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Boston building permits

Building permits in Boston are issued by the Inspectional Services Department (ISD)1. You can apply and request inspections online through onlinepermitsandlicenses.boston.gov2.

Last checked

On this page
  1. Building department contacts
  2. Building codes in force in Boston
  3. Boston building permit fees
  4. How to get a building permit in Boston
  5. Permit expiration and extensions
  6. Inspections in Boston
  7. Building without a permit in Boston
  8. Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
  9. Massachusetts rules that also apply in Boston
  10. Sources

Building department contacts

Inspectional Services Department (ISD)1

Building permits

Address
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02118
2
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.3
Inspections
Call center 617-635-5300; an inspector calls back within 48 hours4

Zoning Board of Appeal (ISD)5

Zoning and planning

Address
1010 Mass. Ave, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02118
5

Boston Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division6

Fire marshal

Boston Landmarks Commission (Office of Historic Preservation)8

Historic preservation

ISD Flood Plan Administrator4

Floodplain

To look up permits already issued for an address (useful before you buy, or to check a contractor's work), use the city's official permit search: scerisecm.boston.gov3.

Building codes in force in Boston

These are the model codes Boston enforces, with the edition and the date it took effect. Plans are reviewed and work is inspected against them. For the state framework, see Massachusetts building codes.

CodeTitle as adoptedModel editionEffective
International Residential Code (IRC)780 CMR 51.00: Massachusetts Residential Code1020211111
International Building Code (IBC)780 CMR, Massachusetts State Building Code, Tenth Edition, Base Volume1320211111
International Existing Building Code (IEBC)International Existing Building Code 2021 as amended1020211111

Adopted by: Board of Building Regulations and Standards12.

Transition rules. June 30, 202511.

Boston building permit fees

Fees come from the Fee Schedule (ISD 'Building Fees 5 15 23' PDF)14.

How valuation is set. Estimated cost of work15.

Each line is worded as in Boston’s schedule; formulas are not added up into a total (how permit fees work).

FeeTypeAs the schedule states it
Short Form BuildingBased on project valuation$20.00 Primary fee plus $10.00 per $1,000 of the estimated cost of work.15
Long Form BuildingBased on project valuation$50.00 Primary fee plus $10.00 per $1,000.00 of the estimated cost of work.15
AmendmentBased on project valuation$20.00 Primary fee plus $10.00 per $1,000.00 of the estimated cost of work.15
PlumbingPer fixture or item$20.00 Primary fee plus $5.00 each fixture.15
Electrical (no change in service)Per fixture or item$20 application fee, plus $1 for each fixture, plug, or outlet, and $5 for each approved meter.16
Electrical (upgrading or new service)Flat fee$20 application fee, plus $0.25/amp up to 240 volts, or $0.75/amp over 480 volts.16
Electrical (other)Based on project valuation$20 application fee, plus $10 per $1,000 of the estimated cost.16
Gas appliancesFlat fee$20, plus $5 per meter.17
Gas boilers, heaters, furnaces, industrial ovens–$20, plus $50 each, plus $0.09 per 1,000 BTU.17
Change of Occupancy, 3 Family and underFlat fee3 Family and under $20.00 fee15
Use of PremisesFlat fee$50.00 Primary fee15
Board of AppealFlat feeOne -Three family; $150.00 Fee primary Four family and up or Commercial; $150.00 Fee for each violation cited.15
Nominal FeeFlat fee$300.00 Nominal Fee plus $50.00 Application fee15
Certificate of Occupancy–$50, plus 1 percent of the project’s total construction cost9
Off Hour InspectionsAfter-hours inspection$250.00 per inspector15
Off Hour PermitsAfter-hours inspection$100.00 per day15
Double FeeWork started without a permitDOUBLE FEE When work has been started without required permit or undervalue in the estimated cost.15

How to get a building permit in Boston

  1. Gather required documents2
  2. Apply and pay in the ISD online portal2
  3. Obtain external approvals (Planning and Zoning, Parks, Landmarks) and upload them2
  4. Wait for the issued permit before starting work2
  5. Request inspection when work is finished2
  6. Confirm permit is closed2
Apply online
Yes2
Posting the permit
Printed permit card required before starting work18

Permit expiration and extensions

How long a permit lasts
Work must start within six months of issuance2
Extensions
Possible 180-day extension for eligible projects2

Inspections in Boston

Boston’s inspection stages, in order. Do not cover work until the stage has passed (how inspections work).

