View the Chelsea Handbook
City Services
Chelsea City Departments
Finding the Right Department
Chelsea’s departments handle the day-to-day work of city government, from assessing your property and collecting taxes to paving roads, inspecting buildings, running elections, and keeping parks open. Most report to the City Manager. For any life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Departments are located at Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, unless another address is listed. The city switchboard is 617-466-4000. Hours: Mon/Wed/Thu 8am–4pm · Tue 8am–7pm · Fri 8am–12pm. Report non-emergency issues through 311 at chelseama.qscend.com/311.
Department Directory
| Assessor | Property tax assessments and valuations. chelseama.gov/departments/assessor |
|---|---|
| Auditor | City accounting, financial documents, and annual financial reports. |
| Budget & Grant Administration | City budget coordination and state and federal grant management. |
| City Clerk | Official records, vital records (birth, death, marriage), business certificates, elections and voter registration, parking permits. |
| Elder Services | Programs for Chelsea seniors including the Bag of Groceries program and Senior Shuttle PILOT. 617-466-4121 |
| Emergency Management | Disaster preparedness, emergency contacts, and Special Needs Registry. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response. Permit applications and smoke/CO requirements. chelseama.gov/departments/fire |
| Health & Human Services | Umbrella department covering Public Health, Elder Services, Library, and Veterans Services. |
| Housing & Community Development | Affordable housing, climate resilience, small business support, and infrastructure planning. chelseama.gov/departments/housing_and_community_development |
| Human Resources | City employment, benefits, job openings, and retiree information. Senior and Veterans Tax Work-Off Programs. |
| Information Technology | City digital infrastructure and the city website. |
| Inspectional Services | Building and housing permits, code enforcement, online permitting portal. chelseama.gov/departments/inspectional_services |
| Law | Legal counsel to the City Manager and City Council. |
| Library | Chelsea Public Library — books, digital collections, children’s programs, museum passes, Access to Justice Program. chelseama.gov/departments/library |
| Licensing | Business, alcohol, entertainment, and marijuana establishment licenses. chelseama.gov/departments/licensing |
| Parking | Parking permits, visitor passes, and citations. |
| Permitting & Land Use Planning | Zoning ordinances, GIS mapping, permit applications, and zoning amendments. |
| Police | Law enforcement and emergency response. chelseapolice.com |
| Public Health | Immunizations, infectious disease monitoring, emergency preparedness, and educational resources. |
| Public Works | Roads, trash and recycling pickup, street sweeping, snow removal, parks, and trees. chelseama.gov/departments/public_works |
| Purchasing | City procurement, current bids, and solicitations. |
| Recreation & Cultural Affairs | Recreation programs, facility reservations, athletic fields, and special events. recreation.chelseama.gov |
| Treasurer / Tax Collector | Real estate and personal property tax collection, excise payments, and water/sewer billing. |
| Veterans Services | Benefits and support for Chelsea veterans and families; Veterans Food Pantry; Tax Work-Off Program. |
| Water & Sewer | Water billing, meter services, WSD programs, and water conservation. chelseama.gov/departments/water___sewer |
See how city government fits into the wider Massachusetts system.