Microsoft Word - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS update.doc

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CityofBoston‐OfficeoftheCityClerk

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MaureenFeeney

CityClerk

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FREQUENTLY

ASKED

QUESTIONS

(UpdatedonSeptember4,2013)

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FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

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Birth,Death&MarriageCertificates:

 HowcanIobtainacertifiedcopyofaBirth,DeathorMarriageCertificate?

YoumayvisittheRegistryDivisionlocatedonthesecondflooratBostonCityHalloryou

maygoonlinetowww.cityofboston.gov/registryforfurtherinstructionsrequestingitems

throughthemail.

Therearerestrictionsforrequestofbirthrecords,sopleasecalltheRegistryDivision

beforerequestingorgoingtoCityHall.Youmaycall617‐635‐4175foradditional

information.

BusinessCertificates:

 HowlongisaBusinessCertificatevalid?

Abusinesscertificateisvalidforfour(4)yearsfromthedateoffiling.

 WhatlawgovernsthefilingofBusinessCertificates?

AbusinesscertificateisgovernedunderandmaintainedaccordingtoMassachusetts

GeneralLaw

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter110/Section5

 WhydoIneedavalidissuedgovernmentpictureIdentification?

AvalidgovernmentissuedpictureIdentificationisrequiredasproofofidentification.

WhyamInotabletouseaP.O.Boxasmybusinessorresidentialaddress?

AccordingtotheMassachusettsGeneralLaw,Chapter110,aphysicaladdresswhich

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containsastreetnameandnumbermustbeusedasthebusinessaddress

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter110/Section5.

 WhydoIhavetopayafeetochangemyBusinessCertificate?

AccordingtheStateStatute

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter110/Section5

thereisnoamendmenttoabusinesscertificate.Whenbusinesscertificateinformationis

changedoncefiled,itmustberesubmittedwiththenewinformationandafeeis

associatedwiththosechangesaccordingtotheCityOrdinance,Chapter18‐1.2

http://amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Massachusetts/boston/chapterxviiifeesandcharges/

18‐

1enumerationoffeesandcharges?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:boston_

ma$anc=JD_18‐1.2.

GoingOutofBusinessSales:

 HowdoIfilea“GoingOutofBusinessSale”?

Anyentitythatisholdinga“GoingOutofBusinessSale”orconductinga“Liquidation

Sale”intheCityofBostonmustfileanapplicationforclosingoutsalewiththeOfficeof

theCityClerkwithinthree(3)business

dayspriortotheinitialsaledate.

Theapplicationmustincludeaninventoryofallpresentstockthatisbeingliquidated,a

bondintheamountof1,000.00(One‐Thousanddollars)andthefilingfeeof$100.00.

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FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

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Hawkers/Peddlers/VendorsPermits:

 HowcanIgetaHawker/Peddler/VendorPermit?

Hawker/Peddler/VendorPermitapplicationscanbeobtainedbygoingtoMassachusetts

DivisionofStandardwww.mass.gov/standards.Thesedocumentsmaybeobtainedin

personattheJohnW.McCormickBuilding,1AshburtonPlace,Room1115,Boston,MA

orbygoingonlinetohttp://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca‐agencies/dos‐lp/dos‐

licensing/hawker‐and‐peddler‐license/.

Import/ExportLicenses:

 WheredoIgetanImport/ExportLicense?

AnImport/ExportlicenseapplicationcanbeobtainedbycallingtheMassachusetts

Import/ExportCenterat(617)973‐8664orbygoingonlinetowww.mass.gov/exportto

downloadtheapplication.

CityofBostonClaims:

 WhenmayIfileaclaimagainsttheCity?

1) Personalinjuriesduetoincidentsonpublicwalkwaysorpropertydamagedueto

roaddefects,etc.,(Chapter84,Section15)witha30‐Daystatuteoflimitations.

2) PersonalInjuriesorpropertydamageduetothenegligenceofthe

Cityandits

employees.(Chapter258)withatwo(2)yearstatuteoflimitations.

 Whatistheprocedureforfilingaclaim?

Youarerequestedtoprovideasmuchinformationaspossibletodocumentyourclaim,

includingpictures.ClaimsarefiledintheOfficeoftheCityClerk

thenarereferredtothe

City’sLawDepartment.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthestatusofaclaimafterit’s

beenfiledyoushoulddirectthemtotheCity’sLawDepartmentat(617)635‐4034.

 WhydoIhavetopayafeetofileaclaim?

CityOrdinance

Chapter18‐1.3requiresafilingfeeof$15.00;however,yourfeebecomes

partofyoursettlementifdecisionisrenderedinyourfavor.

 CanIfaxmyclaim?

No!Originaldocumentsandoriginalsignaturesarerequiredwhenfilingaclaimwiththe

CityClerk’sOffice.Claimscanbe

filedinpersonorbymail.

