Online Permitting Portal and Directions
(Scroll down for directions and link to portal)
A Building Permit is required by Section 110.0 of the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR). Anyone seeking to construct, alter, repair, or demolish a structure must first obtain a building permit.
Section 201 of the Building Code indicates that permits are not needed for ordinary repairs that can be defined as “any maintenance which does not affect the structure, egress, fire protection systems, fire ratings, energy conservation provisions, plumbing, sanitary, gas, electrical, or other utilities.” This includes painting, landscaping, adding shutters, fixing locks, working on gutters, fixing a driveway, and tiling.
A permit is not needed for:
- a shed as long as it does not exceed 8 x 12’ More information on sheds
- for fences less than 7 feet fences & other regulations
- and some retaining walls.
All Building Permits require PDF copied attachments of:
- Contractor’s License(s)
- Contract signed by Owner(s)
- Homeowners may submit their own Building Permit Application Information about Homeowners acting as their own Contractor. Homeowners must reside year round in the dwelling.
For Kitchen or Bathroom remodels where fixtures are being moved a layout plan needs to be attached.
Applications to install roof-top solar will require that the plans show the dimensions of the panels on the roof and the distances to the edge of the roof.
For the installation of Generators, a Mechanical or Generator Permit Application is required. A survey/certified plot plan or GIS Map showing the location of the generator with approximate measurements is required and the specs for the generator.
For applications proposing exterior additions a survey/plot plan may be required. Certified Plot Plan – What is one? For interior renovations plans may be required.
Structural Work will require documentation stamped by an Engineer or Architect.
When in doubt, please contact the Building Department at [email protected]
If there will be a dumpster left on the site please contact the Fire Department in order to submit this form with the required fee: Rubbish Container Form
Once an application is submitted the Building Department will determine if review and approval by other Town Departments is required.
All Electrical Permits, Plumbing & Gas Fitting Permits, Sheet Metal, Generator & Mechanical Permits require a copy of the Contractor’s License(s) (if applying for a generator a license is not required for the Generator & Mechanical Application)
The fee for Electrical, Plumbing, Gas Fitting Applications associated with a Building Permit are based on the total construction cost. A building permit must be approved prior to the submission of the mechanical applications. Please contact the office if you want to find out the exact fee prior to submitting the application.
Filling Out a Permit Application
- Select the appropriate permit application from the menu on the left.
- Select the location/address for the permit. You may narrow your search for the address by entering characters of column text in the white boxes under House # and/or Street.
- Choose the address by highlighting its row.
- Click the Next button above the Property List.
- Fill out the application fields to completion.
- Once you have filled out all text fields click Submit.
- Once you click Submit you will be prompted to add Attachments.
- Click O.k. if you want to add Attachments.
- You are done and your permit application will be reviewed as soon as possible during the regular hours of the Building Department.
- You will be contacted by the Building Department with the exact application fee prior to the issuance of a permit.
If you need to add Attachments after closing a submitted application, or you want to check the status of the application, you may go to My Documents at the top center of the Main Page. Select the Permit and click the buttons to the left.
Please be patient. Having on-line permitting is new to the department. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Building Department at [email protected] Contacting one person at the Building Department is sufficient. Someone will contact you as soon as possible. You will be contacted with the fee amount once you complete submitting your on-line permit application and the application has had either an initial review and/or been approval by the Building Department.
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If you are researching a specific property and would like to see what permits have been issued/closed it is highly suggested you visit the Building Department to review the entire property file due to the fact the permits found on the website will be permits issued after June, 15, 2023.
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For Building Permit Applications: you must complete Form P.1, Form P.2, Workers’ Comp, and upload required attachments.
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DEMOLITION FORMS (to be attached to a Building Permit Application)
National Grid Demo Form – Electric⇒
National Grid Gas Disconnect Form⇒
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GENERATOR CHECKIST (complete on-line Mechanical Application)
Mechanical Generator Checklist⇒
For the installation of Generators: a Mechanical or Generator Permit Application is required.
A survey/certified plot plan or GIS Map showing the location of the generator with approximate measurements is required and the specs for the generator.
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CLICK ARROW TO GO TO PERMITLINK
IMPORTANT: For the next few weeks, the Building Department can only accept checks for application payment as we change over to a better payment software to work with on-line permitting. Please mail a check to Building Department, 299 Bay Road, Hamilton MA, 01982, or you may hand deliver the check to the Building Department which is now located at 299 Rear Bay Road. In the Red Building attached to the Council of Aging Building. The front door faces the Winthrop School parking lot. (The right side if you are facing the back of the building/the street). Please make sure you write the property address on the check. We apologize for any inconvenience.
