Best bets
For Contractors
Home Improvement Contractor registration and renewal, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Provides information and resources on registering as a home improvement contractor. Includes forms, guidelines and more.
- MA Contractor Hub: Contractors can log into MA Contractor Hub to view their Home Improvement Contractors (HIC) Program registration information, register or renew registration, pay fines or fees, and request a registration or supplemental registration card. A reference guide is also available to help contractors navigate the Hub portal.
For Homeowners
Check if your contractor is a registered Home Improvement Contractor, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Provides information on hiring a contractor, required terms in a contract, and links to the new MA Contractor Hub. 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.” Contact information for municipal building departments will be available on the city/town website in a directory provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Plumbing work: The Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters’ Fact Sheet says, “Only a master or journeyman plumber examined and licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, with the proper permits issued by the local plumbing inspector, can perform plumbing work at your home or business. . . A permit is not required for minor repairs such as fixing a leaky faucet, valve or other working part of a plumbing fixture, or for clearing a blocked drain.” Refer to MGL c. 142, § 3 and 78 Mass. App. Ct. 385 (2010).
- Electrical work: The Board of State Examiners of Electricians and Electricians and Electricians Appeals Fact Sheet says, “Only a master or journeyman electrician licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians can be legally hired to perform electrical work at your home or business.” Refer to MGL c. 143, § 3L. Note the distinction in the wording of the two Fact Sheets, and check with your local building inspector.
Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 142A Regulation of home improvement contractors
MGL c. 143 Inspection and regulation of licenses for buildings, elevators and cinematographs
MGL c. 260 §2B Tort actions arising from improvements to real property
Known as the Massachusetts statute of repose.
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)
248 CMR Massachusetts plumbing and fuel gas codes
527 CMR Massachusetts fire and electrical codes
780 CMR Massachusetts state building code
Building code
Current edition
The current edition of the Mass. State Building Code is the 10th edition, which went into effect on October 11, 2024. It is published in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) as Title 780. From October 11, 2024 to June 30, 2025, there was a concurrency period during which both the 9th edition and the 10th edition could be utilized. At this time, the 10th edition is the only building code in effect.
The Basic/Commercial Code and the Residential Code in 780 CMR are available for purchase from the State Bookstore.
The 10th edition code is based on modified versions of 2021 codes as published by the International Code Council (ICC).
The 2021 ICC codes are available for purchase from the International Code Council. Note that Massachusetts has adopted the 2021 codes to incorporate into the 10th edition of their building code. These ICC codes are available in print format for library use only in Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries, and are now part of our Westlaw plan for public access in our libraries:
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.
File a complaint against a home improvement contractor, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Includes a complaint form and information on how to file a complaint.
Massachusetts home improvement sample contract, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Web sources
Building Energy Code, Mass. Department of Energy Resources.
Summary of State Building Energy Codes including the Stretch Code. Includes a map and list of Building Energy Stretch Code adoption by community.
Guidelines and information for contractors, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
This page will help you determine if you need to register as a Home Improvement Contractor, and whether your work requires a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) or a Construction Supervisor License (CSL).
Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Program, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Resources for both contractors and homeowners.
Homeowner’s guide to hiring a home improvement contractor, Mass. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Know your rights to prevent costly problems.
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 and Business Regulation.
Hiring a contractor for a home improvement job? It must contain certain items. A sample contract is linked.
Print sources
Alternative clauses to standard construction contracts, Wolters Kluwer, 2014. Current edition is available online. Sections can be requested from the Trial Court Law Libraries’ document request service.
American jurisprudence pleading and practice forms annotated, Building and Construction Contracts, Part II C, Sec. 57-104. Defective Performance. Current edition is available online. Sections can be requested from the Trial Court Law Libraries’ document request service.
Construction disputes: Representing the contractor, Wolters Kluwer, 2020.
Construction litigation: Representing the owner, Wolters Kluwer, 2020.
Home improvement contractor act, MCLE, 2010.
Massachusetts construction law and litigation, MCLE, 2024.
Contact
Online
| Last updated: | August 29, 2025 |
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