Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards – Harrisburg, PA

Consumer Protection and Safety

The Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards is a specialized division within the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Headquartered at the Department’s complex on North Cameron Street, the Bureau operates with a dual mission: protecting public safety on amusement rides and ensuring economic equity through accurate weights and measures. The Bureau’s Amusement Ride Safety Division inspects thousands of amusement rides and attractions across the state, from traveling carnivals to permanent theme parks, certifying they meet strict operational standards to prevent accidents.

Weights and Measures

The Weights and Measures Division is responsible for maintaining fairness in the marketplace. Inspectors from this bureau test and certify commercial weighing and measuring devices, including grocery store scales, gas station fuel pumps, and fuel oil delivery trucks. They enforce the state’s package checking regulations to ensure consumers receive the full amount of product they pay for. The Bureau also operates the Pennsylvania Standards Laboratory (Metrology Lab), which maintains the state’s primary standards of mass, volume, and length.

Facility and Operations

The Bureau operates out of the Department of Agriculture building near the Farm Show Complex. This location serves as the administrative hub for inspectors who travel throughout the Commonwealth. While much of their work is field-based, the Harrisburg office handles the registration of amusement rides, licensing of public weighmasters, and the certification of device repairpersons. Visitors to the office should enter through the main lobby of the Agriculture Building, where security screening is required.