Fire Prevention Bureau

About the Fire Prevention Bureau

The primary responsibility of the Fire Prevention Bureau is to prevent fires from occurring by aggressive enforcement and educating the public on all laws and ordinances relative to fire safety. This is accomplished by conducting inspections, issuing permits, and following up on citizen complaints and fire company violation reports. Fire Prevention also reviews plans for new construction, additions, sprinkler and fire alarm system upgrades, and demolition of structures. Inspectors also monitor the installation and removal of underground and aboveground storage tanks. The Fire Prevention Office works closely with many City agencies to ensure fire safety, most notably Inspectional Services, the Board of Health, and the Planning Board.

The Flammable Liquid Compliance Unit specifically targets businesses using flammable and combustible liquids. This is an educational and enforcement unit. The primary goal is to locate occupancies using flammable and combustible liquids that are not in compliance with existing legal requirements. The occupancy is then entered into the permitting system and will require periodic inspection. Another goal is to inform and educate the users of flammable products of the many hazards that exist so that they can be used safely in the City. The Fire Prevention Bureau and Flammable Compliance Unit work closely together to create a fire safe environment.

Fire Prevention Permit Fees Effective January 1, 2025
Type	Fee	Duration
Annual Flammable Inspection	$75	1 Year
Annual Combo Flammables Inspection	$110	1 Year
Annual Fuel Oil Storage	$100	1 Year
Barbeque Permit/Inspection	$75	6 Months
Dumpster Permit – on Property	$125	3 Months
Dumpster Permit – on Property	$500	12 Months
Fire Alarm Installation/Modification	$100	Up to 1 Year
Food Truck Inspection/Permit	$50	Expires Annually on April 30
Garage Permit	$10.00 Per Parking Space (Max $500)	Expires Annually on April 30
Gun Powder Permit	Residential $50 Commercial $100	1 Year
Kitchen Suppression (ANSUL) System Permit/Inspection	$100	1 Year
Oil Burner Permit/Inspection	$75	1 Year
Sprinkler System Install or Modification	$150	Up to 1 Year
Smoke Detector Permit - Single Family Dwelling	$50	2 Months
Smoke Detector Permit - Two Family Dwelling	$100	2 Months
Smoke Detector Permit - 3-6 Dwellings	$150	2 Months
Smoke Detector Permit - 7 or More Dwellings	$500	2 Months
Temporary storage of Heaters/Flammables/ Generators/E-Generators/Tar Kettles etc.,	$100	Less Than 6 Months
Tents 10x12 or Larger	$75 per tent	Up to 180 Days
Tank/Truck Inspection	$100	2 Year
Tank/Line Gas Station Inspection	$100	1 Year
Tank Install - Aboveground (275 Gallons or Less)	$250	1 Month or as Needed
Tank Install - Aboveground (276 - 500 Gallons)	$250	1 Month or as Needed
Tank Removal - Aboveground (275 Gallons or Less)	$100 per Tank	1 Month or as Needed
Tank Removal - Aboveground (276 Gallons or More)	$150 per Tank	1 Month or as Needed
Tank Install - Underground	$250	1 Month or as Needed
Tank Removal - Underground	$250	1 Month or as Needed
Welding/Hot Works Permit	$100	Up to 6 Months
Welding/Hot Works Permit After Stop Work Order	$300	Up to 6 Months

Paid Fire Detail Fees

Effective January 1, 2025, the Somerville Fire Department’s fire detail rate will increase to $80.50 per hour. For a complete breakdown of the different rates, please refer to the attached spreadsheet.

(Click to enlarge)

Regulations

Information about the City's fire regulations can be found in the links below. The regulations are orders issued by the Fire Chief under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 148 Section 28 Chapter 148 Laws, 527 CMR 1 Fire Code, and the State Fire Marshall Advisories.

If you have any questions regarding fire regulations please call (617) 623-1700 x8400 or send an email to FirePrevention@somervillema.gov

Online Permitting (CitizenServe)

Real-Time Updates: Stay informed on your application status.
Online Payments: Pay fees securely online.
Integrated Messaging: Communicate directly with city staff.
Document Management: Upload and manage documents easily.

For more details and to apply for a permit, please visit the CitizenServe portal.

Steps to Apply for a Somerville Fire Prevention Permit

1) Access the CitizenServe Portal:

Go to the City of Somerville MA's CitizenServe portal.
On the menu at the top right, select either "My Account" or "Login."
On the next screen, you can either sign in using an existing account or click "Register Now" to create a new account.

A screen capture of the log-in for the Citizenserve Fire Prevention online portal including details about recent changes.

2) Register an Account (if you don't already have one. Otherwise, skip to the next step):

Click "Register Now" to set up an account.
If the desired email address gives an error message that the account already exists, click "Forgot your password" and follow the steps to change the password.
Complete the profile, update the User Name if desired, and select a password. The account is now ready to be used for all future permit applications.

3) Apply for a Fire Permit:

Log in to your CitizenServe account.
Select “Apply for a Permit" on the next screen.
Select “Fire Permit” and choose a subtype for the permit request.
Select the exact parcel ID/property address.

Contact Information

Hours

Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Service Desk Hours

Monday - Friday
9 - 10 a.m.

Email

fireprevention@somervillema.gov

Phone

617-625-6600 ext. 8400

Address

1 Franey Rd.
Somerville, MA 02144

Every time you change your clocks in the spring and fall, remember to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, too!

Ensure your alarms are functioning properly by testing them regularly and replacing the batteries if needed. Smoke and CO alarms don’t last forever—make sure to replace them at least every 10 years.

More than 2,200 people die each year due to unintentional home fires. Almost two-thirds of these deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms.

Programs & Initiatives

A large propane tanker truck photographed from behind to show its warning sign.

Local Emergency Planning Committee

The Somerville Office of Emergency Management and the Somerville LEPC work collaboratively with all town public safety agencies to maintain the required levels of preparedness and response to potential hazardous material incidents.

ISD - Safety

The Safety Division of the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) provides guidance on safety requirements for building projects in Somerville.

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