 WhatisaStatuteofLimitations?

AStatuteofLimitationsisthelegaltimeframeduringwhichyoumustfileaclaimagainst

theCity.Roaddefects,slipsandfallsetc.,(Chapter84,Section15)witha30‐DayStatute

ofLimitations

andpersonalinjuriesorpropertydamage(Chapter258)withatwo(2)year

StatuteofLimitations.

 WhydoIhavetofileaclaimfortherefundoftowingcharges?

Ifaprivatetowingcompanytowedyourvehicle,thosefundswerepaiddirectlytothat

companytoreleaseyour

vehicle.TheonlywaytheCitycanreimbursethosefundsisfor

youtofileaclaimagainsttheCityforwrongfultowing.

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FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

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ConstableAppointments:

 HowcanIbeappointedasaConstableintheCityofBoston?

YoumustapplyinpersonattheBostonPoliceHeadquarters’LicensingDivision,1

SchroederPlace,Roxbury,MAfromJanuary2

‐February15

th

ofeachcalendaryear.

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AllConstablesareappointedbytheMayorandthenConstablesareprocessedthrough

CityClerk’sOfficeviaCityCouncilforapprovalandswearing‐in;governedby

MassachusettsGeneralLaws

;

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter41andCityof

BostonOrdinance,Chapter2‐7.2;

http://amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Massachusetts/boston/chapteriiformofgovernment

?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:boston_ma$anc=JD_2‐7.2.

CopiesofFiledDocuments:

 HowcanIgetacertifiedcopyoflegislationpassedbytheCityCouncil?

AcertifiedcopyoffiledoradopteddocumentsintheCityClerk’sOfficecanbeobtained

bycomingtotheofficeatBostonCityHall,Room601,Boston,MA.However,certain

documentsfiledoradoptedprior

toJanuary1,2002arefiledintheCity’sArchives

Division.Youcanspeakwithastaffmemberbycalling(617)635‐1195andtherearefees

associatedwiththeserequests.

Corporation/LLC/Ltd/Incorporation/Non‐Profits/TrustFilings:

 HowcanIfileasaCorporation,LLC,LTD,Incorporation,Non‐Profit,P.C.,Etc.?

TocreateanytypeofcorporationinMassachusetts,youMUSTfiletherequired

paperworkattheSecretaryoftheState’sOffice‐DivisionofCorporationslocatedatthe

JohnW.McCormickBuilding,1AshburtonPlace,Room1719,

Boston,MAorbycalling

(617)727‐9640orbygoingonlinetowww.mass.gov/corporation.

DivisionofInspectionalServicesPermits,Violations,Etc.:

 Whatarethedifferenttypesofpermits,violations,etc.processedthroughthe

InspectionalServicesDivision;andhowcanIobtainthem?

OccupancyPermits–(617)961‐3223

Food/HealthPermits–(617)635‐5326

Housings,Violations,Complaints–(617)635‐5322

CodeEnforcement–(617)635‐4896

Building&ConstructionPermits

–(617)961‐3271

PublicHealthCommission–(617)534‐2363

Park&RecreationPermits–(617)635‐4505

(Alloftheabovedepartmentalsectionsarelocatedat1010MassachusettsAvenue,

Boston,MA.02118)

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FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

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DomesticPartnerships:

 HowdoIfileaDomesticPartnership?

ADomesticPartnershipFormcanbeobtainedbygoingonlineto

www.cityofboston.gov/cityclerktodownloadtheform.Bothpartiesarerequiredto

completeandsigntheform.Eitherpartycansubmittheforminpersonormailittothe

CityClerk’sOfficeatBostonCityHall,Room601,Boston,MA.02111.Thefilingfeeis

$62.00.

DomesticPartnershipsaregovernedbyCityOrdinanceChapter12,Section9A;

http://amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Massachusetts/boston/chapterxiipublichealthandw

elfare?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:boston_ma$anc=JD_12‐9A.

EventsHeldInPublicParks:

 HowcanIgetapermittoholdaneventinapublicpark?

YoumustapplyforapermitwiththeBostonParksandRecreationDepartment.Youcan

call(617)635‐4505orgoonlinewww.cityofboston.gov/parks;anddownloadtheSpecial

EventApplication.

FederalTaxIdentification/StateSaleTaxNumbers:

 HowcanIgetaFederalTaxIDoraStateSalesTaxNumber?

YoumayapplyforaFederalTaxIDnumberbycalling1‐800‐829‐1040orbygoingonline

towww.irs.ustreas.gov.YoumayobtainaStateTaxIDNumberbycalling1‐800‐392‐

6089orgoonlinetowww.ma.gov/dor.

FilingComplaintsaboutCityServices:

 WheredoIgotofileacomplaintaboutcityservices?

