The Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for providing fire and life safety protection to the public by ensuring fire code compliance and enforcement of the Fire Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Building Codes. Two  major functions of the Bureau are the review of engineered building plans for all life safety systems and the inspection and testing of any installation, alteration, modification, or repair to any fire alarm, sprinkler or suppression system. Additional responsibilities include:

Issuance of permits as mandated by MGL Chapter 148; 527CMR (Board of Fire Prevention Regulations); and 780CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code).

Administer the state mandated inspection program conducted by fire suppression personnel for public and private schools, hospitals, hotels, clinics, day care centers, theaters and nursing homes.

Administer the residential smoke detector compliance law and supervise the smoke detector inspection program conducted by fire suppression personnel.

Conduct inspections for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy and Smoke Detector Certifications.

Conduct inspections as required by the City of Cambridge License Commission

Administer the Fire Detail program as required for public safety.

Administer and perform inspections of the state mandated fuel storage tank regulations.

Administer the annual flammable storage permits and supervise the inspection by suppression forces.

Provide the necessary resources required for public events.

Perform inspections of restaurants and nightclubs as part of the City Managers License Task Force.

Investigate and mitigate complaints received from the public, other city agencies, and the fire suppression forces that involve fire hazard and life safety code violations.  

The Bureau of Fire Prevention reports directly to the Chief of Department. The division is staffed with one Deputy Chief, two Fire Captains and one Fire Lieutenant.

Our office is located at Fire Department Headquarters, 491 Broadway (corner of Broadway and Cambridge streets)
Office hours are Monday through Friday 8am – 4pm. (Except holidays)

• FIRE PREVENTION PERMITSARE ISSUED FROM 8:00AM-10:00AM AND 2:00PM-3:00PM.

• SMOKE DETECTOR AND CARBON MONOXIDE PERMTS FOR THE SALE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ARE ISSUED FROM 8:00AM-10:00AM AND 2:00PM-3:00PM.

Permits are issued from the permit counter located on the second floor. Payment is made by cash or check. Please make checks payable to the City of Cambridge.

Fire Inspections are by appointment only. Please call the following numbers to schedule a fire inspections:

• Smoke Detector Sale of Residential Property Compliance Inspection, please call (617) 349-4921
• Certificate of Occupancy and all other inspections, please call (617) 349-4918

Important: If a Certificate of Occupancy Inspection is required in addition to a Smoke Detector Compliance Inspection, please call the Fire Prevention Office at (617) 349-4918. Both inspections will be done together.

Smoke detector and carbon monoxide permits for the sale of residential property are issued daily from 8-10AM and 2-3PM

Contact Information:

Deputy Chief Peter Donovan, 617-349-4967, email

Captain Paul Marinelli, 617-349-4968, email

Lieutenant David Pierce, 617-349-4916, email

Lieutenant Christopher Towski, 617-349-4990, email