Who enforces each one, what edition applies, and what changes next. 8 of 8 areas verified on primary sources. OSHA state plan for public employers only; private employers under federal OSHA.
| Area | In force | Authority | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | 527 CMR 1.00 Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, based on NFPA 1 (2021 edition) with Massachusetts amendments, effective Dec 9, 2022Statewide fire code adopted by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations; Massachusetts amendment package effective May 12, 2023. Companion electrical code 527 CMR 12.00 adopted the 2026 NEC for permits granted after Apr 24, 2026. SourceVerified on the source | Head of the local fire department or the State Fire Marshal (Department of Fire Services) and their designees, as AHJ; Board of Fire Prevention Regulations adopts | Draft review Oct 1, 2026Draft 527 CMR 1.00, 2024 Edition in development: BFPR reviews the redline and comments Oct 1, 2026; no hearing notice or effective date posted |
| Building | 780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th edition, based on 2021 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IMC/IECC/ISPSC with extensive Massachusetts amendments, effective Oct 11, 2024Concurrency with the 9th edition ended Jun 30, 2025, leaving the 10th as the only code. Base energy code is 2021 IECC (780 CMR Ch. 13/11R); DOER opt-in Stretch and Specialized codes (225 CMR 22/23) apply where adopted. SourceVerified on the source | Local inspector of buildings/building commissioner in each city and town (MGL c.143 s.3); State Building Inspector for Commonwealth-owned buildings (780 CMR 104.1); BBRS promulgates | In forceIn force; BBRS has begun 11th-edition work (Sep 8, 2026 agenda: guidance for 11th-edition subcommittees), no draft or date; DOER Stretch/Specialized update comment period closed Jun 24, 2026, no effective date posted |
| Elevators | 524 CMR (effective Jun 1, 2018): ch. 35 adopts ASME A17.1-2013 and ch. 38 adopts ASME A18.1-2014, each with Massachusetts modifications; no ASME A17.3 adoption foundElevators need inspection and safety tests at least yearly; limited-use units (e.g., wheelchair lifts, dumbwaiters) every 2 years; full-load safety test every fifth periodic inspection. Existing units follow the 524 CMR version in force when permitted. SourceVerified on the source | Board of Elevator Regulations and Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Division of Occupational Licensure); state inspectors witness tests by licensed mechanics; exclusive statewide enforcement under MGL c.143 | In forceIn force; Board held an open-forum hearing on possible 524 CMR changes May 6, 2026 and references an October 2026 hearing; Sep 29, 2026 agenda is variances only; no ASME edition update proposed |
| Boilers | MGL c.146 + 522 CMR (Board of Boiler Rules); heating-boiler rules 522 CMR 4.00 effective Jan 17, 2025Steam boilers: internal and external inspection yearly. Heating boilers: external yearly; internal yearly (steam) or every 3 years (hot water); certificate posted near the boiler. Exempt: private residences, units of 3 hp or less, small low-pressure heating boilers. SourceVerified on the source | Department of Fire Services Boiler & Pressure Vessel program (district engineering inspectors) and authorized in-service/insurance inspectors; Board of Boiler Rules (within DFS) writes 522 CMR | In forceIn force; Board meets first Thursdays of May and November with a mandatory hearing on rule-change petitions; no proposed 522 CMR amendment posted |
| Pools | 105 CMR 435.000 State Sanitary Code Chapter V, Minimum Standards for Swimming Pools (DPH, under MGL c.111 s.127A); mass.gov lists effective date Jul 9, 2004Covers public, semi-public (hotel, motel, condominium, apartment house, club) and special-purpose pools including spas, hot tubs and whirlpools; local boards of health enforce through permits and inspections. No later amendment found. SourceVerified on the source | Local boards of health permit and inspect; Massachusetts Department of Public Health writes the rule | In forceIn force; no proposed 105 CMR 435 amendment found (DPH proposed-amendments page returned 404; none on the Secretary of State hearing-notice list) |