YoumaycontacttheMayor’s24‐HourHotlineforconstituentservicesat(617)635‐4500

oronlinetohttp://www.cityofboston/mayor/24.

FingerprintingServices:

 WherecanIgoforfingerprintingservices?

Youcanobtainfingerprintingservicesatthe:



BostonPoliceHeadquarters

1SchroederPlaza,LicensingDivision

Boston,MA02120



MainPhone:617‐343‐4200

LicensingDivisionPhone:617‐343‐6044

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FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS

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Livery&LimousinePermitsorJitneyLicenses:

 WherecanIobtainaLivery/LimousinepermitorJitneyLicense?

TooperateasaLiveryorLimousineservicewithintheCityofBoston,youmustfilea

BusinessCertificatewiththeCityClerk’sOffice.YoumustbearesidentoftheCityof

Boston,providingproofofresidency,suchasacurrentutilitybill,yourdriver’slicense

andbothaddressesmustmatch.



Onceregistered,youcanapplyforaLiveryorLimousinePlatewiththeRegistryofMotor

Vehicleat(617)531‐4500orbygoingonlinetowww.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv.

However,ifyouwishtodropofforpick‐uppassengersatspecificlocationssuchasLogan

Airport,ConventionCentersand/orHotelswithintheCityofBoston,youmustapplyfora

JitneyLicenseandapplicationsmustbecompletedandfiledinpersonattheOfficeofthe

CityClerk.

MovingTruckorDumpsterPermits:

 HowcanIgetapermitforaMovingTruckorDumpster?

YoucanobtainapermitinpersonattheBostonTransportationDepartmentatBoston

CityHall,Room724toapplyfora“NoParking”sign.Thenyoutakethe“NoParking”

requesttothePublicWorksDepartment,BostonCityHall,Room714,toreceivethe

actualpermittopost.

However,ifyouareapplyingforadumpsterpermityoumustobtainaletterfromthe

disposalcompany,statingthedimensionofthecontainerbeingused.

NotaryorApostilleCertification(s):

 HowcanIgetadocument(s)Notarizedand/orapplyforanApostilleCertification?

YoucanobtaintheservicesofaNotaryPublicattheCityClerk’sOfficeatBostonCityHall,

Room601,Boston,MA,inpersonwithvalidissuedgovernmentidentification.Afeeof

$5.00isrequiredforeachnotarizeddocument.

AnApostilleisissuedbytheMassachusettsSecretaryofStatewhoverifiesthe

authenticityoftheNotary’ssignature.AnApostillecanbeobtainedattheMASecretary

oftheState’s

OfficeattheJohnW.McCormickBuilding.,1AshburtonPlace,Room1719,

Boston,MA.Thefeeis$6.00perdocument.Youmaycontact617‐727‐2836formore

information.

PaymentofMarijuanaViolations:

 WheredoIgotomakeapaymentforaMarijuanaViolation?

PaymentsforMarijuanaViolationsissuedbyBostonPolice,MBTAPolice,StatePoliceor

anyotherlawenforcementagencywithintheCityofBostonmustbepaidattheCity

Clerk’sOfficeatBostonCityHall,1CityHall

Square,Room601.,Boston,MA.02201.

Youmustsubmitacopyofthecitationandcitationnumberwithyourpayment.

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PhysicianRegistration:

 WhydoIhavetoregistermymedicallicense?

YouarerequiredbytheMassachusetts’sGeneralLaw

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter112/Section2

 Whoisexemptfromfiling?

AResidentintrainingwithaLimitedlicense,

AnInternwithaLimitedlicense,

APhysicianconductingresearch(exclusively,)

APhysicianteaching(exclusively),

APhysicianpracticingataGovernmentFacility(VeteranAdministration/Military)

 WhydoIhavetopayafilingfee?

Thefilingfeeof$100.00isgovernedbyCityOrdinance,Chap.18‐1.16(22)

http://amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Massachusetts/boston/chapterxviiifeesandcharges/

18‐

1enumerationoffeesandcharges?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:boston_

ma$anc=JD_18‐1.



PublicMeeting/HearingNotices:

 WherecanIviewscheduledpublichearingandmeetings?

Allpublicmeetingsandhearingscanbeviewedbyvisitingthecity’swebsiteat

www.cityofboston.gov/calendartoreviewtheCityCalendar.Youmayalsoviewthe

originalnoticeofameetingorhearingatthecity’sbulletinboardlocatedatBostonCity

Hallonthe1

FloorattheCongressStreetEntrance.

Raffle/Bazaar/LasVegasNights:

 WhocanapplyforaRaffle/Bazaar/LasVegasNightPermitintheCityofBoston?

“Non‐Profit”organizationsthatareregisteredwiththeMassachusettsSecretaryofthe

State’sOffice,DivisionofCorporationsforatleasttwo(2)yearscanapplyforthispermit.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter271/Section7A,s.7A.

