Hudson, Massachusetts Building Permit Guide

Hudson’s Building Department issues building permits, coordinates inspections and handles the electrical, plumbing and gas permits, all applied for in OpenGov. Residential building fees are $12 per $1,000 of value and commercial $14 per $1,000, with minimums by project, and the permit is emailed as soon as the fee is paid.

What requires a building permit in Hudson?

Hudson’s FAQ applies the state rule directly: anyone who builds, alters, repairs, removes or demolishes a building or structure, changes its use, or installs regulated equipment needs a building permit first. The fee sheet shows how that plays out for common projects.

The corner rule in the zoning bylaw (section 7.2.1.2) keeps any fence, structure or planting between 3½ and 7½ feet above curb level out of the triangle formed by the two street lines and a line joining points 25 feet from their intersection.

What Hudson decides and what the state holds

780 CMR, the 10th edition of the State Building Code, is set by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards and cannot be changed by the town. Hudson’s own rules come from Town Meeting and its boards: the Protective Zoning By-Laws, the wetlands bylaw (Article XII of the General By-Laws), the Silas Felton Hudson Historic District (Article VIII), the Board of Health’s septic rules and the permit fees.

The energy code is one of those local choices. Article X of the General By-Laws, added by Article 41 of the May 6, 2019 Annual Town Meeting, adopts the Stretch Energy Code with future editions, effective January 1, 2020. The warrant for the Special Town Meeting on November 16, 2026 proposes (Article 5) adding a Specialized Energy Code bylaw with an effective date of July 1, 2027; until Town Meeting acts on it, the Stretch code remains the bylaw in force.

Hudson building department: who handles permitting

The Building Department reviews and issues building permits and coordinates inspections, and it receives correspondence for the electrical, plumbing and gas inspectors. Robert S. Berger is Building Commissioner and also the Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Protective Zoning By-Laws. The department works with the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, DPW, Town Engineer, Town Clerk and Assessors on new construction.

Hudson permit types

All permits are applied for online in OpenGov. Plans are submitted as the Building Official finds necessary and may be hand drawn if they are neat and clear; a site plan showing new work and every existing structure goes with any project that changes the site, and even a fence permit needs one.

Residential permits

New homes, every addition, any work involving bedrooms and all commercial projects need plans and a site plan; new homes and additions also need a HERS rater, which is the applicant’s responsibility. Sheds, decks, pools, detached garages, barns and sunrooms need plans and a site plan as well. The department notes that, under the 10th edition, light-frame sheds and detached accessory buildings up to 600 square feet with eaves no higher than 10 feet (400 square feet for other construction) can skip a frost-depth foundation. Roofing permits need a signed contract that meets the home improvement contractor rules, including the contractor’s registration number on the first page, start and completion dates, total price, payment schedule and the three-day cancellation notice. Hudson posts checklists for three-season porches, attic conversions, basements, decks, interior renovations and new construction, plus forms for construction control, the HIC affidavit, the homeowner license exemption, owner authorization, the IECC compliance sheet and workers’ compensation.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit applications, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial building permits are $14 per $1,000, signs $150 each, and commercial wiring $50 per $1,000 of electrical cost up to $10,000 plus $2 per $1,000 after that, with a $100 minimum. Separate permits are needed for other rooms and common areas in commercial and multifamily buildings. Commercial and multifamily plumbing is priced per inspection plus $20 per fixture. Commercial projects always need plans and a site plan, and a certificate of occupancy is $125. Elevator installations and fire alarms are permitted from $40, tents and work trailers at $40 each, and carnivals at $150.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial building permits through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Zoning. The Building Commissioner enforces the zoning bylaw. The town’s residential setbacks page gives the figures most house projects need: anything attached to the house keeps 30 feet from the front and rear lot lines and 10 feet from the sides; a detached structure keeps 30 feet from the front, 10 feet from the sides and 3 feet from the rear; and on a corner lot, 30 feet from both street lines and 10 feet from the other two. The November 16, 2026 warrant also proposes (Article 6) to let routine repairs and in-kind replacement of non-conforming structures proceed as of right, with any increase in non-conformity needing a special permit.
• Conservation Commission. Work near wetlands is reviewed under the state Wetlands Protection Act and Hudson’s wetlands bylaw, revised in 2024.
• Board of Health. The Board of Health is the Title 5 authority for septic systems; its Health Department is at Town Hall (978-562-2020) and posts septic maintenance guidance for owners.
• Historic District Commission. Exterior changes in the Silas Felton Hudson Historic District, mapped in 1988, need a certificate from the five-member commission set up under chapter 40C; the town posts the application, map and rules.
• DPW. Work in the public right-of-way, including paving, needs a DPW permit, and backflow preventers and cross-connection devices need DPW approval before the plumbing permit.

Hudson permit costs and fees

Hudson’s building permit fee sheet (undated) charges $12 per $1,000 for residential work and $14 per $1,000 for commercial work, subject to the minimums below. The wiring schedule was approved by the Select Board on January 22, 2024. Starting construction before the permit issues doubles the fee.

