Boston Inspectional Services and the Boston Public Health Commission inspect every food establishment under 105 CMR 590 and Boston Health Code, and inspection results are public on the City of Boston food-establishment portal.
Restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and caterers in Boston must hold a current ISD food permit and pass routine inspections at least annually under MA 105 CMR 590 (the FDA Food Code as adopted by Massachusetts). Inspectors record violations as foodborne-illness-risk-factor or good-retail-practice findings, and serious violations can trigger reinspection within 10 days, suspension, or emergency closure. Boston posts each inspection report on its public food-establishment dashboard, and operators can request a hearing before BPHC if they dispute findings. Operators must keep the most recent permit visible to customers.
Operating without a permit, repeat critical violations, or refusing inspection can lead to permit suspension, fines up to $300 per violation per day, and immediate closure orders for imminent health hazards.
See how Boston's restaurant grade cards rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.