Youmustsubmitthepermitthirty(30)dayspriortotheevent.Theremustbethree(3)

membersoftheorganizationlistedontheapplication;whoshallberesponsibleforthe

operationoftheevent(s)heldunderthepermit.

SpecialEventsinBoston:

 HowdoIfindoutwhatspecialevent(s)arebeingheldinBoston?

YoumaycontacttheOfficeofArts,TourismandSpecialEventsat(617)635‐3911for

additionalinformation.Youmayalsogoonlinetowww.cityofboston.gov/artsor

www.cityofboston.gov/calendartoviewallupcomingevents.

TypeofFilingsorServicesprovidedbytheCityClerk’sOffice:

 WhattypeoffilingsandservicesareprovidedbytheCityClerk’sOffice?

BelowisalistoffilingsandservicesperformedintheCityClerk’sOffice.

 AssignmentofCreditors‐$15.00

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 AssignmentofWages‐$15.00

 BillingforPolesandConduits‐$100.00

 BusinessCertificate‐$65.00

 ChildSupportLiens‐$15.00

 CityCharter(book)‐$7.00

 CityContractsFilings

 CityCouncilFilings

 CityOrdinanceFilings

 Claims‐$15.00

 Corporations(merging)

 DomesticPartnership‐$62.00

 JitneyLicense

‐$500.00FilingFee;$200.00RenewalFee;$100.00AmendmentFee

 LienofVessel‐$25.00

 MayoralReceipt–NoFee

 MarijuanaViolations‐$100.00

 MilitaryDischarge–NoFee

 NotaryPublic‐$5.00foreachnotarization

 Oaths(city’selectedorappointedofficials)

 PetitionforPoles–$100.00

 Physician’sRegistration‐$100.00

 PublicNotice/MeetingPostings

 Raffles/Bazaar/LasVegasNightPermits‐$30.00

 Trusts&Amendments‐$100.00

 TaxLiens–$25.00

 UniversityAccountabilityFilings–NoFee

UndergroundStorageTanks(21E):

 Whereareundergroundstoragetanksrecordsfiled?

Therecordsforundergroundstoragetanks,whichareknownas”21ESearch”,arefiled

withtheBostonFireDepartment.YoucancallandspeakwithaMs.FrancesMarteat

(617)343‐3336orMs.LoriDonovanat(617)343‐3772.

However,theBostonFirePreventionCodeisfiledintheCityClerk’sOffice.

Permit(s)and/orLicense(s)IssuedattheStateLevel:

 Whataresomeofthetypeofpermit(s)and/orlicense(s)issuedbytheState?

Youcanobtainvariouspermit(s)and/orlicense(s)fromtheStateBoardsofRegistration.

Belowaresomeofthepermit(s)andlicense(sissued:

 Barbers–(617)727‐7367

 CollectionAgencies–(617)956‐1500(check

cashiers,lenders,brokers,financeagencies)

 Cosmetologists‐(617)727‐9940(Aestheticians’,Beauticians’,Hairdresser,Manicurist’s)

 ElderlyCare–(617)727‐9368

 Electricians‐(617)727‐9931(Master/Journeyman,Firewarning,contractors)

 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping–(617)626‐1590

 HomeImprovement/ConstructionLicense–(617)727‐3200

 HomeInspectorsLicense–(617)

727‐4459

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 Landscaping–(617)727‐3072

 MessageTherapists–(617)727‐3074

 Painters/Riggers–(617)727‐3200

 Plumbers&Gasfitters–(617)727‐9952

 RealEstateBrokers/Salespeople–(617)727‐2373

Permit(s)and/orLicense(s)IssuedattheCity/TownLevel:

 Whataresomeofthetypeofpermit(s)and/orlicense(s)issuedbytheCity?

Youcanobtainvariouspermit(s)and/orlicense(s)fromtheCityofBoston.Beloware

someofthepermit(s)andlicense(s)issued:

 AlcoholicBeverages‐(617)635‐4170(retail,café,restaurant,baretc.)

 Building/ConstructionPermits–

(617)961‐3271

 Catering/FoodPermits–(617)635‐5326

 DancingSchool–(617)635‐4170and/or(617)961‐3223

 Dog/KennelLicense–(617)635‐4100(AnimalControlDepartment)

 Entertainment–(617)635‐4170(PhysicReaders,PoolTable,TV’s&Pinballs,etc.)

 Hackney

Licenses‐(617)343‐4500(PoliceDepartment)

 InnHolder’sLicenses–(617)961‐3223(InspectionalServicesDivision)

 Lunch/CartTrucks–(617)635‐5326(InspectionalServicesDivision)

 Salons–(617)961‐3223(nails,hair,spas,braiding,tanning,etc.)

 UsedCarDealers–(617)343‐4500(PoliceDepartment)