Springfield, MA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee due to
- City Collector before permit issuance
- Covers
- Erection, alteration, repair, demolition, additions
- Exemption
- City-owned or City-occupied buildings
- Enforcement penalty
- Up to $300 per day
- Citation
- Springfield City Code § 175-1
Summary
Springfield requires a paid permit before erecting, altering, repairing, demolishing, or adding to any building or regulated equipment, with fees due to the City Collector under City Code § 175-1.
The permit for the erection, alteration, repair, demolition, or removal of, or the addition to, a building or other structure; or a permit for the installation, alteration, repair, or removal of any equipment or appurtenances which are regulated by this article and the State Building Code; shall have been paid to the City Collector; and any amendment to a permit which necessitates an appurtenance of the building or structure that is involved shall not be approved until the additional fee shall have been paid thereto. This section shall not apply to permits issued to the City of Springfield for City-owned and/or -occupied buildings.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4680006; v21 updated 2025-12-15; through 12-15-2025).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 175-1 requires that the fee be paid to the City Collector before Springfield issues a permit for the erection, alteration, repair, demolition, or removal of a building or structure, or for an addition to one, as well as for installing, altering, repairing, or removing equipment or appurtenances regulated by the Building Permit Fees article and the State Building Code. Amendments to an existing permit that add appurtenances to the building require the additional fee to be paid before approval. City-owned or City-occupied buildings are exempt from the fee. Chapter 175 then sets fee schedules by project type: new construction runs from a $75 minimum use-and-occupancy fee up to per-square-foot rates under § 175-3.
Violations & Fines
Building or altering without paying the required permit fee exposes the work to a stop order; disregarding a Building Inspector's order carries a criminal fine of up to $300 per day under § 140-1(B), with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to add a room onto my house in Springfield, MA?
Is my building permit fee refundable if I cancel a project?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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