The Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application is the form the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) uses to review soil safety at commercial urban farms in the City of Boston. Owners and operators use it, as a new or renewal application, when they go through the permitting and approval process in Article 89 of the Boston Zoning Code. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself and its review checklist are published by the City of Boston and BPHC.
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What is Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application – Boston, MA?
The Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application is the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) form for applying for the soil safety compliance certificate that is required as part of the permitting process under Article 89 of the Boston Zoning Code.
The BPHC permits page explains where it fits. To operate a commercial urban farm in the city of Boston, an individual or organization must follow the permitting and approval process specified in Article 89. When the farming involves cultivating plants in either local or imported soil or compost, a Soil Safety Certificate Application Form from BPHC is required as part of that process.
The two-page form has these parts:
- the date and the application type, New or Renewal;
- Business Information about the farm and its location;
- Owner Information for the owner or operator;
- a list of required attachments;
- a CERTIFICATION signed by the applicant;
- an Office Use Only block where BPHC records whether the application is complete, whether the certificate is approved and, if not, the deficiencies and cause for denial.
By signing, the applicant certifies that all commercial urban farm work at the site will comply with the work practices required by Article 89 of the Boston Zoning Code, adopted into law December 2013, including soil safety protocols and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan at 310 CMR 40, et. seq. BPHC also publishes a Soil Safety Certificate Review Criteria Checklist as a resource for this permit. The form is not used for BPHC's other permits and licenses, which have their own applications.
Who needs to file Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application – Boston, MA?
The main group is owners and operators of commercial urban farms in the City of Boston whose farming involves cultivating plants in local or imported soil or compost. The BPHC page says a Soil Safety Certificate Application Form is required for that kind of urban agriculture as part of the Article 89 permitting process.
Details that follow from the form:
- New applicants check New at the top; those renewing a certificate check Renewal.
- Farms that plan to grow in native soils must also attach a Phase I and II Comprehensive Environmental Site Assessment report by a Licensed Site Professional (LSP).
- The signer gives a signature, title and date to certify that the application is true, accurate and complete and that the work will follow Article 89 and the Boston Soil Safety Protocols. The form does not describe signing on someone else's behalf.
This form does not cover other BPHC permits, such as those for nail salons, tanning, body art or tobacco sales. Each of those has its own application and requirements.
When to file Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application – Boston, MA
Submit this application when you are going through the permitting and approval process that Article 89 of the Boston Zoning Code sets for a commercial urban farm and your farming involves growing plants in local or imported soil or compost. The form has a New box for a first application and a Renewal box for a renewal. No separate due date, validity period or renewal cycle is printed on the form. Because the application must be accompanied by laboratory results for the soil samples and, for native soils, by an environmental site assessment, gather those before you file. Call the BPHC Environmental Health Office at (617) 534-5965 for timing questions.
Documents you need
- Plot plan or drawing and/or photograph(s) of the farm site showing the proposed farm property layout and its relation to surrounding features, structures and land use.
- A copy of the laboratory test results for all soil samples taken, with analysis for lead, arsenic, selenium and PCBs.
- If you plan to grow in native soils: a Phase I and II Comprehensive Environmental Site Assessment report by a Licensed Site Professional (LSP).
- Check or money order made payable to Boston Public Health Commission for the application fee; the amount is printed on the form.
How to fill out Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application – Boston, MA
Enter the date and application type
Write the date at the top of page 1, then check New for a first application or Renewal if you are renewing.
Name the commercial urban farm
Under Business Information, enter the name of the commercial urban farm.
Enter the farm's address and parcel
Fill in the St. Number, St. Name, Extension (St, Ave, etc.), Neighborhood, ZIP Code and Assessor's Parcel Number of the farm location.
Enter the owner or operator details
Under Owner Information, enter the owner/operator's first and last name, telephone number and email address.
Complete the owner address block
Enter the street number, street name, extension, neighborhood, ZIP code and assessor's parcel number in the second address block on the form.
Prepare the required attachments
Gather the site plan or photographs, the soil laboratory results for lead, arsenic, selenium and PCBs, the Phase I and II report if you will grow in native soils, and the fee payment.
Read and sign the certification
Read the CERTIFICATION about Article 89, the Boston Soil Safety Protocols and the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, then enter your signature, title and date.
Leave the Office Use Only block blank
BPHC completes the completeness and approval boxes, the list of deficiencies and the reviewer signature on page 2.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, addresses, parcel numbers and the application type, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application – Boston, MA
There are two ways to apply, according to the BPHC permits page: submit the documents online, or download the application form, complete it and return it with all required documentation.
- Online: the BPHC page says the application can be made by submission of documents online. BPHC's permits page also says some permits can be applied for online, including uploading documents and paying application fees.
- Return the completed form: send or bring the completed form, with every required attachment, to BPHC. The footer of the form lists the Boston Public Health Commission, Environmental Health Office, 1010 Massachusetts, 2nd flr, Boston, MA 02118, phone (617) 534-5965, fax (617) 534-2406, www.bphc.org. Call before sending if you need to confirm how the office accepts applications.
An application fee applies. The form asks for a check or money order payable to Boston Public Health Commission; the amount is printed on the form, so check the PDF or ask BPHC. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the application type unmarked instead of checking New or Renewal at the top of page 1.
- Attaching lab results for only some soil samples or without analysis for all four listed contaminants: lead, arsenic, selenium and PCBs.
- Planning to grow in native soils but leaving out the Phase I and II Comprehensive Environmental Site Assessment report by a Licensed Site Professional.
- Sending a site drawing or photographs that do not show the proposed farm layout in relation to surrounding features, structures and land use.
- Making the fee check or money order payable to someone other than Boston Public Health Commission, or leaving the fee out.
- Signing the certification without a title or date, or not signing it at all.
- Writing in the Office Use Only block, which BPHC completes to record completeness, approval and any deficiencies.
- Signing without reading the Boston Soil Safety Protocols, which the certification says you have read and understand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the soil safety certificate application in Boston?
It is the Boston Public Health Commission form for the soil safety compliance certificate of a commercial urban farm. BPHC says it is required as part of the Article 89 permitting process when farming involves growing plants in local or imported soil or compost.
Who has to file the Commercial Urban Farming Soil Safety Compliance Certificate Application?
Owners or operators of commercial urban farms in Boston whose farming involves cultivating plants in local or imported soil or compost. The form has boxes for new and renewal applications, and the owner or operator signs the certification.
What soil tests do I need to attach?
Attach a copy of the laboratory test results for all soil samples taken, with analysis for lead, arsenic, selenium and PCBs. If you plan to grow in native soils, also attach a Phase I and II Comprehensive Environmental Site Assessment report by a Licensed Site Professional.
Is there a fee for the soil safety certificate application?
Yes. The form lists an application fee, paid by check or money order payable to Boston Public Health Commission. The amount is printed on the form beside the attachment list; you can also ask the BPHC Environmental Health Office at (617) 534-5965.
Can I submit the Boston soil safety certificate application online?
The BPHC page says the application can be made by submitting documents online, or by downloading, completing and returning the form with all required documentation. The form lists BPHC's Environmental Health Office at 1010 Massachusetts, 2nd flr, Boston, MA 02118.
Do I need to renew the soil safety compliance certificate?
The form has a Renewal box next to New, so renewal applications use the same form. The form does not print a renewal date or validity period, so ask the BPHC Environmental Health Office at (617) 534-5965 when yours is due.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with the City of Boston or BPHC, and it does not file or submit the application.
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