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Permits and Inspections

All permits for the town of Sturbridge cost $50, with the exception of the following:

  • Smoke/CO Certificates for multi-unit dwellings: $100 for 2-unit, $150 for 3-6 unit, $500 for 7+ unit dwellings.
  • Campfire and Outdoor Cooking permits: NO FEE. 
  • Open Burning permits: NO FEE. 

We accept cash, or checks made out to "Town of Sturbridge."

    Campfire & Cooking Fire Permit information

    Authorization to Release Medical information

    Licensed Contractors installing, removing, or altering Fuel Oil Burning Equipment or Fuel Oil Storage Tanks will need to apply for a Permit through the Sturbridge Fire Department. We utilize Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Form: 1. Form 1 is available for download on this site, the Mass DFS Website, or can be physically picked up at Sturbridge Fire Headquarters: 346 Main St., Sturbridge, MA 01566.

    There is a $50 Fee due with the submittal of the application. Only completely filled out applications will be accepted. The fee is payable by check, made out to: The Town of Sturbridge. Cash is acceptable, but it must be in the exact amount, we do not have the ability to make change.

    Once processed, the Fire Inspector will call the listed owner/occupant to set up a post installation inspection. If violations are found during this inspection, the property owner/occupant will be informed, and must contact their contractor to return and rectify the violation. Once the violation has been corrected, the inspector will return for a re-inspection within 30 days or once the violation is reported as corrected, whichever happens first.

    The Inspection involves the following:

    -Inspection of Fill and Vent Piping: 527CMR: 11.5.1.10.8 Vent pipes shall terminate outside of buildings at a point not less than two feet measured vertically or horizontally from any building opening. *Fixed Sash Windows do not constitute an opening!

    -Inspection of Submitted Documentation: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.5 Is there a permit from SFD on file for this installation? Does the installer have a certificate of competency on file or attached to the permit? Certificates of Competency are verified prior to acceptance of installation.

    -Inspection of Tank Placement and Mounting: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.5(11) Tanks shall be mounted on a continuous concrete slab extending 8" beyond the perimeter of the tank or tanks. For Outside Installation: 11.5.1.10.7 Tanks installed outside of buildings shall be mounted on a continuous concrete slab at least 4" in thickness and extending 8" beyond the perimeter of the tank or tanks.

    -Inspection of oil supply and return lines: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.10.1 Oil supply lines shall be rigidly secured in place and protected from injury and shall be protected against corrosion. All new oil supply lines in direct contact with concrete or earth shall be enclosed with a continuous non-metallic sleeve that extends out of the concrete or earth a minimum of 4" on each end. Perimeter lines may be placed in an outer protective covering, in addition to the continuous non-metallic sleeve, when subject to physical damage. (9) Oil supply and return lines to tanks exposed to freezing temperatures shall be connected to the top of the tank. This shall not apply to gravity feed oil burners using #1 fuel oil, range oil, or kerosene.

    -Inspection of Oil Burner Controls: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.10.3 Each fully automatic oil burner having a firing rate or no more than 20 gallons per hour shall be equipped with a type of approved primary safety control which shall shut off the oil supply to the burner within 15 seconds if ignition is not established or in the event of a flame failure after combustion has been established. Once combustion is established and in the event of flame failure, the oil supply shall be shut off to the burner within 3 seconds nominal unless the ignition is re-energized in not less than 0.8 seconds after flame extinguishment occurs. The installation of intermittent (formerly called constant) ignition primary safety controls SHALL NOT be permitted.

    -Inspection of Service Switch: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.10.4 (3) A control (service) switch to start and stop a light fuel oil burner shall be installed at a location where the operator can view the fire. The switch shall be a maximum of 3ft from the burner.

    -Inspection of Automatic Shutoff: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.5 (2) An approved automatic means to prevent abnormal discharge of fuel oil shall be provided for any fuel oil burner for which a competent attendant will not be constantly on duty in the room where the burner is located.

    -Inspection of Thermal Switch: 527 CMR: 11.5.1.10.10.4(4)(5) (4) An electrical thermal switch fused to break the ungrounded conductor in the main circuit at 165 degrees F, shall be installed in the main power line within 6ft, over the top of the burner boiler or burner furnace. (5) If the ceiling above the burner boiler or burner furnace exceeds 12 feet in height, an additional thermal switch shall be installed at a height of 10 ft and connected in series with the lower switch.