Boston permit search: look up, apply and check a permit

Boston permit numbers at a glance

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How to search a permit by address in Boston

Past permits are searched by address, and the City of Boston gives two online databases for it: Search for document images for all permits, which the city suggests opening in a Google Chrome browser, and Search data on permits issued after December 15, 2009.

To perform a search to look up permit records from the past, all you need is the address of the property.

Source: How to Find Historical Permit Records | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

For a permit application that is still in progress, the city sends you to Permit Finder instead: enter the permit number there to see the latest information about its status.

Do I need a permit to repair or replace a roof in Boston?

For a roof repair, yes: a Short-Form permit, for repairing an existing roof when no other structural changes need to be made. The city’s roof page covers repair; work that changes the structure of a home falls under the Long-Form permit.

If you are repairing a roof, you’ll need to apply for a Short-Form permit.

Source: Repair Projects | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

On a 1-2 unit owner-occupied home, homeowners and contractors can both do the repair. On a three-family or bigger dwelling, such as an apartment building, a multi-unit condo or one floor of a triple-decker, the city says you must hire a contractor.

A roof deck splits the same way. Repairing an existing deck with no structural change, such as expanding its size, is a Short-Form job, and you provide the permit and engineer-stamped plans from the original build. A brand new deck, a bigger deck, or a deck whose original plans and permit you cannot provide goes on a Long-Form permit.

Start my request for a roof in Boston

Do I need a permit to replace a window in Boston?

Yes. Replacing a window that already exists, with no structural change such as a bigger opening, takes a Short-Form permit. Creating a new window where one did not exist, opening a wall or expanding the window size takes a Long-Form permit. On a 1-2 unit owner-occupied home, homeowners and contractors can do the work.

For replacing a window that already exists and no other structural changes need to be made, such as expanding the window size.

Source: Install or Replace a Window | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Start my request for a windows in Boston

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Boston?

Yes, a Plumbing Permit, for replacing or installing a water heater or boiler when no other work, such as opening up walls, is needed. A homeowner cannot apply for it: the city says the applicant must be the contractor performing the work, so you hire a contractor to apply and do the job.

For replacing or installing a water heater or boiler when no other work needs to be done, such as opening up walls.

Source: Install or Replace a Water Heater or Boiler | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

The permit applicant must be the contractor performing the work.

Source: Plumbing Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Start my request for a water-heater in Boston

Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Boston?

Yes for Short-Form and Long-Form building permits, when you do the work yourself in a 1-2 family, owner-occupied home. If you own a condo in a building with 3 or more dwellings, such as one floor of a three-decker, you must hire a contractor. Plumbing Permits are different: homeowners hire a contractor to apply.

Homeowners who will be completing the work on their own in a 1-2 family, owner-occupied home.

Source: Short-Form Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

A homeowner applying this way uploads a Homeowner Waiver, a Massachusetts workers’ compensation affidavit with Box 3 selected, and a detailed description that includes all work done by you and any contractors on the property.

What work does not need a permit in Boston?

Kitchen cabinets: the city’s Install or Replace pages say adding or replacing them needs no permit. That stops applying when the work affects gas lines or electrical lines, or turns into a full kitchen renovation, which the city sends to its kitchen renovation page.

Adding or replacing new kitchen cabinets does not require a permit.

Source: Install or Replace Kitchen Cabinets | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Beyond that, the city’s permit data page says a building permit comes before most construction, demolition, modification and repair work.

How much is a permit and how long does it take in Boston?

On timing, the city ties the timeline for issuing your permit to review by planning and zoning, and to whether you need to upload more information to the online portal. Starting early costs more: do not begin work before the permit is issued.

Do not begin work before your permit is issued. If you do, Inspectional Services may: charge double the permit cost, or issue a building code violation.

Source: Short-Form Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Once the permit is issued, you must start work within six months; some projects can extend the permit for another 180 days, and only certain projects are eligible. After you request an inspection, an inspector reaches out within 48 hours to set the date, and most construction work needs at least two inspections, a rough one at the beginning and a final one at the end.

Please keep in mind that most construction work requires at least two inspections (rough inspection at the beginning and a final inspection at the end; more complex projects might require additional inspections).

Source: How to Schedule an Inspection | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Before you apply in Boston: checklist

Project information: a short description of the work with its scope, materials, floors and rooms involved and any related permit numbers, plus the estimated total project cost, typed without special characters.

For a Long-Form job: design plans stamped by a Massachusetts registered engineer or architect, and a certified plot plan showing property lines and the location of the structure on the lot; without one, you hire a land surveyor to provide it.

Other agencies: Planning and Zoning for compliance with the Boston Zoning Code, Parks and Recreation for work within 100 feet of a park or parkway, and the Landmarks Commission for projects in a historic district. You contact them directly, and some projects need their sign-off before the permit can be issued.

Record of Occupancy: if the portal shows “Please Confirm Occupancy”, the property has none on file, and an inspector visits for a walkthrough with the owner present to provide access.

Have everything in before you submit, because a submitted application cannot be edited or added to until Inspectional Services reviews it.

Have everything ready before you submit. Once submitted, you can’t edit or upload more information until we review the application.

Source: Long-Form Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Boston permit application

Building permits are applied for in the Inspectional Services Online Portal, where you create an account before you can apply for any permit. Coming to the office does not skip the portal: staff still have you complete the application through the same online portal.

You apply through the Inspectional Services Department portal. You’ll need to create an account before you can apply for any permits.

Source: Short-Form Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Boston permit status

Enter your permit number in Permit Finder to see the latest information about its status; the city also sends updates to the email address on your permitting portal account.

Check your application status through the Permit Finder. We will notify you via your permitting portal email address with any updates.

Source: Long-Form Permit | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

In the city’s permit dataset, a permit marked Open has been issued and is still valid for the applicant. When the final inspection passes and no further work is required, the project is finished, and the city asks you to make sure the permit shows as closed in the online portal.

Boston building permit records

Start from the city’s Search for historical permit records page: it lists two options for seeing the historical record of permits for a property, and for a search, the address of the property is all you need.

The open dataset covers permits issued by the City of Boston from 2009 to the present and leaves out permits still being processed and those denied, deleted, void or revoked. Building plans are viewed in person: the city says you must come to its document room.

This dataset includes information about building permits issued by the City of Boston from 2009 to the present. Permits that are being processed or have been denied, deleted, void or revoked are not included in the dataset.

Source: Approved Building Permits - Dataset - Analyze Boston, read 2026-10-29

How do I contact the Boston building department?

Building permits in Boston sit with the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department, a regulatory agency of five field divisions that enforces building, housing, health, sanitary and safety regulations. Its office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and its own contact list is on the Department Contacts page.

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Source: Inspectional Services | Boston.gov, read 2026-10-29

Sources

• Approved Building Permits - Dataset - Analyze Boston (data.boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Long-Form Permit | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Boston.gov — Permit Finder (permitfinder.boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• How to Find Historical Permit Records | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Short-Form Permit | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• How to Schedule an Inspection | Boston.gov (content.boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, annual county file 2025 (www2.census.gov), row 2025,25,025 (Suffolk County, MA), sum of the Units columns 8 (1-unit), 11 (2-units), 14 (3-4 units), 17 (5+ units), 1-based as the file's header counts them, read 2026-10-29
• Repair Projects | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Repair A Roof | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Install or Repair a Roof Deck | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Install or Replace a Window | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Install or Replace a Water Heater or Boiler | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Plumbing Permit | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Install or Replace Kitchen Cabinets | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• Inspectional Services | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29
• About Our Work at Inspectional Services | Boston.gov (boston.gov), read 2026-10-29