The Department of Public Safety (DPS), a regulatory, licensing, inspection and code promulgating agency, charged with the oversight of numerous activities, business, and professions. Additionally, DPS provides administrative and legal assistance to ten different boards and commissions. Their goal is to ensure the safety of the public and to instill confidence in the safety of each of the regulated disciplines. As an executive agency, the DPS is managed by a Commissioner who is appointed by Governor Baker. The DPS reports directly to Secretary Bennett of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
Matt Carlin serves as the Commissioner of the DPS. As Commissioner, Mr. Carlin is responsible for the equitable enforcement of all statutes, regulations and policies concerning certain public safety activities in Massachusetts. During his tenure, Commissioner Carlin will focus on improving efficiencies relating to each DPS activity and opening the lines of communication with the varied constituent groups to ensure a transparent process that advances the DPS’s public safety goals and objectives.
The DPS is comprised of five Divisions among other things, the Building Division is responsible for issuing construction related permits for state-owned projects and performing inspections thereof; the Engineering Division is responsible for inspecting pressure vessels, boilers and other mechanical devices and issuing certificates of compliance; the Elevator Division is responsible for issuing permits for new installations and inspecting existing elevators, wheelchair lifts and similar devices; the Regulated Activities and Licensing Division is responsible for sanctioning boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) events, producing over 125, 000 construction and related licenses each year, and licensing public warehouses. The Architectural Access Board is responsible for assuring safe ingress and egress into, through and around public buildings and facilities for persons with disabilities. Each division is staffed with a group of specifically trained qualified inspectors along with a management and support staff dedicated to ensuring that the Commonwealth’s public safety needs are met.
For more information about DPS activities and areas of oversight, please return to the DPS homepage to access areas interest. There you will find pages containing license applications, related laws and regulations, information, and other documents and applications that you may need or find helpful. If by chance you don’t find what you need or would like to speak to someone in person please call us at 617-727-3200.
DPS Seeks Public Input per Executive Order 562
In order to facilitate the thorough review of its regulations as outlined in Executive Order 562, the Department of Public Safety is seeking comments and feedback from the public on all DPS regulations. This is an opportunity for public input that goes beyond the traditional public comment and hearing process, and all comments are welcome, whether general in nature or specific to individual code sections. Please send all comments via email to DPSInfo@state.ma.us, and please put “EO562” in the subject line. All emails with “EO562” in the subject line will be considered as the Department goes through the regulation review process. The Department thanks you in advance for your assistance and thoughtful remarks!