The City Clerk's office will be closed on Monday May 27th in observance of Memorial Day and Thursday July 4th in observance of Independence Day. If you are filing for a marriage license near either of those dates, please plan accordingly for the three day waiting period.


The City Clerk assists in the research and development of ordinances for city councilors. We also maintain the Code of Ordinances and Certificates of Vote for all City Council votes. In addition to working with the City Council members, we provide the following services:

• Issue business certificates
• Collect and distribute correspondences to city councilors
• Develop agendas with council president
• Issue dog registrations
• Maintain campaign finance records
• Maintain census files
• Maintain records of City Council meetings
• Maintain vital records (births, deaths and marriage certificates)
• Maintain voter lists and information, and supervise voter registration
• Manage voting procedures for local and state elections
• Record public meeting notices
• Give oath of office to all members of boards, commissions, and committees and advise them of obligations under Open Meeting Law and Conflict of Interest Law
• Provide Notary Services

• Sell official City Street Listing Books
• Issue Clam License
• Accept and review for completeness Applications to City Council for Zoning Relief and Zoning Special Permits and maintain all zoning decisions
• Provide final decisions to applicants for recording

* Due to revised regulations of the Massachusetts Divison of Fisheries and Wildlife, the City Clerk's office no longer serves as an issuing agent for hunting, fishing, and sporting licenses. Therefore, those licenses are not available for purchase in the Clerk's office. For more information go to Hunting and Fishing License Information.

Links of Interest

• Guide to Massachusetts Public Records Law
• Outline of Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Law 
• Massachusetts Open Meeting Law Guidelines
• Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance
• Code of Ordinances and City Charter
• City Charter, revised 2011
• Vendor Regulations by the State