Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Citizens' Guide to State Services

Published by
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Citizen Information Service

Public Safety/Law Enforcement: Inspection

L21 Division of Inspection
Department of Public Safety
One Ashburton Place, Room 1301
Boston, MA 02108-1618
Tel: 617-727-3200
TTY: 617-727-4266
Fax: 617-248-0813
www.mass.gov/dps

The Division of Inspection is comprised of three divisions, Building, Engineering, and Elevator, which operate out of the main office in Boston and in the five regional offices. The Building Division is responsible for the inspection of all existing state-owned buildings, hospitals, clinics, and rest homes as well as for the plan review/inspection of all new state-owned buildings; it also issues construction permits and occupancy certificates and provides technical assistance to local building officials. In addition, it licenses motion picture operators. The Engineering Division is responsible for the inspection of boilers, pressure vessels, air tanks, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, amusement devices (bungee jumpers and carnivals), and nuclear power plants; and for the licensing of firemen, engineers, hoisting machinery operators (forklift, crane, hydraulic), oil burner technicians, pipefitters, refrigeration technicians and contractors, nuclear power plant operators and engineers, fire protection sprinkler system contractors and sprinkler fitters, and carriage horse operators (horse and buggy). It examines applicants and issues certificates of competency for inspectors of boiler and pressure vessels and amusement devices. The Engineering Section, along with the Department of  Environmental Protection (see G3) is also responsible for all underground storage tanks for fluids other than water to be in compliance. The Elevator Division is responsible for the annual inspection of all existing elevators, sidewalk elevators, dumbwaiters, hoists, lifts, escalators, and moving stairways and for the plan review/inspection of all new installations in the state. In addition, it is responsible for the issuance of two licenses, one for those engaged in the construction/maintenance/repair of elevators and escalators and one for elevator operators.

Regional Offices:

165 Liberty Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Tel: 413-736-3628
Fax: 413-773-5849

1380 Bay Street, Building B
Taunton, MA 02780
Tel: 508-880-4930
Fax: 508-880-4931

Tewksbury Hospital, Old Anne Sullivan Building
365 East Street, P.O. Box 779
Tewksbury, MA 01876
Tel: 978-851-9813
Fax: 978-858-0869

back to the:

Citizens' Guide to State Services Table of Contents

William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Terms and Conditions