Johnston, RI — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service

Street address

100 Irons Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919

Phone

401-231-4000

dpwoffice@johnstonri.gov

Coverage

Town of Johnston only. The Building Division enforces Building and Fire Safety Codes through inspections and permit processing.

Online portal

OpenGov Permitting and Licensing

OpenGov

Website

Department website

Additional resources

State e-permitting Portal ↗

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Johnston

Per Rhode Island State Building Code (SBC-1 through SBC-9 as adopted by Town of Johnston); construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, demolition, removal, or change of occupancy of any building or structure.

Scope of work

Permit?

Ordinary repairs per Rhode Island General Law 23-27.3-102 that do not include: siding; structural modifications; means-of-egress changes; piping additions or alterations; electrical wiring; mechanical work

Exempt

Exempt Ordinary repairs per Rhode Island General Law 23-27.3-102 that do not include: siding; structural modifications; means-of-egress changes; piping additions or alterations; electrical wiring; mechanical work

Note: Verify exemptions with the Building Division before proceeding.

Required documents

Permit application
Scaled drawings
Site plan
Contractor registration

Building code: Rhode Island State Building Code (SBC-1 through SBC-9) -- Town of Johnston formally adopted the State Building Code.
Permit validity: Per Rhode Island state code; contact department.
Owner-builder: Confirm with department at 401-231-4000.
Contractor requirements: Licensed or registered with Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board.

Source: Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly specified; contact 401-231-4000.

01

Create account at johnstonri.portal.opengov.com
02

Select permit type (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
03

Complete application and upload required documents including drawings and site plan
04

Plan review fee paid at time of initial permit application
05

Building permit fee paid at permit issuance
06

Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees paid at issuance
07

Permit issued; post on job site
08

Schedule required inspections through portal or by calling 401-231-4000
09

Pass all inspections
10

Obtain certificate of occupancy

Typical processing time: Not publicly specified; contact 401-231-4000.

Source: Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Johnston building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Plan check fee

Paid separately at time of initial permit application (not at issuance).

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based; plan review fees, building permit fees, and trade permit fees each paid separately at different stages per Johnston's permit procedure.

Reinspection fee

Contact department at 401-231-4000 or dpwoffice@johnstonri.gov.

Online via OpenGov portal; office hours: Labor Day to Memorial Day: Mon-Thu 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Fri 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Memorial Day to Labor Day: Mon-Thu 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Fri 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

401-231-4000 (phone)
OpenGov portal (online)

Inspection hours: Labor Day to Memorial Day: Mon-Thu 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Fri 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Memorial Day to Labor Day: Mon-Thu 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Fri 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Typical sequence: Typical sequence: footing/foundation, rough frame, rough trades, insulation, wallboard, finals per trade, building final, certificate of occupancy.

Emergency/after-hours issues: Johnston Police Department at 401-231-4210.

Source: Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Johnston permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Johnston, RI? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Johnston, RI? ▸

Building permit fees in Johnston, RI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based; plan review fees, building permit fees, and trade permit fees each paid separately at different stages per Johnston's permit procedure.. Plan check fee: Paid separately at time of initial permit application (not at issuance)..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Johnston, RI? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Johnston, RI, follow these steps: 1. Create account at johnstonri.portal.opengov.com 2. Select permit type (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical) 3. Complete application and upload required documents including drawings and site plan 4. Plan review fee paid at time of initial permit application 5. Building permit fee paid at permit issuance 6. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees paid at issuance 7. Permit issued; post on job site 8. Schedule required inspections through portal or by calling 401-231-4000 9. Pass all inspections 10. Obtain certificate of occupancy

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Johnston, RI? ▸

Building permit processing times in Johnston, RI typically run Not publicly specified; contact 401-231-4000.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Johnston, RI? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Johnston, RI. The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary repairs per Rhode Island General Law 23-27.3-102 that do not include: siding; structural modifications; means-of-egress changes; piping additions or alterations; electrical wiring; mechanical work. Note: Verify exemptions with the Building Division before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Johnston, RI? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Johnston, RI via: 401-231-4000, OpenGov portal.

last verified April 2026 source Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service ↗ entry id permits/rhode-island/providence/johnston

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Division, Department of Development and Public Service before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Johnston

Other jurisdictions in Providence County.