A worked example: a $90,000 addition at $12 per $1,000 is $1,080, above the $125 minimum. A $3,000 shed would come to $36 at the rate, so it pays the $40 minimum. The fee sheet lists fences “7’ or higher”, while the fence page says fences 7 feet and under need no permit.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Electrical, plumbing and gas permits are filed in OpenGov like building permits, and the Building Department passes correspondence to each inspector.

• Electrical: filed by a licensed electrician under 527 CMR 12. Rough wiring cannot be concealed until inspected, and the inspector is notified for the rough and again for the final. A wiring permit not finalized within a year is voided and must be taken out again.
• Plumbing and gas: filed by a licensed plumber or gas fitter under 248 CMR. The contractor must arrange every inspection; the town does not take inspection requests from homeowners.
• Backflow devices: DPW approval first.

The department also passes on the Board of Building Regulations and Standards’ caution against owners pulling their own building permits, because doing so, or hiring an unregistered contractor, forfeits access to up to $10,000 from the state guaranty fund for home improvement work.

How to apply for a Hudson building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

Under 780 CMR 105.3.1 the building official has 30 days from the filing of an application to act on it. In Hudson, plans are required only as the Building Official deems necessary, so a request for more drawings, a missing site plan (needed even for fences), a missing HERS rater on a new home or addition, or a roofing contract that lacks the HIC terms are the usual reasons for a pause.

Inspections in Hudson

Inspections run from 8:30 to 11:00 am. Call 978-568-9625 by 4:00 pm at least one day ahead; on Fridays, requests must be in by 11:30 am. If plans were submitted with the permit, a copy must be on site for every inspection so the inspector can compare the work. A failed inspection, or a return visit because the inspector could not get in, costs $40.

The town’s new construction checklist sets the order for a new home: permit card posted; bottom-of-hole (virgin soil), footing and keyway, any rebar, and foundation inspections before backfill, with sealer to grade and perimeter drains run to daylight; taped wall and roof sheathing; rough framing with windows, doors, siding, roofing, fire blocking and a broom-clean house, after the rough electrical, plumbing and gas sign-offs; ventilation; insulation, with no wallboard delivered until it passes; and the final. Before the final, the trade finals and the DPW Highway inspector’s driveway sign-off must be in, the grading, decks, stairs and site work done, HVAC running, and any Planning Board or ZBA conditions met. Masonry fireplaces get three inspections of their own. A certificate of occupancy ($125) closes the job, and any open permit, old or new, must pass a final inspection before it is closed.

Massachusetts building code

Hudson enforces 780 CMR, 10th edition, with the Stretch Energy Code under Article X of its General By-Laws; a Specialized code bylaw is on the November 16, 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant. FEMA lists Hudson (community 250197) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with current flood maps effective July 7, 2014.

Massachusetts has one State Building Code, 780 CMR, for every city and town; towns cannot rewrite it, though many opt into a stricter energy code. The trades run under their own state codes. Massachusetts rules

Hudson permit search and official resources

OpenGov holds both current permits and old paper permits loaded as “HIST-XX-XXX” records. Those historical records show a complete status only because they were imported; whether a paper permit actually passed its inspections can only be confirmed by pulling the property file. Record requests must be made in writing and are completed within 10 business days.

• Hudson Building Department
• Hudson OpenGov portal
• Permit application information and process
• Applications, permits and plan review checklists
• Fee schedules
• Building permit fees
• Wiring fee schedule (January 22, 2024)
• Plumbing and gas fees
• Fence requirements
• Residential setbacks
• New construction inspection checklist
• General By-Laws (historic district, Stretch code, wetlands)
• 2026 Town Meetings, including the November Special Town Meeting
• Historic District Commission
• Health Department
• Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR
• FEMA Community Status Book, Massachusetts

Hudson building permit FAQs

How much does a building permit cost in Hudson?

$12 per $1,000 of value for residential work and $14 per $1,000 for commercial work, with minimums such as $500 for a new house and $125 for an addition.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Hudson?

Not for a fence 7 feet or under, but it must meet setbacks and stay out of the corner visibility triangle at street intersections.

Can I schedule my own plumbing inspection?

No. The plumbing contractor must arrange all plumbing and gas inspections; Hudson does not take those requests from homeowners.

What does a HIST permit number in OpenGov mean?

It is an old paper permit imported into the system. Its complete status does not prove it passed inspection; the property file has to be checked.

Does Hudson use the Specialized energy code?

Not yet. The Stretch code has applied since January 1, 2020; a Specialized code bylaw effective July 1, 2027 is proposed for the November 16, 2026 Special Town Meeting.

Is Hudson considering a data center moratorium?

The November 16, 2026 warrant proposes (Article 7) a temporary zoning moratorium on data center facilities through December 31, 2027; it takes effect only if Town Meeting adopts it.

How far must a shed be from the property line in Hudson?

A detached structure keeps 30 feet from the front lot line, 10 feet from the sides and 3 feet from the rear, under the town’s residential setbacks.

Do I need a permit to pave my driveway?

Not a building permit, but work in the public right-of-way needs a DPW permit, and zoning limits how much can be paved and where.

Simplify Hudson permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Massachusetts. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hudson permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.