Bedford, NH — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building Code Department (part of Town of Bedford Safety Department)

Street address

55 Constitution Drive, Bedford, NH 03110

Phone

(603) 472-3838

safety@bedfordnh.org

Coverage

Town of Bedford; enforces NH State Building Code and local zoning within town limits.

Online portal

Bedford Online Permitting System

Online Permitting System (platform not specified)

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Bedford

Permit required for new construction, additions, alterations, decks, sheds, garages, pools, and other structures. Contact department for full list.

Note: Not explicitly listed on public pages. Contact Building Code Department at (603) 472-3838 or safety@bedfordnh.org for current exempt work list per adopted codes.

Required documents

Completed permit application
Plot plan (varies by project type)
Framing plans
Floor plans with room usage (for additions)
Energy code forms (for additions with added heated/cooled space)
Pool shell specs and heater fuel source (for swimming pools)
Septic system location (for swimming pools)

Building code: 2021 NH State Building Code suite (IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IECC, NEC) as adopted statewide per HB 1681, effective December 31, 2024.
Permit validity: Not specified on public pages; contact Building Code Department at (603) 472-3838.
Owner-builder: Not specified on public pages; contact Building Code Department.
Contractor requirements: NH state licenses required for plumbing, electrical, and gas work.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: State law requires action within 30 days (residential) / 60 days (commercial).

01

Obtain application from Building Department or online.
02

Gather required documents per project type.
03

Submit application with all documents to Building Department.
04

Department reviews; most residential projects do not require sealed structural plans if they meet prescriptive code requirements.
05

Pay required fees.
06

Permit issued; post on job site.
07

Schedule inspections via inspection voicemail at (603) 472-4567 with 24-hour minimum notice.
08

Final inspection and certificate of occupancy.

Typical processing time: State law requires action within 30 days (residential) / 60 days (commercial).

Source: Building Code Department (part of Town of Bedford Safety Department) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2025

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$50.00

Plan check fee

Not specified separately on public pages; contact Building Department.

Permit fee formula

$0.23 per square foot (residential building permit)

Reinspection fee

48-hour minimum delay required before scheduling reinspection after a failed inspection.

Contact Building Department at (603) 472-3838

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2025) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Inspection voicemail (603) 472-4567 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Messages left during business hours (Mon-Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm) scheduled for next business day; messages left outside business hours scheduled for second business day.
Inspection hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Typical sequence: Per project; contact department for sequence. Maximum 15 inspections per inspector daily. No inspections scheduled on the second Wednesday of each month (staff training).

Source: Building Code Department (part of Town of Bedford Safety Department) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Bedford permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Bedford, NH? ▸

Permit required for new construction, additions, alterations, decks, sheds, garages, pools, and other structures. Contact department for full list.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Bedford, NH? ▸

Building permit fees in Bedford, NH are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $50.00. Fees are calculated as: $0.23 per square foot (residential building permit). Plan check fee: Not specified separately on public pages; contact Building Department..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Bedford, NH? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Bedford, NH, follow these steps: 1. Obtain application from Building Department or online. 2. Gather required documents per project type. 3. Submit application with all documents to Building Department. 4. Department reviews; most residential projects do not require sealed structural plans if they meet prescriptive code requirements. 5. Pay required fees. 6. Permit issued; post on job site. 7. Schedule inspections via inspection voicemail at (603) 472-4567 with 24-hour minimum notice. 8. Final inspection and certificate of occupancy.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Bedford, NH? ▸

Building permit processing times in Bedford, NH typically run State law requires action within 30 days (residential) / 60 days (commercial).. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Bedford, NH? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Bedford, NH via: Inspection voicemail (603) 472-4567. Messages left during business hours (Mon-Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm) scheduled for next business day; messages left outside business hours scheduled for second business day..

last verified April 2026 source Building Code Department (part of Town of Bedford Safety Department) ↗ entry id permits/new-hampshire/hillsborough/bedford

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Code Department (part of Town of Bedford Safety Department) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Bedford

Other jurisdictions in Hillsborough County.