Weights & Measures
"Weights & Measures may be ranked among the necessaries of life to every individual of human society."
- John Quincy Adams, 1821
The Weights and Measures section inspects, tests and seals weighing and measuring devices to ensure that residents of the City receive accurate measures of commodities purchased and that equity prevails between the buyers and sellers.
This group enforces Massachusetts General laws and local ordinances and regulations relating to the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices that weigh, measure and count commodities offered for public sale. It also seals or condemns devices tested, and performs such work in accordance with state laws and regulations and municipal ordinances, subject to review through reports and periodic checks by the State Division of Standards. Additionally, this section inspects prepackaged food and merchandise to ensure compliance with weight, measures and extended prices. It also investigates complaints on measuring devices or those not conforming to legal standards, checks transient vendors and hawkers and peddlers for possession of licenses, and inspects weighing and measuring devices used by these vendors. Staff members also advise merchants on the packaging and labeling of goods. As a result of the Consumer & Merchant Protection Act, Chapter 295 of the Acts of 1998, the Sealer of Weights and Measures also performs bi-annual inspections of all stores with three or more scanners.
This section uses Handbook 44 promulgated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on specifications, tolerances and other technical requirements in its testing procedure on weighing and measuring devices.
Permit & Fee Schedule
The chart below reflects the current fee schedule for the permit types listed. Permit applications and instructions can by downloaded by visiting the Housing/Health Inspections Document Center.
| Permit/Service Type | Fee |
| Hawker & Peddler - Commonwealth of MA |
$62 |
| Scales |
| 10 lbs. or Less |
$95 |
| 10 lbs. - 100 lbs. |
$75 |
| 100 lbs. - 1,000 lbs. |
$165 |
| 1,000 lbs. - 5,000 lbs. |
$195 |
| 5,000 lbs. - 10,000 lbs. |
$220 |
| Over 10,000 lbs. |
$275 |
| Weights |
| Each Unit |
$2 |
| Capacity Measures |
| Vehicle Tanks (each indicator) |
$20 |
| Liquid - 1 Gallon or Less |
$5 |
| Liquid - Over 1 Gallon |
$10 |
| Liquid Measure Meters |
| Oil, Grease |
$22 |
| Gasoline |
$70 |
| Vehicle Tank Pump |
$110 |
| Bulk Storage |
$135 |
| Company Supplies Prover |
$110 |
| Pumps |
| Each Stop on Pump |
$10 |
| Other Devices |
| Taxi Meters |
$75 |
| Odometer/Hub Odometer |
$40 |
| Leather - Semi-Annually |
$45 |
| Fabric |
$45 |
| Wire/Rope/Cordage |
$45 |
| Scanner 1-3 |
$85 |
| Scanner 4-10 |
$165 |
| Scanner 11+ |
$275 |
| Reverse Vending |
$11 |
| Linier Measure |
| Yard Stick |
$11 |
| Tapes |
$11 |
| Re-Sealing |
| Re-Inspections |
Original
Inspection Fee* |
| Miscellaneous |
| Milk Jars (per gross) |
Hourly Rate |
| Dry Measures |
Hourly Rate |
| Late Fee |
$50 (60-90 days)
$100 (over 90 days) |
All price verification systems, regardless of the number of scanners, will be tested annually. All new weighing or measuring equipment installed in an establishment and intended for trade MUST be inspected, calibrated and sealed prior to use.
*Re-Inspections/Testing and Sealing of previously failed or condemned systems, equipment or devices that have been reconditioned and ready to be put back into service will be charged a fee equal to the fee of the initial test of said system, equipment or device.
