BuildingPermitCost Massachusetts permit fees at a glance
This page covers 5 cities in Massachusetts, each priced from its own official fee schedule. For the same $75,000 addition, totals run from $800.00 in Boston to $1,125.00 in Cambridge, with a Massachusetts median of $900.00, 10% above the median of $820.58 across all 267 places on this site.
The most common pricing method here is a rate per $1,000 of project value (3 of 5), followed by a fee table based on project value (2). For project value, 4 places use your contract or bid price.
None of the 5 lists a separate plan review fee for building permits.
0 of 5 schedules state an effective date. Every page shows its effective date and the date we last checked it against the official source.
| Project | Massachusetts median | National median | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 remodel | $325.00 | $380.00 | 5 |
| $75,000 addition | $900.00 | $820.58 | 5 |
| $350,000 new home | $4,200.00 | $2,918.63 | 5 |
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Massachusetts permit fee questions
How much is a building permit in Massachusetts?
It depends on the city or county, because each sets its own fees. Across the 5 places we cover in Massachusetts, the median for a $75,000 addition is $900.00 and for a $350,000 new home $4,200.00, including plan review and required surcharges.
Which Massachusetts places have the lowest and highest permit fees?
For a $75,000 addition, the lowest total we found is $800.00 in Boston, MA and the highest is $1,125.00 in Cambridge, MA. The tables on this page list every place we cover.
Totals use each jurisdiction's own formula for a 300 sq ft remodel, a 400 sq ft addition and a 2,400 sq ft wood-frame home. Trade permits and conditional fees are not included. Fees are estimates based on the official schedules; confirm with the permit office before applying.