Approvals for a new single family home in Massachusetts

Due Diligence & Studies

• Boundary / ALTA Survey

  Required

  A boundary survey fixes the lot lines the building is placed from.

• Topographic Survey

  Likely

  Gives the grades the house, driveway and drainage are drawn on.

• Geotechnical Investigation / Report

  Check locally

  Only where the soils, a slope or the building department call for borings.

• Wetlands Delineation

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this. Check for wetlands, floodplain or other environmental conditions.

• Flood / Floodplain Study

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this. Check for wetlands, floodplain or other environmental conditions.

• Stormwater / Drainage Study

  Check locally

  Some towns ask for a drainage plan for a new building.

Land Use & Entitlements

• Variance (Zoning Board of Appeals)

  Check locally

  The board holds a hearing within 65 days and decides within 100 days of filing, or the variance is granted.

  Agency

  Zoning Board of Appeals

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  malegislature.gov

• Local Historic District Certificate

  Check locally

  Only in a historic district, where the commission reviews new buildings.

  Agency

  Local historic district commission

  State rule

  Only in a local historic district. The commission decides within 60 days of filing or a certificate issues.

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  malegislature.gov

• Zoning Permit

  Required

  The zoning office confirms the new building meets the setbacks, height and lot coverage. In Massachusetts the building inspector enforces zoning and must withhold a building permit that would violate it.

  Agency

  Building commissioner or inspector of buildings

  Source

  malegislature.gov

• HOA or Architectural Review Approval

  Check locally

  An HOA may need to approve the house design before it is built.

Design & Permit Documents

• Civil Design Package

  Check locally

  Many towns ask for a lot grading and utility plan for a new building.

• Architectural Design Package

  Required

  The building drawings, from design through the permit set.

• Structural Design Package

  Likely

  The structural drawings the building permit is reviewed on.

• Fire Protection Design Package

  Check locally

  Only where the building code or the town requires sprinklers.

• Foundation Design

  Likely

  The foundation design for the new building.

• Energy Code Package (Base, Stretch or Specialized Code)

  Required

  Check which energy code the town adopted. Stretch and Specialized Code towns need a HERS rating or Passive House for new homes.

  Agency

  Local building official

  Source

  mass.gov

• Permit Drawing Set

  Required

  The signed and sealed drawing sets the building department reviews.

• Issued-for-Construction Drawing Set

  Likely

  The final drawings the trades build from, with the permit comments included.

Environmental & Site Authorizations

• Soil / Erosion Control Approval

  Check locally

  ShovelCue has no Massachusetts record for this line yet, so check who handles it for this site.

Utilities & Infrastructure

• Water Service Approval

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this, since new buildings need new utility service.

• Sewer Service Approval

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this, since new buildings need new utility service.

• Electric Service Approval

  Check locally

  Ask the electric utility early. It answers a capacity request within three weeks, then you file the work request for service.

  Agency

  Eversource, National Grid, Unitil or the municipal light plant

  Source

  mass.gov

• Road Opening Permit

  Likely

  A new driveway or utility connection in the street needs a road opening permit.

Permits & Construction Authorizations

• Demolition Permit

  Check locally

  Usual when an existing structure is demolished.

• Building Permit

  Required

  The building official must issue or deny the permit in writing within 30 days of filing under the state building code.

  Agency

  Building commissioner or inspector of buildings

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  mass.gov

• Plumbing Permit

  Required

  Only a licensed plumber can take out the permit, before work starts. The inspector acts on the application within two working days.

  Agency

  Local plumbing and gas inspector

  Source

  mass.gov

• Electrical Permit

  Required

  The electrician gives the inspector of wires the permit notice before starting or within five days after starting.

  Agency

  Local inspector of wires

  Source

  malegislature.gov

• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required

  The heating and cooling permit, reviewed with the building permit.

• Fire Protection Permit

  Check locally

  Only where the building code or the town requires sprinklers.

• Retaining Wall Permit

  Check locally

  Only if the scope includes it.

• Temporary Power Permit

  Likely

  Lets the utility connect temporary power for construction.

• Board of Health Approval (Title 5 Septic Permit)

  Check locally

  Only with a well or septic system, or food service.

  Agency

  Local board of health

  State rule

  A site on a septic system needs a disposal system construction permit from the board of health before any system work.

  Source

  mass.gov

• Certificate of Occupancy and Use

  Required

  Every occupiable building needs it before use.

  Agency

  Building commissioner or inspector of buildings

  State rule

  The building commissioner issues the certificate within 10 days once the final inspection finds no violations.

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  mass.gov

Construction Readiness

• Construction Entrance Installed

  Likely

  A stabilized entrance so trucks do not track soil onto the road.

• Erosion / Sediment Controls Installed

  Likely

  Silt fence and controls in place before digging, as the erosion control plan shows.

• Dig Safe Notice (811)

  Likely

  Mark the dig area in white and notify Dig Safe at least 72 business hours before digging. A ticket lasts 30 days.

  Agency

  Dig Safe System (811)

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  mass.gov

• Survey Control Established

  Likely

  The surveyor sets control points so the building goes in the right place.

• Required Site Signage / Postings Complete

  Likely

  The permit placard and the labor postings on site.

• Site Ready to Mobilize

  Likely

  The milestone for your target construction start.

Sources

• malegislature.govVariance (Zoning Board of Appeals)
• malegislature.govLocal Historic District Certificate
• malegislature.govZoning Permit
• mass.govEnergy Code Package (Base, Stretch or Specialized Code)
• mass.govElectric Service Approval
• mass.govBuilding Permit
• mass.govPlumbing Permit
• malegislature.govElectrical Permit
• mass.govBoard of Health Approval (Title 5 Septic Permit)
• mass.govDig Safe Notice (811)

Items with no source link come from the national list and are decided by the town or the site. Ask the local office.

Other project types in Massachusetts

• New multifamily building
• Retail tenant fit out
• Deck or porch