26-014 Seagrass Dispensary-Occupancy Memo| 83 North Street, Salem, MA 01970 | T: 978-744-0208 | segerarchitects.com |
External Memorandum
Issue Date: April 1, 2026
To: Gail Kubik, Building Inspector
Inspectional Services
City of Salem
98 Washington Street, Salem, MA
From:
John Seger
Seger Architects, Inc.
83 North Street
Salem, MA 01970
Re: Seagrass Dispensary-Occupancy Requirements
ENCLOSED:
x Memorandum Sketches Meeting Minutes Field Observations
Introduction
Per the request of the City of Salem’s Inspectional Services Department, Seger Architects,
Inc. has prepared a letter addressing the “Occupancy Load” for the Seagrass Marijuana
Dispensary located at 3 Dodge Street in Salem, MA. The existing one-story building was
renovated in 2019 and has been operating as a dispensary since 2020. The public space of
the building has a large entrance lobby, retail/dispensary area with service counters and
large exit corridor for security. The back of house is fully-secured for deliveries, storage,
emergency exit door and restrooms for employees only. Please note, the building is fully-
sprinklered. We have provided the you with calculations for the building as shown below.
Table 1: Occupancy Requirements CMR Section1004 Use- Chapter 3 Floor Area GSF/Person Total Allowable
Mercantile - Retail/Dispensary Area ~2,400 SF 60 gsf/person = 40
Mercantile - Lobby/Vestibule ~670 SF 60 gsf/person = 11
Storage/Workroom/ Support ~2,690 SF 300 gsf/person = 9
Total = ~5,760 SF 60 persons
Note: 51 persons allowable for public spaces
Summary Review:
Based on the CMR 2021 IBC Section 1004, the allowable occupancy load for the
Mercantile space is 51 persons for the public area and 9 persons for the employees.
Applicable Codes
The major applicable codes for the project include, but are not limited to, the following:
| 83 North Street, Salem, MA 01970 | T: 978-744-0208 | segerarchitects.com |
Building 780 CMR: Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th Edition, Base Volume
(2021 International Building Code with amendments)
780 CMR 34.00: Massachusetts Existing Building Code (2021 International
Existing Building Code with amendments)
M.G.L Chapter 148, Section 26G Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Fire 527 CMR 1.00: Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (2021 q
NFPA 1 with amendments)
Accessibility 521 CMR: Architectural Access Board Regulations, 2006 Edition
Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
John Seger, Principal
Seger Architects, Inc.
CC.: Voula Stavroula, City of Salem; Jason Dziuba, Seagrass; file; SAI