Norfolk County, Massachusetts Building Permit Guide

Unlike most Massachusetts counties, Norfolk County still has a county government, with offices at 614 High Street, Dedham (781-461-6105), but it does not issue building permits; each of its communities does. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the four most populous are Quincy (103,173), Brookline (63,414), Weymouth (59,759) and Braintree (38,957).

This guide covers the building offices of those four communities and the County Engineering Department’s role on county highways.

What requires a building permit in Norfolk County?

The State Building Code draws the same line in every Massachusetts city and town: ordinary repairs need no permit, while work that constructs, alters, repairs, removes or demolishes a building, or changes its use or occupancy, needs one from the local building official.

In Weymouth, retaining walls (4 ft), driveways and fences under 7 ft need Conservation review near wetlands even without a building permit.

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

Who handles permitting in Norfolk County?

The county’s site lists 28 communities: Avon, Bellingham, Braintree, Brookline, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Franklin, Holbrook, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Milton, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Quincy, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Wellesley, Westwood, Weymouth and Wrentham. The Norfolk District Attorney’s page on mass.gov says twenty-seven cities and towns; the two official lists differ, so confirm with the town.

County highways: the Norfolk County Engineering Department, 649 High Street, Dedham (781-461-6128), handles the layout, relocation and discontinuance of county highways and surveys and plans for rights of way; check with it when a project abuts a county highway layout.

Local rules in Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth and Braintree

Quincy

The Building Department has converted all its permits to online permits. Inspectional Services runs free building, zoning and conservation clinics for homeowners every Thursday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the DPW Complex, 55 Sea Street, with no appointment needed.

Brookline

All building, plumbing, gas, electrical, sprinkler and mechanical permits are filed on the Accela online portal. Applications with fire protection systems under 780 CMR Chapters 4, 9 or 34 must also be filed with the Brookline Fire Department for review.

Weymouth

Structural applications (new buildings, renovations, demolition, solar) go directly to the Building Inspector during the 7:30 am to 9 am office hours.

Braintree

Online permits use PermitEyes. The Building Division also enforces the conditions set by the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission on approved projects.

Norfolk County permit costs and fees

• Brookline: $21 per $1,000 of estimated cost from July 1, 2026, with specific exceptions, as announced on the Building Department’s page.
• Weymouth: single-family $10 per thousand of construction value, $50 minimum; all other building permits $20 per thousand, $100 minimum.

How to get a building permit in Norfolk County

Inspections in Norfolk County

In Weymouth, inspections are requested directly with the inspector weekdays between 7:30 am and 9 am.

Official Norfolk County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Norfolk County communities
• Norfolk County Engineering Department
• Quincy Building Department
• Brookline Building Department
• Weymouth building permit information
• Braintree Building Division

Frequently asked questions

Does Norfolk County issue building permits?

No. The county government still exists, in Dedham, but each community issues its own building permits.

What does a Brookline building permit cost?

$21 per $1,000 of estimated cost from July 1, 2026, with specific exceptions.

Is there free permit help in Quincy?

Yes: building, zoning and conservation clinics every Thursday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 55 Sea Street, no appointment needed.

Simplify Norfolk County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which city or town building department has the address and how it takes applications
• Prepare the building application and construction documents, plus the trade and local approvals that go with them
• Track the review, schedule inspections and close out the permit with the city or town

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 Norfolk County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.