Southborough, MA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Chapter 62 of the Town's bylaws, adopted by Town Meeting as Art. XIA of the 1983 Code, applies to the construction, alteration and maintenance of buildings and other structures within the limits of Southborough, County of Worcester. Section 62-1 excepts buildings owned and occupied by the United States, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or by any County, and also excepts bridges, quays and wharves. The regulations took effect upon acceptance by the Town under MGL c. 143, § 3.

Section 62-5(A) is the permit trigger. It is unlawful to construct, alter, remove, demolish or change the class of occupancy of any building or structure without first filing with the Inspector of Buildings an application, in writing, and obtaining a permit. The permit requirement therefore reaches demolition and a change in occupancy class as well as new construction.

The application must be submitted in the form the Inspector of Buildings prescribes, and it must be made by the owner or his duly authorized representative (§ 62-5(B)). Under § 62-5(C), applications are accompanied by the plans, drawings and other data the Inspector requires. When the Inspector requires it, the applicant also files a plot diagram, drawn to scale, showing the size and location by dimension of the proposed new construction and of other existing or proposed structures on adjoining property within 10 feet of the property lines.

Section 62-5(D) allows amendments to an application; once approved they are filed with and deemed part of the original application. In existing buildings, minor repairs can be made without filing an application for obtaining a permit. Under § 62-6, the Inspector must act on applications, plans or amendments without unreasonable or unnecessary delay, and the fee required for a building permit is the one established by the Select Board. The Select Board appoints the Inspector of Buildings to a three-year term under § 62-3(B).