Nashua, NH Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes, before reroofing work begins
- Non-asphalt commercial fee
- $0.65 per $100 of cost
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Building Safety
- Historic District
- same-plane reroof skips HDC review
Summary
Nashua requires a building permit before any reroofing job starts, and the Department of Building Safety won't issue one until fees are paid. Commercial reroofing other than asphalt shingles is billed at $0.65 per $100 of construction cost.
When, in the Building Official's opinion, the nature of the work is not related to floor area, excluding signs, but including and not limited to membrane structures, temporary structures, canopies and awnings, pedestrian walkways, radio and television towers, radio and television antennas, elevators, commercial solar energy systems, commercial wind energy systems and commercial (other than asphalt roofing shingles) reroofing: [Amended 3-9-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-045]
(a) Fee shall be based on a construction or installation cost of $0.65 per $100.
(10) Retaining walls over four feet in height above base of footing: [Amended 3-9-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-045]
(a) Residential: minimum $25 or $0.15 per linear foot (whichever is greater).
(b) Commercial: minimum $50 or $0.30 per linear foot (whichever is greater).
(11) Minimum fee for miscellaneous equipment (each), excluding the application fee, where not otherwise provided for by this section [for example: residential antennas, small sheds (less than 200 square feet), or construction trailers] or as deemed appropriate by the Building Official or his or her designee: [Amended 3-9-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-045]
(a) Residential: $30.
(b) Commercial: $50.
(12) Reinspection of the same work due to the failure to pass an initial inspection or the unavailability of the premises at the time of initial inspection: $75.
(13)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Reroofing is alteration work under the International Building Code and International Residential Code that Nashua adopts as its local Building Code (§§ 105-8, 105-10). Section 105-27(A) bars the Department of Building Safety from issuing any permit for alteration or other building operations until the prescribed fee is paid. Most reroofing falls under the standard per-square-foot alteration fee, but § 105-28(A)(9) carves out commercial reroofing other than asphalt shingles for cost-based billing at $0.65 per $100 of construction or installation cost, since that work isn't tied to floor area. A separate carve-out lets routine same-plane reroofing skip Historic District Commission review under § 190-22(A)(3)(c), but the building permit itself is still required.
Violations & Fines
Reroofing without the required permit, or work that departs from approved plans or a Building Official directive, is a violation of Chapter 105 subject to NRO Chapter 74 penalties and RSA 676:15-17-b, in addition to any other remedy available to the City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to reroof a house in Nashua?
How much does a Nashua roofing permit cost?
Does reroofing in the Historic District need extra approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle building permits.