Questions and answers to the City of Boston's permit fee


How do I obtain a mooring permit? In order to obtain a mooring permit, a boat owner must show proof that he/she paid their 2004 boat excise tax bill. Boat excise tax bills can be paid online at: www.cityofboston.gov/boats.

I need to apply for a mooring permit. What do I do? The 2005 mooring permit application is online at: www.cityofboston.gov/boats. Computers are available at local libraries as well as the public records area of the Assessing Department in City Hall, Room 301 for those without a computer. A mooring permit shall not be issued to you unless you can show proof that you paid your 2004 boat excise tax bill.

I have not paid my 2004 excise tax bill. How can I pay my bill? You can pay your bill online at: www.cityofboston.gov/boats or make a check out to the City of Boston, and mail to City of Boston, P. O. Box 55809, Boston, MA 02205. You can also come into City Hall to pay your bill. Please note that a mooring permit application still needs to be filed if your boat is moored in Boston. Once your check clears the bank and a mooring permit application is duly filed, a mooring permit will be mailed to your residence.

I did not get a bill. How can I get a bill sent to me so that I can apply for a mooring permit? Call the Taxpayer Referral & Assistance Center (TRAC) at (617) 635-4263.

I paid my boat excise tax bill in XYZ town. Why I am receiving a bill from Boston? Please send us proof that you paid the bill in XYZ town.

How do you determine who gets billed? At the end of each fiscal year we receive a list of boat owners who registered their boats in that fiscal year. We also receive a list of documented boats (a national form of registration) from the US Coast Guard. We use both lists to generate boat excise tax bills.

How do you make sure that everyone who moors a boat in Boston pays excise tax? Apart from security reasons, the new mooring permit process was put in place to ensure that anyone who moors his/her boat in Boston pays an excise tax bill.

What happens if I do not pay my boat excise tax bill? You will be denied a mooring permit.

What happens if I moor my boat without a permit? Your boat will be removed from the harbor and stored at your expense in a designated area by the Harbormaster.

I just purchased my boat. How do I get a mooring permit? You can apply for a mooring permit online at: www.cityofboston.gov/boats.

This is my first time mooring my boat in Boston. How do I get a mooring permit? You can apply for a mooring permit online at: www.cityofboston.gov/boats.

How is the valuation of boats determined? We follow guidelines set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (refer to MGL Chapter 60B) as shown below. Boats are taxed at a rate of ten dollars ($10) per thousand of valuation.

VALUATIONS OF VESSELS

 

AGE OF BOAT

LENGTH OF VESSEL

Under 4 Years
of age
4 thru 6 Years
of age
7 or More Years
of age
Under 16 ft. $1,000 $700 $400
16 ft. but less than 17.5 ft. $1,500 $1,000 $800
17.5 ft. but less than 20 ft. $3,000 $2,000 $1,500
20 ft. but less than 22.5 ft. $5,000 $3,300 $2,500
22.5 ft. but less than 25 ft. $7,500 $5,000 $3,800
25 ft. but less than 27.5 ft. $10,500 $7,000 $5,300
27.5 ft. but less than 30 ft. $14,000 $9,300 $7,000
30 ft. but less than 35 ft. $18,500 $12,300 $9,300
35 ft. but less than 40 ft. $24,000 $16,000 $12,000
40 ft. but less than 50 ft. $31,500 $21,000 $15,800
50 ft. but less than 60 ft. $41,000 $27,300 $20,500
60 ft. or over $50,000 $33,000 $24,800

(Overall center line length excluding bowsprits, boomkins and similar extensions)
 

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