County Building Permits
Carroll County, NH - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Carroll County, New Hampshire. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Carroll County unincorporated areas including Hale's Location and Hart's Location (though Hart's Location is incorporated). Unincorporated territories ('locations,' 'grants,' 'townships,' and 'purchases') in Carroll County are not part of any town. If the county has not adopted a local building code enforcement mechanism, the NH Division of Fire Safety / State Building Permit Program fills this role under RSA 155-A:4.
- Department
- NH Division of Fire Safety / State Building Permit Program
- Address
- 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305
- Phone
- (603) 223-4289
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Paper-based • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact NH Division of Fire Safety at (603) 223-4289 to confirm jurisdiction and process for unincorporated areas
- Also contact Carroll County Administration at (603) 539-4872 to confirm county role
- Obtain State Building Permit Application from https://www.firemarshal.dos.nh.gov/document/state-building-permit-application
- Complete and submit to NH Division of Fire Safety
- State inspection program applies if county has not adopted local enforcement
- For Hale's Location specifically, also check with Hale's Location Owners Association (haleslocationownersassociation.org) for any private architectural review requirements
Typical processing time: Contact NH Division of Fire Safety
Source: NH Division of Fire Safety / State Building Permit Program
General Requirements
NH State Building Code (RSA 155-A) applies; all new construction, additions, and alterations subject to state building code require a permit
Required Documents
- Per NH Division of Fire Safety requirements; contact for current requirements
- Building code
- NH State Building Code (RSA 155-A); 2021 IBC/IRC effective July 1, 2024
- Owner-builder
- NH state licensing requirements apply for all trades
- Contractor requirements
- State-licensed electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters required
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50 minimum; $0.30 per gross sq ft for new commercial construction (state program rates -- verify current rates with Division of Fire Safety)
- Payment note
- Contact NH Division of Fire Safety
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the NH Division of Fire Safety / State Building Permit Program to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (603) 223-4289 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Weekday business hours
Typical inspection sequence: Per NH Division of Fire Safety protocols
Additional Resources
- Building code: NH State Building Code (RSA 155-A); 2021 IBC/IRC effective July 1, 2024
- NH Division of Fire Safety
- Carroll County Administration
- Hale's Location Owners Association
- NH RSA 155-A
- License lookup guide: New Hampshire Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: New Hampshire Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- New Hampshire hub: New Hampshire Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the NH Division of Fire Safety / State Building Permit Program before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carroll County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Carroll County, NH?
- NH State Building Code (RSA 155-A) applies; all new construction, additions, and alterations subject to state building code require a permit
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Carroll County, NH?
- The minimum permit fee is $50 minimum; $0.30 per gross sq ft for new commercial construction (state program rates -- verify current rates with Division of Fire Safety).
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Carroll County, NH?
- 1. Contact NH Division of Fire Safety at (603) 223-4289 to confirm jurisdiction and process for unincorporated areas 2. Also contact Carroll County Administration at (603) 539-4872 to confirm county role 3. Obtain State Building Permit Application from https://www.firemarshal.dos.nh.gov/document/state-building-permit-application 4. Complete and submit to NH Division of Fire Safety 5. State inspection program applies if county has not adopted local enforcement 6. For Hale's Location specifically, also check with Hale's Location Owners Association (haleslocationownersassociation.org) for any private architectural review requirements
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Carroll County, NH?
- Typical processing time is Contact NH Division of Fire Safety.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Carroll County, NH?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (603) 223-4289.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Carroll County Unincorporated Areas can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector works