Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

Beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019

Last updated: 4/11/18

Inspectional Services Dept

The mission of the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is to serve the public by protecting the health, safety, and environmental stability of Boston's business and residential communities. To this end, ISD effectively administers and consistently enforces building, housing, and environmental regulations within the City of Boston. The department will continue to use its resources to protect and improve the quality of life in Boston’s neighborhoods by providing public information, education, and enforcement.


William Christopher, Commissioner, Appropriation 260
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Appropriations by Program

Back to Environment, Energy & Open Space Cabinet

Program Name FY16 Actual FY17 Actual FY18 Budget FY19 Budget
ISD Commissioner's Office 1,109,917 1,031,777 1,237,438 1,193,278
ISD Administration & Finance 3,399,462 3,350,344 3,551,250 3,222,569
Buildings & Structures 6,360,690 6,083,262 6,705,414 7,107,498
Field Services 7,362,854 8,089,868 7,919,023 7,949,838
Total 18,232,923 18,555,251 19,413,125 19,473,183


Department trends by program


Inspectional Services Dept
Operating Budget Over Time
Inspectional Services Dept FY18
Operating Budget by Program
ISD Commissioner's Office
ISD Administration & Finance
Buildings & Structures
Field Services

Department budget by account

Back to Environment, Energy & Open Space Cabinet

title FY16 Expenditure FY17 Expenditure FY18 Appropriation FY19 Adopted Inc/Dec 18 vs 19
Personnel Services 15,425,147 15,444,974 16,685,796 16,891,923 206,127
Contractual Services 1,585,214 1,951,018 1,520,516 1,491,818 -28,698
Supplies & Materials 243,058 238,806 280,970 237,501 -43,469
Current Chgs & Oblig 824,451 799,758 841,940 770,504 -71,436
Equipment 155,053 120,695 83,903 81,437 -2,466
Other 0 0 0 0 0
Total 18,232,923 18,555,251 19,413,125 19,473,183 60,058


Department trends by account


Inspectional Services Dept
Operating Budget Over Time
Inspectional Services Dept FY18
Operating Budget by Account
Personnel Services
Contractual Services
Supplies & Materials
Current Chgs & Oblig
Equipment
Other


Inspectional Services Dept
Performance Goals

ISD Administration & Finance
  • Ensure compliance w. City's foreclosed/vacant bldg ord
  • Manage the department's legal case load
  • To hear Zoning Board of Appeal cases in a timely manner
  • To improve responsiveness to constituent requests

Buildings & Structures
  • To ensure the safety of buildings by tracking their compliance with codes by means of scheduled inspections

Field Services
  • Prevent housing emergencies and violations
  • Reduce risk of foodborne illness or disease
  • Respond to cleanliness & environmental safety complaints
  • To ensure devices that vendors use to weigh and measure products are accurate
  • To respond to animal control issues and complaints


Inspectional Services Dept
External Funds Projects

Animal Control Fund
The Animal Control Fund authorized by (Chapter 44, Section 53E ½) generates monies derived from dog licenses and animal violations. The revolving fund is used to defer and supplement the costs of the animal control program such as veterinary care, animal food, spay and neuter services, and public service television programming.

Foreclosure Fund
The Foreclosure Fund was created in 2008 in compliance with the M.G.L. c.59, s57D, M.G.L. c,,156D, s5.02 and the 950CMR 113,20 requirement to register vacant or foreclosed properties. The fund allows Inspectional Services to charge an annual $100 fee for the registration of each foreclosed property. Monies collected are to be used to offset costs to track and secure foreclosed properties.

Weights and Measures Enforcement Fund
The fund was created in 1998 in order to be in compliance with MGL c. 98 s. 29A, which was amended in 1998 to allow local weights and measures departments to issue civil citations (fines). The amended law specifically required that the revenue collected from said fines be retained and expended only for the purposes of enforcing “item pricing” and weights and measures laws.


Inspectional Services Dept - Authorizing Statutes

  • Establishment, CBC Ord. §§ 9-9.1, 9-9.5-9-9.7.
  • Building & Structural Regulation; Swimming Pool; Elderly/Handicapped, State Building Code, 780 CMR; CBC St. 9 § 207; CBC Ord. § 9-9.10; CBC Ord. §§ 9-9.11.1-9-9.11.6.
  • Housing Inspection, CBC Ord. 9, s. 1-2; State Sanitary Code, 5 CMR 400-419; Ord. 1984, c. 26, 39.
  • Health Inspection, State Sanitary Code, 5 CMR 590-595.
  • Weights & Measures; Transient Vendors & Hawkers; Inspection & Sale of Food, Drugs, Various Articles, 1817 Mass. Acts ch. 50, §§ 1-6; CBC St.9 § 10; CBC Ord. § 9-2.1; M.G.L.A. cc. 6, 94, 101; M.G.L.A. c. 98, § 56.
  • Rodent Control, State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 550.
  • Board of Appeals, CBC St. 9 §§ 150-152; CBC Ord. §§ 9-4.1-9-4.2, 9-9.5.
  • Board of Examiners, CBC St.9 §§ 150-152; CBC Ord. §§ 9-8.1-9-8.2, 9-9.5.
  • Animal Control/Dog Registration & Licensing, M.G.L.A. c. 140, §§ 137, 141, 151a; CBC Ord. §§ 7-9.1-7-9.3; CBC Ord. §§ 16-1.9-16-1.9E(15), 16-1.10-16-1.10A.