NYC vs Boston: who may clean your kitchen hood, and how often
Short answer: New York City approves hood cleaning companies and requires cleaning at least every 3 months. Boston registers each certified person every year, and Massachusetts sets inspection frequency by cooking volume, from monthly to annually. Last verified:
Side by side
| New York City | Boston / Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is approved | The company (FDNY approval) | Each person (certified, then registered with the Boston Fire Department); the state also licenses people and companies |
| Term and fee | Company approval valid 1 year (FDNY) | City registration $25 a year, ends December 31 (ordinance 16-53.3); state certificate 3 years, company registration 2 years at $60 (Mass. DFS) |
| Worker credential | W-64 or P-64 Certificate of Fitness for everyone on site | Exam based on NFPA 96 (administered by IKECA) plus 500 work hours or an approved school; at least one certified technician per site |
| How often | Inspect and clean at least every 3 months; vertical ducts over 3 floors every 6 months; filters monthly | Inspect monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually by cooking volume; clean when the inspection finds grease build-up |
| Official list | FDNY approved list (PDF), with list numbers and approval and insurance dates | Boston Fire Department registered cleaners and inspectors (PDF), published each year |
| Proof at the job | FDNY decal with a QR code linking to the approved list | Inspection stickers and deficiency reports to the owner; problems reported to the fire department within 48 hours (Mass. DFS) |
| Precipitators | P-64 technicians at FDNY-approved precipitator companies ("P" list numbers) | Not covered by the Boston sources we checked |
Sources: FDNY certification page, FDNY public notice, FDNY guidance, FDNY P-64 page, FDNY decal notice; Boston ordinance 16-53.3, Boston Fire Department, Mass. DFS inspections, Mass. DFS licences. Checked October 9, 2026. Not legal advice.
Find a company
- NYC: FDNY-approved companies (39 listed)
- Boston: companies with registered cleaners (28 listed)
- What it costs
Questions
What is the main difference between NYC and Boston hood cleaning rules?
NYC approves the cleaning company (FDNY), and everyone on site needs a Certificate of Fitness. Boston registers each certified person every year, and each crew needs at least one certified technician on site.
Is hood cleaning required every 3 months in Boston?
Not as a flat rule. Massachusetts sets inspection frequency by cooking volume (monthly to annually), and the inspection decides whether cleaning is needed. NYC requires inspection and cleaning at least every 3 months.
Can an FDNY-approved company clean hoods in Boston?
Only if its people are certified and registered with the Boston Fire Department, and hold the Massachusetts licence. FDNY approval alone is not enough in Boston.
Where are the official lists?
FDNY publishes the approved company list as a PDF; the Boston Fire Department publishes a yearly PDF of registered cleaners and inspectors. Both are linked on our city pages.
How long must records be kept in Massachusetts?
At least three years, by both the building owner or operator and the certificate holder (Mass. DFS).
How often must a wood- or charcoal-fired kitchen exhaust be cleaned?
In NYC, solid-fuel equipment must be inspected monthly and cleaned by a W-64/P-64 Certificate of Fitness holder at least every 3 months (FDNY notice). In Massachusetts, solid-fuel systems are inspected monthly (Mass. DFS).
What hood cleaning records does a restaurant need to keep?
In NYC the business owner must keep cleaning records for FDNY inspectors and keep grease-filter inspection and cleaning records with the date and what was done (FDNY notice; FDNY safety guide). In Massachusetts the owner and the certificate holder must keep inspection and cleaning records for at least three years (Mass. DFS).
What happens if a restaurant hood is not cleaned on time?
In NYC you can get violations if unsafe conditions exist, and the FDNY warns your insurer may have an issue with claims (FDNY safety guide). In Massachusetts the fire chief must issue a cease-and-desist order to a facility with no inspection in the past 12 months (Mass. DFS).
What is a hood cleaning deficiency report?
A written notice of problems the cleaner found. In NYC companies must give the customer a written letter about deficiencies and notify the FDNY (FDNY notice). In Boston companies must give deficiency reports to the owner, with a copy to Fire Prevention, including when there is no on-site exhaust system diagram (Boston Fire Department). In Massachusetts a certificate holder must notify the local fire department within 48 hours of an out-of-compliance system (Mass. DFS).
What is NFPA 96?
NFPA 96 is the National Fire Protection Association standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations (NFPA). Boston cleaners must pass an exam based on the current NFPA 96 (Boston Fire Department), and the Massachusetts inspection schedule follows the same cooking-volume table (Mass. DFS).
Do you need a certificate to clean kitchen hoods?
Yes in both cities. In NYC every worker on site needs an FDNY W-64 or P-64 Certificate of Fitness and must work for an FDNY-approved company (FDNY notice). In Massachusetts cleaners and inspectors need a certificate of competency from the State Fire Marshal (Mass. DFS), and in Boston they must also register with the Boston Fire Department every year (Boston Fire Department).
Does hood cleaning include the fire suppression system?
No, in NYC it is a separate job. A Master Fire Suppression Piping contractor licensed by the NYC Department of Buildings must inspect, test and service the suppression system at least every 6 months and leave a tag (FDNY safety guide).