed changes reflect and implement recent amendments to the hoisting law, G.L. c. 146, § 53, and public comment from the December 8, 2012, public hearing. Read more...

On behalf of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (“ANF”), the Department of Public Safety (“Department”) will hold a public hearing  on Monday, July 8, 2013, at 1:00 PM on proposed changes to the hoisting license fees listed in the ANF fee schedule, 801 CMR 4.02 (520). Read more...

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...

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 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...