Taunton, MA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- New construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolition
- Residential fee
- 1% of contract price + 4% surcharge, $52 min
- Commercial fee
- 1.2% of contract price + 4% surcharge, $104 min
- No-permit penalty
- Triple the ordinary permit fee
- Governing code
- Massachusetts State Building Code (since 1975)
Summary
Taunton requires a permit before any construction, addition, alteration, repair, demolition or foundation work covered by City Code Sections 250-2 through 250-6. Residential building permits cost 1% of the contract price plus a 4% surcharge, with a $52 minimum, and doing the work without a permit first triples the fee.
No person shall undertake, authorize, allow, or cause any work referenced in §§ 250-2 through 250-6, inclusive, to be done without first applying for and obtaining permits therefor. ... Use or Application Type of Permit Description Fee ... Residential Building All new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolition, foundations and permanent structures 1% of contract price plus 4% of permit fee (or $0.40 per square foot plus 4% of permit fee) ($52 minimum) ... Commercial Building Work performed without a permit Triple fee
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4508986; v12 updated 2025-09-22; through 09-22-2025).
Full Breakdown
Since Massachusetts' new State Building Code took effect January 1, 1975 under Section 208-1, it superseded Taunton's own building code, so construction in the City is governed by the state code with local permit fees set in Chapter 250, Article I. Section 250-1 states plainly that no person may undertake, authorize, allow or cause any work covered by Sections 250-2 through 250-6 without first applying for and obtaining the appropriate permit, and Section 250-2 sets the building permit fee schedule the Building Department charges. 50 per square foot plus 4%, with a $104 minimum.
Separate line items apply to a certificate of occupancy ($104 per unit commercial), temporary structures, tents and awnings, solar panels and wind generators, and permit replacement ($26). Work performed without first obtaining the permit is billed at triple the ordinary fee under both Section 250-2 and the general penalty at Section 250-7, and the Building Commissioner may also seek an injunction against the violator in addition to that fine.
Violations & Fines
Doing covered work before obtaining the permit triggers a fee three times the amount that would otherwise apply, under Section 250-2's 'work performed without a permit' line and the general penalty at Section 250-7. Section 250-7 also lets the Building Commissioner, at his sole discretion, seek injunctive relief in court against anyone who builds, alters or demolishes without the required permit, on top of the tripled fee already owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a residential building permit cost in Taunton?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taunton
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