Town of Weymouth, MA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All properties within the Town of Weymouth.

Department

Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections (Building)

Address

75 Middle Street, 1st Floor, East Weymouth, MA 02189

Phone

781-340-5004

Email

Contact via department

Website

https://www.weymouth.ma.us/1644/Building-Permit-Information

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact the Building Department during inspector walk-in hours (7:30 AM--9:00 AM weekdays) for structural work; or visit/call during general office hours for non-structural projects.
2. Obtain appropriate permit application form from Applications and Fees page or in person at 75 Middle Street.
3. Complete application: project address, owner and contractor information, description of work, estimated construction cost.
4. Prepare required attachments:
5. - Plot plan: prepared by Registered Land Surveyor (linen or Mylar original plus two prints); show entire lot, adjacent street portion, accurate location/dimensions of all buildings, lot lines, zoning district boundary lines
6. - Construction drawings (scale drawings for new construction or significant alterations)
7. - CSL and HIC license documentation
8. - Workers' compensation affidavit
9. Submit application and pay fee. Inspector of Buildings reviews for code and zoning compliance.
10. Permit issued; post on site before commencing work.
11. Schedule inspections by calling Building Department between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays at 781-340-5004.

Typical processing time: Varies by project type; applicants must appear in person during inspector hours for structural applications.

Source: Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections (Building)

General Requirements

A building permit is required for all construction within the Town of Weymouth.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application form
• Plot plan prepared by Registered Land Surveyor (linen or Mylar original plus two prints)
• Construction drawings
• CSL and HIC license documentation
• Workers' compensation affidavit

Permit validity

Permit lapses if work does not commence within six months of issuance or if work is abandoned for six months.

Building code

780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code)

Owner-builder

Homeowner exemption available for primary one- or two-family residence.

Contractor requirements

CSL required for all contractor-pulled permits. HIC registration required for home improvement contractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50.00 (residential); $100.00 (commercial)

Plan check fee

Included in permit fee

Permit fee formula

Single-family residential: $10.00 per $1,000; all other (commercial, multi-family): $20.00 per $1,000 (rounded to nearest thousand)

Trade permit fee

Electrical, plumbing, and gas permits assessed separately; download July 2024 fee schedule for rates

Reinspection fee

Applies for inaccessible premises, failed inspections, inadequate work

Penalty (no permit)

Double the applicable permit fee for work commenced without a permit

Payment note

Payment accepted at in-person submission or by mail with application

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures (tool sheds, playhouses, similar) with floor area 120 square feet or less
• Fences 7 feet and under do not require a building permit
• Retaining walls not more than 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing), unless retaining surcharge or impounding liquid
• Water tanks supported directly on grade, not exceeding 5,000 gallons, with a height-to-diameter ratio of 2:1 or less
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Residential accessory above-ground swimming pools less than 24 inches deep, less than 5,000 gallons, and not permanently connected to any structure
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall projecting no more than 54 inches from the wall

Important: Statewide 780 CMR 105.2 exemptions apply. Retaining walls, tree cutting, driveways, patios, and landscaping near wetland resource areas may require conservation review even when building permit not required. Contact Weymouth Conservation Office (781-340-5007) for wetland determinations.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 781-340-5004 (between 7:30 AM--9:00 AM weekdays) (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Schedule during inspector walk-in hours (7:30--9:00 AM); inspectors leave for field work promptly at 9:00 AM

Inspection hours

General office: Monday--Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM; Inspector walk-in: 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM

Time windows

Inspector walk-in window: 7:30 AM--9:00 AM Monday--Friday (structural applications must be submitted during this window)

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: foundation/footing, framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough gas (separate inspectors for each trade), insulation, final building, final trades.

Not specified; contact Building Department for remote inspection eligibility

Additional Resources

• Building code: 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code)
• Verify contractor license: Massachusetts Professional Licensure Directory
• Department Main
• Conservation Office
• License lookup guide: Massachusetts Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Massachusetts Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Massachusetts hub: Massachusetts Contractor License & Permit Hub

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