Boston building department

Boston’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) issues building, electrical, plumbing, gas, sheet metal, use-of-premises, and related permits for property in the City of Boston, and runs inspections and certificates of occupancy. ISD also enforces housing, health, and sanitation rules. It covers property within Boston city limits only. ISD’s building counter is on the 5th floor of 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Short-form vs. long-form building permits

Most building work in Boston falls under one of two permits.

• Short-Form Permit: minor alterations, repairs, or replacements that don’t change a building’s use, exits, fire protection, or living area. Examples include roof repair, siding, swapping an existing window, and a bathroom refresh with no structural changes.
• Long-Form Permit: new construction, additions, structural work, changes to or legalization of occupancy, creating an ADU, installing fire suppression or fire alarms, and increasing the capacity of a building. When you apply, you pick a subtype: Alteration/Change of Occupancy (the most common), Erect/New Construction (a new building on an empty lot), Amendment, or Use of Premise.

City project pages draw the line for common jobs:

Project	Short form	Long form
Window	Replacing an existing window, same size	New opening or enlarged window
Roof deck	Repairing an existing deck, with its original permit and stamped plans	New deck, expansion, or missing original plans
Bathroom or kitchen	No structural changes	Moving structural walls or egress, new window or doorway
Solar	Under 20 kWh on a 1-2 family home	20 kWh or more, or a 3+ family building

Replacing kitchen cabinets doesn’t need a permit, unless the work touches gas or electrical lines. Sheds, pools, new parking areas, and other special outdoor uses need a Use of Premises Permit. It requires a certified plot plan, plus an approved curb cut application if you’re creating parking. See also do I need a permit for a deck.

Who can pull the permit

Homeowners can apply for short-form and long-form permits only for work they do themselves on a 1-2 family, owner-occupied home. If you own a unit in a building with three or more units, such as one floor of a triple-decker, you must hire a contractor. ISD’s homeowner license-exemption form exempts qualifying homeowners from the licensing provisions of 780 CMR, the Massachusetts State Building Code. A homeowner who hires help must act as supervisor. Someone who builds more than one home in two years doesn’t count as a homeowner. The form warns that owners who pull their own permits lose access to the arbitration program and guaranty fund under MGL c. 142A.

Plumbing, gas, electrical, and sheet metal permits go only to contractors with a valid Massachusetts trade license. Homeowners can’t apply for them, and that includes water heater and boiler swaps. ISD recommends hiring a contractor with a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. The application must be in the licensed contractor’s name. If the contractor leaves mid-job, the owner must file a Change of Licensed Builder form, and work must stop until a replacement is approved.

What to upload

ISD applications go through the online portal. You have to create an account first. If you apply at the counter, staff will still have you fill out the application in the portal. Once you submit, you can’t edit or add files until review. Common uploads include:

• A description of the work and the estimated total cost
• For homeowners: a Homeowner Waiver and the state Workers’ Compensation Affidavit (Box 3)
• For contractors: the trade license (front and back), a liability insurance certificate, the Workers’ Compensation Affidavit, the signed owner contract, a Site Safety Plan Affidavit, and the Mattocks-Higgins Affidavit of Workplace Safety
• For long-form and most contractor applications: plans stamped by a Massachusetts registered architect or engineer, and a certified plot plan

If the portal says “Please Confirm Occupancy,” the property has no Record of Occupancy on file. Only the owner can call 617-635-5300 to book a Confirmation of Occupancy inspection, and no permit will issue until it’s resolved. Depending on the site, you may also need sign-offs that you request yourself: Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation (within 100 feet of a park or parkway), or the Landmarks Commission (historic districts).

Fees

From ISD’s fee schedule and current permit pages:

Permit	Fee
Short-form building	$20 plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost
Long-form building	$50 plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost
Amendment	$20 plus $10 per $1,000
Plumbing	$20 plus $5 per fixture
Electrical, no service change	$20 plus $1 per fixture, plug, or outlet; $5 per meter
Electrical, new or upgraded service	$20 plus $0.25 per amp (up to 240 volts)
Sprinkler	$20 plus $1 per head
Use of premises	$50
Off-hours inspection	$250 per inspector

Fees are due upfront. Starting work without a permit, or undervaluing the job, can cost a double fee.

Review time and permit life

ISD’s permit guide estimates about one week for a complete short-form application. A long form takes 4 to 5 weeks if no building or zoning relief is needed. The Fast Track Program targets seven-day approval for commercial office renovations only. It doesn’t apply to residential or retail space. Work must start within six months of issuance. Some projects can get a 180-day extension.

Inspections

Book inspections by calling the ISD call center at 617-635-5300, or open the permit’s Inspections tab in the portal and click Request Inspection. Have the permit number, address, and on-site contact ready. An inspector will call within 48 hours to set the date. Most work needs at least a rough and a final inspection. A licensed contractor must be on site. A certificate of occupancy requires final sign-offs from every inspector, plus documents such as an itemized final cost breakdown. Where they apply, you also need stretch code commissioning letters, a HERS rating, and proof of compliance with Article 37 (Boston Green Buildings).

Zoning and appeals

ISD reviews permits against the Boston Zoning Code. If your work doesn’t conform, ISD issues a refusal letter. You then have 45 days to appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeal, which meets every other week. The appeal includes community review through the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. After the decision is signed, there’s a 20-day appeal period. ZBA hearings are virtual through June 2027. ISD also runs a Permitting Clinic for zoning and permit questions. Owner-occupants of 1-, 2-, and 3-family homes may be able to add an ADU. The Mayor’s Office of Housing runs monthly design workshops for ADUs.

Permit records

The Permit Finder shows the status of active ISD and Fire permits. Permit data is searchable online back to December 15, 2009. To see older building plans, visit ISD’s 5th-floor document room.