Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Boston Overview
City of Boston Municipal Code
CITY OF BOSTON CODE OF ORDINANCES
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BOSTON
CHAPTER I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II: FORM OF GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER III: ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY
CHAPTER IV: CONTRACTS
CHAPTER V: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER VI: GENERAL SERVICES
CHAPTER VII: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
CHAPTER VIII: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER IX: BUILDING REGULATIONS
CHAPTER X: HOUSING SERVICES
CHAPTER XI: PUBLIC SERVICES
CHAPTER XII: PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER XIII: NATURAL GAS
CHAPTER XIV: LICENSING AND CONSUMER BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS
CHAPTER XV: DIVISIONS OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE
CHAPTER XVI: PROHIBITIONS, PENALTIES AND PERMITS
CHAPTER XVII: LICENSES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING CERTAIN TRADES
17-1 LICENSING AND REGULATION OF ABORTIONS AND ABORTION CLINICS.
17-2 GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS.
17-3 HAYMARKET-BLACKSTONE MARKET.
17-4 JUNK DEALERS, WEIGHERS AND MEASURERS.
17-5 MINORS’ LICENSES.
17-6 MISREPRESENTATION IN CONNECTION WITH JOB INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.
17-7 REAL ESTATE; REGULATION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.
17-8 REGISTRATION OF KEEPERS OF SHOPS FOR BARTER, RENTAL OR SALE OF PRINTED MATTER OR MOTION PICTURE FILMS RESTRICTED TO ADULTS.
17-9 RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY; USE REGULATIONS.
17-10 PERMITTING AND REGULATION OF MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS.
17-11 RESERVED.
17-12 SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES IN EVENT OF GAS LEAK OR OTHER EMERGENCIES.
17-13 THEATRICAL EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
17-14 TRANSIENT VENDORS.
17-15 TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY MOTOR VEHICLE; REGULATIONS.
17-16 TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAIL; NOTIFICATION OF FIRE COMMISSIONER.
17-17 PRUDENTIAL AFFAIRS AND INTERNAL POLICE; REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN ARMED SECURITY GUARDS AND LICENSURE AS SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS OPERATING IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
17-18 REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF BRINGING THEIR OWN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ONTO THE PREMISES.
17-19 REGULATING ACOUSTIC LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.
17-20 REDUCTION OF CHECKOUT BAGS BY RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
17-21 LICENSING AND REGULATING SHARED MOBILITY BUSINESSES.
CHAPTER XVIII: FEES AND CHARGES
CHAPTER XIX: SCHOOLS
CHAPTER XX: CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER XXI: MISCELLANEOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS
CHAPTER XXII: SUFFOLK COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIII: TRASH AND REFUSE DISPOSAL
CHAPTER XXIV: BOSTON JOBS, LIVING WAGE AND PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE
PARALLEL REFERENCES
Loading...
17-9.6   Penalties.
   (A)   Violation of the conditions of this Section shall subject the violator to a fine of $200 per day. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
   (B)   Once a permit has been issued it may be revoked, suspended or modified by the Commissioner, or not renewed by the Board, only upon a determination, after due notice and hearing, that the institution involved has materially failed to comply with this Section, the permit agreements or the “Guidelines”. Notice and hearing procedures shall be those established by the Environmental Health Inspection Services Division of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
   (C)   Notwithstanding the above, the Commissioner, upon a determination that any violation constitutes an immediate and severe threat to the public health and safety, may order the immediate closure of any premises or laboratory engaging in or contributing to such threat, without prior notice and hearing but otherwise with subsequent notice and hearing.
(Ord. 1981 c. 12 § 6; CBC 1985 17-9.6)
17-9.7   Severability of Sections.
   If any Section, Subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Section is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
(Ord. 1981 c. 12 § 7; CBC 1985 17-9.7)
17-9.8   Term.
   This Section shall be in full force and effect until July 1, 1991 unless sooner amended, repealed or extended. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the term or effectiveness of any regulations promulgated by the Board of Health and Hospitals during or subsequent to such period.
(Ord. 1981 c.12 § 8; Ord. 1986 c. 9, §§ 1, 2; CBC 1985 17-9.8)
Editor’s note:
   Section 2 of Ord. 1986 c. 9 states “The remaining parts and portions of said Chapter 12 of the Ordinances of 1981 are hereby continued and confirmed to the end that the said ordinance shall be deemed to not have lapsed and to be and remain continuously in force and effect until July 1, 1991 unless sooner amended, repealed or extended”. Ord. 1991 c. 3 provides that Chapter 12 of Ordinance 1981 shall be in full force and effect until January 1, 1993.
17-10   PERMITTING AND REGULATION OF MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS.
17-10.1   Definitions.
   For the purpose of this Section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of Public Works of the city, or his or her designee.
   COMMITTEE. The Commissioner, the Director of Food Initiatives and the Departments, as defined.
   DEPARTMENTS. The Transportation Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Police Department, the Fire Department and the Assessing Department, all of the city.   
   FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. A business operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends or otherwise provides food for human consumption as set forth in the commonwealth’s Sanitary Code 105 CMR 590.002.
   MOBILE FOOD COMMISSARY. A licensed food establishment that a mobile food truck reports to twice daily for all food and supplies and for all cleaning and sanitizing of units and equipment.
   MOBILE FOOD TRUCK. A mobile food vehicle.
   MOBILE FOOD VEHICLE. A food establishment that is located upon a vehicle, or which is pulled by a vehicle, where food or beverage is cooked, prepared and served for individual portion service, such as a mobile food kitchen; provided, however, that a mobile food vehicle shall not be considered a food service establishment for the purposes of Subsection 18-1.6(QQ).
(CBC 1985 17-10.1; Ord. 2011 c. 5)
17-10.2   Scope.
   (A)   The provisions of this Section shall apply to mobile food operations engaged in the business of cooking, preparing and distributing food or beverage with or without charge from mobile food trucks on or in public, private or restricted spaces. This Section shall not apply to canteen, coffee or ice cream trucks that move from place to place and are stationary in the same location for no more than 30 minutes at a time or food vending push carts and stands.
   (B)   The provisions of this Section shall not apply to mobile food operations that receives a temporary event permit issued by the Public Works Department.
(CBC 1985 17-10.2; Ord. 2011 c. 5)
17-10.3   Mobile Food Trucks Committee.
   (A)   There shall be within the city a Mobile Food Trucks Committee consisting of the Public Works Department, the Transportation Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Director of Food Initiatives and the Assessing Department for the purpose of reviewing applications for mobile food truck permits and establishing rules and regulations as appropriate.
   (B)   The Committee may work with an industry-led task force in developing acceptable routes of operation throughout the city and establishing industry standards, such as the use of global positioning system (“GPS”) devices and other matters.
   (C)   The Committee may work with applicants for mobile food truck permits and renewals to encourage the following:
      (1)   Sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, including the use of energy-efficient vehicles;
      (2)   Charitable components to the business of operation;
      (3)   School nutrition programs or healthy food choices;
      (4)    Programs for children or the homeless;
      (5)   Other socially responsible practices and programs;
      (6)   Routes that provide access to underserved neighborhoods of the city; and
      (7)    The use of food commissaries within the city.
(CBC 1985 17-10.3; Ord. 2011 c. 5)
17-10.4   Mobile Food Truck Permit Required.
   (A)   No person or business entity, including a religious or charitable organization, shall operate a mobile food truck in any public, private or restricted space without a permit issued by the Committee.
   (B)   A mobile food truck permit is required for each and every mobile food truck.
(CBC 1985 17-10.4; Ord. 2011 c.5)
17-10.5   Application for a Mobile Food Truck Permit.
   (A)   Single application. There shall be made available by the Commissioner a single application form to apply for each mobile food truck permit. The application shall provide the following:
      (1)   A description of necessary inspections and fees; and
      (2)   A description of areas of the city where the operation of mobile food trucks are limited or prohibited.
   (B)   Submission of materials. Each application shall indicate on its face, in addition to other requirements as may be determined by the Committee, that the following materials must be submitted by the applicant:
      (1)   The name of the business and its owner or owners and the mailing address of the business;
      (2)    A description of the proposed business plan for the mobile food truck operation;
      (3)   A proposed service route and hours of operation with a detailed schedule of times and locations where the mobile food truck will be stationary and serving food;
      (4)   Certification that the vehicle has passed all necessary inspections required by the Boston Fire Department and Department of Inspectional Services;
      (5)   Proof that the mobile food truck will be serviced by a mobile food commissary;
      (6)   Proof of access to restroom facilities with flushable toilets and access to hand washing facilities for the use of the mobile food truck employees within 500 feet of each location where the mobile food truck will be in operation for more than one hour in any single day; and
      (7)   A certificate of insurance providing general liability insurance listing the city as additionally insured. A food truck permit shall be issued only for the explicit time period covered by the effective dates of the general liability insurance policy.
   (C)   Approval process. An application must be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Works, who shall then forward the application to the Departments for review. The application must receive the approval of each of the Departments, based on duly published criteria established by the Committee, prior to its final approval and the issuance of a permit by the Commissioner.
      (1)   The Committee may work with the applicant or permit holder to modify a service route at any time:
         (a)   Before the issue of a permit; or
         (b)   After the issue of a permit, if the grant of a permit or approval of a service route has led to the creation of a nuisance or otherwise endanger the public health, safety or order or by request of the permit holder.
      (2)   Within 60 days of the submission of a completed application, the Commissioner shall either issue or deny the application for a permit.
      (3)   If the application is denied in whole or in part, the Commissioner shall state the specific reasons for the denial. Any applicant who has been denied a permit may appeal such denial by submitting a written request for a hearing to the Commissioner within ten days of denial. Such hearing shall be conducted by the Commissioner, or his or her designee, within 30 days of receipt of said appeal. The decision resulting therefrom shall be final and subject only to judicial review under M.G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 14.
(CBC 1985 17-10.5; Ord. 2011 c. 5)
Loading...