  1. Rough and final inspections (at least two for most work)19
  2. Footing and Insulation inspections (listed portal inspection types)19
How to schedule
Call 617-635-5300 or request in the portal; inspector contacts within 48 hours19
After the final inspection
Certificate of Occupancy, required for new construction, major renovations that change a building’s use, occupancy, egress or life safety systems, and change of use or occupancy (or if the property has no CO); issued within 10 days after passed inspections and approved documents9

Building without a permit in Boston

ConsequenceApplies toAs the city states it
Higher permit feeWork started without required permit, or undervalued estimated cost15Double fee15
Civil penaltyStarting work before permit issuance2Charge double the permit cost, or issue a building code violation2
Penalty 780 CMR R114.4; M.G.L. c. 143, § 94(a)Violations of 780 CMR, including work contrary to approved construction documents, a building official directive, or a permit or certificate (statewide; applies in Boston)10Penalties as prescribed by M.G.L. c. 143, § 94(a), M.G.L. c. 148, § 34C, or M.G.L. c. 148A (amounts are in the statute)10
Stop-work order 780 CMR 115Work contrary to 780 CMR or dangerous/unsafe13Continuing after stop work order: penalties under M.G.L. c. 143, § 94(a)13

For how unpermitted work is usually legalized, see how to legalize unpermitted work.

Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)

Homeowner may pull a building permit
Yes, for 1-2 family owner-occupied homes when doing the work themselves2
Homeowner electrical work
No16
Homeowner plumbing work
No20
Owner and occupancy requirement
Owner resides or intends to reside on the parcel with a one- or two-family dwelling; condo owners in 3+ unit buildings must hire a contractor21
Sale or rental limits
Person who builds more than one home in two years is not a homeowner21
Affidavit or declaration
Homeowner Waiver (Construction License Exemption for Home Owner form) plus MA Workers' Compensation Affidavit2

Massachusetts's statewide owner-builder and licensing rules are on the Massachusetts permit guide.

Massachusetts rules that also apply in Boston

Sources

  1. Inspectional Services | Boston.govCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
  2. Short-Form PermitCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated November 4, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  3. How to Find Historical Permit RecordsCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated October 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Inspectional Services ContactsCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated November 2, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  5. Zoning Board of AppealCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated October 27, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
  6. Fire PreventionCity of Boston, Boston Fire Department, Fire Prevention DivisionChecked November 6, 2026
  7. Boston PermittingCity of BostonLast updated October 26, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
  8. Landmarks CommissionCity of Boston, Office of Historic Preservation, Boston Landmarks CommissionChecked November 6, 2026
  9. Certificate of OccupancyCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated September 29, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  10. 780 CMR 51.00 Massachusetts Residential Code, Chapter R1 Scope and Application (10th ed., unofficial copy)Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Building Regulations and StandardsChecked November 7, 2026
  11. Tenth Edition CMR 780Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Building Regulations and StandardsPublished October 11, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
  12. Massachusetts State Building Code - 780 CMRCommonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Building Regulations and StandardsChecked November 6, 2026
  13. 780 CMR Chapter 1 Scope and Administration (10th ed. Base Volume, unofficial copy)Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Building Regulations and StandardsChecked November 6, 2026
  14. Building Forms and ApplicationsCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated November 5, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  15. Building Fees 5 15 23 (ISD fee schedule)City of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
  16. Electrical PermitCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated September 11, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  17. Gas PermitCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated September 11, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  18. Permitting Your Accessory Dwelling UnitCity of Boston, Mayor's Office of HousingLast updated July 29, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  19. How to Schedule an InspectionCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated September 15, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  20. Plumbing PermitCity of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentLast updated September 11, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  21. Construction License Exemption for Home Owner(s) (ISD6.04RSO)City of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026