Town of Rockland, MA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All properties within the Town of Rockland.

Department

Building Department

Address

242 Union Street, Town Hall, Rockland, MA 02370

Phone

(781) 871-1874, ext. 1191

Email

mhamilton@rockland-ma.gov

Website

https://www.rockland-ma.gov/159/Building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Gather required documents: construction documents (plans), plot plan, approvals from Historic Commission, Conservation Commission, and/or Board of Appeals if applicable, Workers' Compensation form, contractor's CSL and HIC copies, insurance certificate.
2. In PermitEyes, complete all mandatory fields (marked with red asterisk) or save a draft.
3. Attach required documents through the Transactions Monitor panel (eye icon).
4. Submit application; status shows 'pending' for successful submission or 'partially submitted' if incomplete.
5. Track departmental sign-off progress through the portal.
6. Receive email invoice when fee is computed.
7. Pay via credit/debit card or EFT check through the portal.
8. Print the issued permit. Applicants are required to print permits and keep them on-site during the project.
9. Schedule and pass required inspections through PermitEyes.

Typical processing time: 2-3 weeks after complete submission.

Source: Building Department

General Requirements

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

Required Documents

• Construction documents (plans)
• Plot plan
• Approvals from Historic Commission, Conservation Commission, and/or Board of Appeals (if applicable)
• Workers' Compensation form
• Contractor's CSL and HIC copies
• Insurance certificate
• Available forms: Building Inspection Schedule, Homeowner Exemption Eligibility Affidavit, Pool Package (for swimming pools), Workers' Compensation Form

Permit validity

Per 780 CMR 107.5, permits expire if construction has not commenced within 6 months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 12 months. Renewal fees typically run 25-50% of the original permit fee.

Building code

Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR (10th Edition effective July 1, 2025)

Owner-builder

Owners of 1-2 family dwellings may pull their own permits and supervise work on their primary residence without holding a CSL, but they assume full contractor liability and waive rights to the HIC Guaranty Fund.

Contractor requirements

CSL required for structural work. HIC required for improvements to existing residential structures. Permits must be printed and kept on-site throughout the construction project.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Varies by project type; see fee schedule PDFs

Plan check fee

Included in building permit fee

Permit fee formula

Available fee schedule documents: Residential Building Fees, Commercial Building Fees, Plumbing and Gas Fees, Electrical Fees (updated 2025). Download PDFs from https://www.rockland-ma.gov/160/Permits-Fees for specific rate tiers.

Trade permit fee

Separate fee schedules for plumbing/gas and electrical; download PDFs for current rates.

Reinspection fee

Amount varies; confirm with department at (781) 871-1874 ext. 1191

Penalty (no permit)

2x the permit fee for work started without permit; additional penalties possible for egregious violations

Payment note

PermitEyes accepts payment via credit/debit card or EFT check through the portal.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2025 (most recent; see documents on Permits-Fees page)).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet
• Fences not over seven feet in height
• Oil derricks
• Retaining walls not over four feet in height measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width is not greater than 2:1
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over any basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work (interior or exterior surface finishes)
• Temporary theatrical sets and scenery
• Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep and contain less than 5,000 gallons (above-ground, residential)
• Agricultural nursery shade structures (shade cloth only, not service systems)
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to single-family or two-family dwellings
• Window awnings on residential dwellings projecting not more than 54 inches from the exterior wall
• Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height
• Plastic film greenhouses used for standard agricultural or nursery purposes
• Repair or replacement of fire protection system components that do not affect system performance or design

Important: Standard 780 CMR 105.2 exemptions apply in Rockland. For projects subject to site plan review or ZBA approval, those processes are separate from and cumulative to building permit exemptions.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• PermitEyes portal (online)
• (781) 871-1874 ext. 1191 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

No inspections conducted on Fridays. Contact Building Department during business hours to schedule.

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (noon) and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM; Extended hours: First and third Tuesday of each month until 8:00 PM; No Friday inspections; Summer hours may apply

Time windows

Inspection scheduling available during posted hours

Typical inspection sequence: Standard inspection sequence: footing; foundation; rough frame; insulation; final building; final electrical; final plumbing/gas. Certificate of Occupancy requires submission of as-built plans stamped by a registered land surveyor and professional engineer for projects subject to site plan review.

All Fire Alarm and Sprinkler Permits require a separate permit from the Rockland Fire Department in addition to the building permit.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR (10th Edition effective July 1, 2025)
• Verify contractor license: CSL and HIC Verification (Massachusetts)
• PermitEyes Portal
• Building Department Staff Contacts
• License lookup guide: Massachusetts Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Massachusetts Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Massachusetts hub: Massachusetts Contractor License & Permit Hub

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