| Lodging | Local innholder license (MGL c.140 s.2) + annual Certificate of Inspection for R-1 hotels/motels (780 CMR 110.7, Table 110) + automatic smoke/heat detection in hotels (MGL c.148 s.26C)Hotels cannot be occupied without a valid Certificate of Inspection; the building official inspects R-1 yearly (A-2 restaurants/nightclubs over 400 occupants semi-annually). Hotels, lodging houses and 6+ unit apartment houses outside ss.26A/26B need smoke or heat detectors. SourceVerified on the source | City/town licensing authorities (innholder license); local building official (Certificate of Inspection); head of the local fire department (s.26C) | In forceIn force; House-passed hotel human-trafficking training and signage bill (Jul 30, 2025) awaits Senate action; enactment not found |
| Workplace | Federal OSHA for private employers; Massachusetts State Plan (DLS Workplace Safety and Health Program for Public Employees) covers state and local government workers onlyOSHA granted the plan initial approval Aug 18, 2022 (87 FR 50766); federal workers excluded. Private hotels, HOAs and facilities follow federal OSHA, including HazCom 2024 employer deadlines Nov 20, 2026 (substances) and May 19, 2028 (mixtures). SourceVerified on the source | U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA (private sector); Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (public sector only) | HazCom Nov 20, 2026HazCom employer compliance Nov 20, 2026 (substances) |
| Retrofit | MGL c.148 s.26A½ sprinkler retrofit for buildings over 70 ft built before Jan 1, 1975; s.26G½ sprinklers for existing nightclub, dance hall, discotheque and bar assembly spaces of 100+ capacityHigh-rises had to be fully sprinklered by Mar 31, 1998 (one-third by 1991, two-thirds by 1994); pre-1975 buildings submitted to condominium law (c.183A) are exempt. See Lodging for recurring 780 CMR 110.7 Certificates of Inspection. SourceVerified on the source | Head of the local fire department enforces; appeals to the Fire Safety Commission within 45 days | In forceDeadlines passed (Mar 31, 1998); no other statewide retrofit or structural/balcony recertification deadline found this run |
527 CMR 1.00 Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, based on NFPA 1 (2021 edition) with Massachusetts amendments, effective Dec 9, 2022. Statewide fire code adopted by the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations; Massachusetts amendment package effective May 12, 2023. Companion electrical code 527 CMR 12.00 adopted the 2026 NEC for permits granted after Apr 24, 2026. Enforced by: Head of the local fire department or the State Fire Marshal (Department of Fire Services) and their designees, as AHJ; Board of Fire Prevention Regulations adopts.
780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th edition, based on 2021 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IMC/IECC/ISPSC with extensive Massachusetts amendments, effective Oct 11, 2024. Concurrency with the 9th edition ended Jun 30, 2025, leaving the 10th as the only code. Base energy code is 2021 IECC (780 CMR Ch. 13/11R); DOER opt-in Stretch and Specialized codes (225 CMR 22/23) apply where adopted. Enforced by: Local inspector of buildings/building commissioner in each city and town (MGL c.143 s.3); State Building Inspector for Commonwealth-owned buildings (780 CMR 104.1); BBRS promulgates.
Elevators: Board of Elevator Regulations and Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Division of Occupational Licensure); state inspectors witness tests by licensed mechanics; exclusive statewide enforcement under MGL c.143 (524 CMR (effective Jun 1, 2018): ch. 35 adopts ASME A17.1-2013 and ch. 38 adopts ASME A18.1-2014, each with Massachusetts modifications; no ASME A17.3 adoption found). Boilers: Department of Fire Services Boiler & Pressure Vessel program (district engineering inspectors) and authorized in-service/insurance inspectors; Board of Boiler Rules (within DFS) writes 522 CMR (MGL c.146 + 522 CMR (Board of Boiler Rules); heating-boiler rules 522 CMR 4.00 effective Jan 17, 2025).
Massachusetts runs an OSHA-approved state plan that covers state and local government employers only (Massachusetts State Plan). Private employers, including hotels and commercial buildings, answer to federal OSHA.
Fire: Draft review Oct 1, 2026 (Draft 527 CMR 1.00, 2024 Edition in development: BFPR reviews the redline and comments Oct 1, 2026; no hearing notice or effective date posted); Workplace: HazCom Nov 20, 2026 (HazCom employer compliance Nov 20, 2026 (substances)); Oct 1, 2026: Board of Fire Prevention Regulations reviews the draft redline and comments on 527 CMR 1.00, 2024 Edition (next state fire code); no hearing or effective date set yet; Nov 20, 2026: OSHA Hazard Communication (2024 update, dates extended four months): employers must update workplace labeling, HazCom program and training for substances.
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