Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what you actually need from town government does not come from an elected official at all. Paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a pothole, registering to vote: all of it runs through a department, and every department reports up to the Town Manager, who appoints the people who lead them.
The directory below covers the departments residents reach for most. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit barnstable.gov. When you do not know which door to knock on, the Citizen Resource Line, 508-862-4925, will point you to it.
Department Directory
| Town Manager | Chief executive; oversees all departments and the budget. |
|---|---|
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, elections, and voter registration. |
| Assessing | Property valuations, tax assessments, and exemptions. |
| Treasurer / Collector | Tax and utility billing and payments. |
| Planning & Development | Planning, zoning, housing, and economic development. |
| Inspectional Services | Building permits, health, and inspections. |
| Police | Public safety. Police HQ on Phinney’s Lane, Hyannis. |
| Public Works | Streets, sewer, solid waste & recycling, and structures. |
| Marine & Environmental Affairs | Harbors, moorings, shellfish, Sandy Neck, and natural resources. |
| Community Services | Recreation, the Council on Aging, youth, and veterans’ services. |
A Barnstable Quirk: Independent Fire Districts
Here is something almost no other Massachusetts town can say: Barnstable runs no town fire department. Fire and emergency medical service, and in most villages your public water too, come from five independent fire districts. Each one has its own elected officials, its own budget, and its own tax rate, separate from Town Hall. So when you pay for fire protection, you are funding a separate government, one with its own budget, its own tax rate, and its own officials you elect.
- Barnstable Fire District
- Cotuit Fire District
- C-O-MM (Centerville, Osterville, Marstons Mills) Fire District
- Hyannis Fire District
- West Barnstable Fire District
- Each is governed separately from Town Hall.
Sources
Barnstable government website (tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us). Verified July 2026.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.