Town of West Tisbury, MA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All properties within the Town of West Tisbury (rural/agricultural town in central Martha's Vineyard).

Department

Building Department

Address

1059 State Road, 1st Floor, West Tisbury, MA 02575

Phone

(508) 696-0113

Email

inspect@westtisbury-ma.gov

Website

https://westtisbury-ma.gov/230/Building-Department

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Verify proposed use and dimensions comply with West Tisbury Zoning Bylaws. Zoning Inspector enforces zoning requirements.
2. If work is within wetland buffer zone (100 feet from resource area; 200 feet from rivers), file with Conservation Commission and obtain Order of Conditions before permit issuance.
3. Refer large-scale projects to Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) before town action if they meet Development of Regional Impact (DRI) thresholds. West Tisbury is a rural town with lower DRI lot-division thresholds (3 lots vs. 5 in nonrural areas).
4. Submit permit application via PermitEyes portal (permiteyes.us/westtisbury) or paper application at Town Hall.
5. Building Inspector reviews for 780 CMR compliance.
6. Pay permit fees upon approval; permit issuance.
7. Submit all inspection requests through Building Department via PermitEyes portal or Inspection Request Slip form.
8. Certificate of Occupancy issued after all inspections pass.

Typical processing time: 1-2 weeks for standard permit review. Add 2-4 weeks for projects requiring zoning relief. MVC DRI projects add 2-4 months.

Source: Building Department

General Requirements

A building permit is required for all construction within the Town of West Tisbury except as exempted by 780 CMR 105.2.

Required Documents

• Permit application via PermitEyes portal or paper form at Town Hall
• Site plan and construction drawings
• Workers' compensation certificate or exemption affidavit
• CSL (Construction Supervisor License for structures over 35,000 cf) and/or HIC (Home Improvement Contractor) number, or Homeowner Exemption Affidavit
• Trench Permit Application (fillable PDF) for any excavation work
• ConCom Order of Conditions (if applicable)
• MVC approval (if DRI)
• Workers Compensation Insurance Affidavit

Permit validity

Must commence construction within 6 months of issuance. Work may lapse if suspended for 12 months.

Building code

780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th Edition effective October 11, 2024). New Electrical Code effective February 17, 2023 (527 CMR 12.00, based on 2023 NEC).

Owner-builder

Homeowners of a 1- or 2-family primary residence may pull permits without a CSL or HIC license but must file a Homeowner Exemption Affidavit.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a valid CSL (structures over 35,000 cf) or HIC registration for smaller residential work. Separate licensed contractors required for electrical, plumbing, and gas work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not confirmed in accessible sources

Plan check fee

Included in permit fee

Permit fee formula

Based on construction value; specific per-$1,000 rate not publicly accessible in extractable form. Download current Permit Fees PDF from westtisbury-ma.gov/390/Forms-Documents.

Trade permit fee

Separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and gas permits

Payment note

Contact building department at (508) 696-0113 for current fee rate structure or download the July 1, 2025 Permit Fees PDF from the Forms and Documents page.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025 (PDF available but not in extractable form as of March 2026)).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Sheds of 120 square feet or less not used for habitation (provided setback requirements are met; West Tisbury has explicitly confirmed this exemption)
• Fences not over 7 feet
• Retaining walls under 4 feet
• Sidewalks and driveways under 30 inches above grade
• Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep
• Finish work (painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets)
• All other standard 780 CMR 105.2 exemptions (see statewide overview)

Important: Exemptions from building permit do NOT exempt work from trade permits or Conservation Commission jurisdiction.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (508) 696-0113 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Submit Inspection Request Slip (PDF) or use PermitEyes portal

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Time windows

Specific inspection time windows not published in accessible sources

Typical inspection sequence: Standard inspection sequence per 780 CMR: footing/excavation, foundation, rough frame, insulation, final building. Trade inspections (rough and final electrical, plumbing, gas) scheduled through building department.

In-person inspection standard

Additional Resources

• Building code: 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th Edition effective October 11, 2024). New Electrical Code effective February 17, 2023 (527 CMR 12.00, based on 2023 NEC).
• Verify contractor license: Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards - License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Conservation Commission
• Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC)
• License lookup guide: Massachusetts Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Massachusetts Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Massachusetts hub: Massachusetts Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Dukes County