Best bets
For Contractors: Home Improvement Contractor registration and renewal, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Information and resources on registering as a home improvement contractor. Includes forms, guidelines and a lot of information.
For Homeowners: Check if your contractor is a registered Home Improvement Contractor, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Despite the title, this area includes information on hiring a contractor, required terms in a contract, and more. For any questions about the HIC programs, contact the Consumer Hotline at (617) 973-8787.
For Homeowners doing their own work: Tips for DIY home remodeling projects, Beliveau Law Group.
“A permit for any remodeling project is issued by the local building department. If you’re doing the work on your own, you should request the permit. If you’ve hired a contractor, they should request it as they are responsible for compliance.”
Massachusetts laws
MGL c.142A Regulation of home improvement contractors
MGL c.143 Inspection and regulation of licenses for buildings, elevators and cinematographs
Massachusetts regulations
201 CMR 14 Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration and Guaranty Fund
201 CMR 18 Home improvement contractor registration
225 CMR 22 Massachusetts Stretch Code and specialized code for low-rise residential construction
225 CMR 23 Massachusetts Stretch Code for commercial and all other construction (including most multi-family)
780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code
Building code
The current edition of the Mass. State Building Code is the 9th edition, which was filed with the Secretary of State by the Office of Public Safety and Inspections on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, effective on Oct 20, 2017. It is published in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) as Title 780. The ninth edition code is based on modified versions of 2015 codes as published by the International Code Council (ICC).
The Base Code has 36 Chapters, available as .pdf files for each chapter, enumerated by clicking on "Ninth Edition Base Code" under the Table of Contents heading. The Base volume regulates all structures that are not covered by the Residential regulations.
The Residential Code has 27 Chapters, available as .pdf files for each chapter, enumerated by clicking on "Ninth Edition Residential Code" under the Table of Contents heading. The Residential volume regulates all one- and two-family structures and townhouses that are three stories or less, as well as their accessory structures.
The Basic/Commercial Code and the Residential Code in 780 CMR are available for purchase from the State Bookstore.
The 2015 ICC codes are available for purchase from the International Code Council. Note that Massachusetts has adopted the 2015 codes. They are also available in print format for library use only in Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries, as linked below:
- 2015 International Building Code (IBC)
- 2015 International Residential Code (IRC)
- 2015 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
- 2015 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
- 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)
- 2015 Portions of the International Fire Code (IFC)
Forms
Building permit applications for non-state-owned buildings, Mass. Board of Building Regulations and Standards.
If you are seeking to apply for a building permit for a building that is not state-owned, the process is administered by your local municipal building official. The Board of Building Regulations and Standards has created standard building application forms that may be used by the municipality, showing all the information that is needed to make the application process uniform across the state.
A sample Homeowners’ Exemption Eligibility Affidavit is available by scrolling down at The Board of Building Regulation and Standards’ Building permit applications for non-state-owned buildings.
Home Improvement Contractor Program applications and forms, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Massachusetts home improvement sample contract, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Web sources
Check if your work requires a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) or a Construction Supervisor License (CSL), Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Table listing types of work and licenses required.
"Clarification on timing of Building Energy Codes in effect in Massachusetts," Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources.
Home Improvements, Nolo.com.
Advice for homeowners and contractors from a legal self-help publisher. Not specific to Massachusetts.
Homeowner’s guide to hiring a home improvement contractor, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Know your rights to prevent costly problems.
I would like to perform my own electrical work. Can I pull a permit as a homeowner and not a licensed electrician?, Town of Marion, MA.
Is there any work that I can do without getting a permit?, Town of Lee, MA.
Required contract terms in a home improvement contract, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs.
Hiring a contractor for a home improvement job? It must contain certain items.
Stretch Code adoption by community (map and list), Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources.
Stretch Energy Code development, Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources.
The Department's process for updating the existing 'Stretch Building Energy Code' as well as the new 'Municipal Opt-in.' Includes the Specialized Stretch Energy Code according to the statutory requirements most recently updated by the Climate Act of 2021.
Print sources
American jurisprudence pleading and practice forms annotated, Building and Construction Contracts, Part II C, Sec. 57-104. Defective Performance.
Building Code Essentials: based on the 2015 International Building Code, International Code Council, 2015.
Building Codes Illustrated: a guide to understanding the 2015 International Building Code, John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
Home Improvement Contractor Act, MCLE, 2010.
Home improvement contractor claims: Building your case, MCLE, 1998.
Standard form construction contract documents, MCLE, 2008.
Contact
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| Last updated: | May 22, 2023 |
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