Directory · Boston
Boston commercial kitchen hood cleaning
Research index for operators. Public rules we found, how to vet a cleaner, open listing slots. Not a ranked vendor list.
Two layers: state license and Boston registration
- Statewide (Department of Fire Services): anyone who cleans or inspects commercial cooking exhaust systems must hold a certificate of competency from the State Fire Marshal. Type 1 (unrestricted) is for contractors who work for others and requires at least 500 hours of experience; Type 1 holders do inspections. Type 2 (restricted) is for owners cleaning their own systems and cannot perform inspections. Companies also need a DFS certificate of registration ($60, two years) as of January 1, 2018.
- City of Boston (extra): individuals who inspect or clean commercial hood and ventilation systems inside Boston must also register annually with Boston Fire Department Fire Prevention, with proof of certification from a BFD-approved exam (IKECA administers the Boston exams), documented 500 hours or an approved training-school waiver, and a $25 annual fee. Registration expires at calendar year-end.
- Boston Fire Prevention: 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02118; 617-343-3628 / 617-343-2019 (registration line on the application PDF); bfdfirepreventioninfo@boston.gov.
- A “Boston” mailing address outside city limits does not settle it — suburbs follow the state rules and their local fire department, not Boston’s annual registration roster.
Inspection intervals (527 CMR / Chapter 50)
Massachusetts publishes the grease-buildup inspection schedule under the State Fire Code (527 CMR 1.00 Chapter 50). It matches the familiar NFPA cooking-volume table:
| Type or volume of cooking | Inspection frequency |
|---|---|
| Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations | Monthly |
| Systems serving high-volume cooking (24-hour, charbroiling, or wok) | Quarterly |
| Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations | Semi-annually |
| Systems serving low-volume cooking (churches, day camps, seasonal, senior centers) | Annually |
- Inspection results determine whether the system must be cleaned. The head of the fire department issues a cease and desist at any facility that has not had an inspection within the past twelve months (Mass.gov summary of Table 50.5.4).
- Boston Municipal Code §16-53.3(B) points inspection and cleaning frequency at NFPA 96 as referenced by the state fire code, requires cleaning to bare metal by a certified cleaner, and requires a label on the hood exterior after service.
- Changed the menu? The interval follows the cooking type. See changing your menu or equipment.
Labels, records, and deficiency reports
- State label: labels on commercial cooking equipment must meet 527 CMR 1.00 §50.5.6.13 (content, size, design, and placement prescribed by the State Fire Marshal).
- Boston label: after inspection or cleaning, the certified person posts a label with date, servicing company, individual name and certification number, and Fire Department registration number; areas not cleaned and why; schedule kept on site (§16-53.3(B)(3)).
- Records: state rule — owner and certificate holder keep inspection and cleaning records at least three years. Boston — reports stay on site for ISD and BFD inspectors.
- Non-compliance (state): Type 1 holders finding grease-related non-compliance notify the local fire department within 48 hours on the Notice of Non-Compliance form and give the owner a copy.
- Boston deficiency / incomplete service: if required cleaning or inspection cannot be completed, the certified person sends a written report to Boston Fire within five days (§16-53.3(D)). BFD also requires deficiency reports when NFPA 96-mandated repairs are needed or when there is no onsite exhaust system diagram; companies must report when an establishment does not renew its contract or misses the scheduled NFPA 96 date.
- Violation of Boston §16-53 can draw a $200 per day fine. See reinspection notices and service label.
How to pick a cleaner in Boston
- Ask for the individual’s DFS Type 1 certificate number and the company’s DFS registration
- Ask for their Boston Fire annual registration number for the current calendar year — BFD publishes a registered cleaners/inspectors roll (2026 PDF on boston.gov)
- Confirm they use BFD’s current sample inspection / deficiency report form
- Certificate of insurance before they arrive
- Photo report: plenum, ducts, rooftop fan — not only the canopy
- Full-system vs canopy wipe in writing, inaccessible areas listed
- Label left on the hood with company, tech, cert, and BFD registration numbers
Quote checklist note: Boston is one of the cities where asking for the local registration number is a real filter. See quote checklist.
Three separate jobs in a Boston kitchen
| Job | Rule we found | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Hood, duct, and fan inspection and cleaning | 527 CMR Ch. 50 intervals; Boston §16-53; certified + registered techs | On-site reports (3 years); hood label with BFD registration # |
| Hood suppression service | Separate from grease cleaning; follow NFPA 17A / local practice | Suppression service tag |
| Grease trap / interceptor | Sewer / MWRA or local sewer rules — not the fire hood ordinance | Pump manifests (confirm your sewer authority) |
Boston’s specific grease-trap pumping interval for restaurant operators is Unknown on this page — confirm with your sewer authority or building’s interceptor permit. Hood day still drains into the trap. See chemical runoff.
Open listing slots
Unverified until docs in — Slot 1
Unverified until docs in — Slot 2
Unverified until docs in — Slot 3
Unverified until docs in — Slot 4
Boston publishes a city roster of registered cleaners and inspectors. Listing here still requires docs sent through our contact form — we do not copy the roster into ranked slots.
Sources
- Boston Fire Department: Exhaust vent cleaning and inspection (IKECA exam; 500 hours; deficiency reporting; contacts)
- Boston Fire: Registration application instructions (PDF) ($25 fee; 500 hours or training-school waiver; 527 CMR Ch. 50 reference)
- Boston Fire: 2026 registered commercial hood cleaners and inspectors (PDF)
- Boston Municipal Code §16-53 — Cleaning of commercial cooking hood and ventilation systems
- Mass.gov DFS: Commercial cooking exhaust system inspections — hood cleaning (intervals table; Type 1/2; 48-hour non-compliance notice; 3-year records; cease and desist)
- Mass.gov: Apply for commercial hood cleaning and inspection licenses
- Boston Fire: Sample inspection and deficiency report (PDF)
Related guides
- How often to inspect
- IKECA certification
- What the service label should show
- What a reinspection notice usually cites
- Kitchen remodels and hood relocations
- Quote checklist
- New York · Nashville
Request a listing: company, metro, DFS cert numbers, Boston Fire registration number, insurance, service area, photo-report policy.