Worcester County’s government was abolished as of July 1, 1998, so no county office issues building permits; each of its 60 cities and towns handles its own. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the four most populous are Worcester (213,862), Leominster (44,194), Fitchburg (42,136) and Shrewsbury (39,627).
This guide covers the building departments of Worcester, Leominster, Fitchburg and Shrewsbury.
What requires a building permit in Worcester 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.
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
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Worcester County?
| City or town | Building office | Contact and hours |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | Building and Zoning, Inspectional Services, 25 Meade Street | 508-799-1198; Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Leominster | Building Department, City Hall, 25 West Street, Room 8 | 978-534-7500; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7 am to 4 pm, Thursday 7 am to 5:30 pm |
| Fitchburg | Building Department, City Hall, 718 Main St., STE 201B | 978-829-1880; inspectors at their desks 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Monday through Friday |
| Shrewsbury | Building Inspector, Town Hall, 100 Maple Avenue | (508) 841-8512; by appointment, Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 9:00 am and 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm, Friday 8:00 am - 9:00 am |
Local rules in the largest Worcester County municipalities
Worcester
Building and Zoning also issues plumbing, gas, electrical and sheet metal permits, and inspectors are generally available 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Applications need the property owner’s original (not digital) signature, a Worker’s Compensation Affidavit and payment by check only. The thirty-day review clock does not start until all documentation and fees are in, and the department does not keep incomplete applications. New construction and additions need a plot plan, plans, water/sewer or septic/well approval, a HERS or ResCheck report and a Solid Waste Disposal Affidavit.
Fitchburg
Building, plumbing and gas permits are preferably filed on OpenGov, though paper applications are still accepted.
Shrewsbury
The Building Inspector’s office has used an online permitting system since September of 2011.
Worcester County permit costs and fees
- Worcester: a $50 administrative fee on applications submitted over the counter or by mail (since January 1, 2022); working without proper permits brings a fine of $500.00 for residential or $1000.00 for commercial properties on top of the permit fee.
- Shrewsbury: $12 per $1,000 of construction value (minimum $50), set at Town Meeting on May 19, 2025; re-inspections $50; plumbing or gas work done without a permit is fined $100.
- Fitchburg: building department fees were updated as of April 14, 2026 (Petition No 023-26); ask the department for the new schedule.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in Worcester County
Each of the 60 municipalities issues its own permits.
Worcester adds a $50 administrative fee to applications submitted over the counter or by mail; Fitchburg prefers OpenGov; Shrewsbury permits online.
Original owner signature, Worker’s Compensation Affidavit, check payment and all documents, or the clock does not start.
In Worcester, Building and Zoning issues plumbing, gas, electrical and sheet metal permits.
During each office’s set inspector hours.
Inspections in Worcester County
Worcester inspectors are generally available 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Fitchburg inspectors can be reached at their desks 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Monday through Friday. Shrewsbury charges $50 for a re-inspection.
Rather not deal with the Worcester County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Worcester County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- M.G.L. c. 34B, s. 1 (abolition of county government)
- Worcester Building and Zoning
- Leominster Building Department
- Fitchburg Building and Zoning
- Shrewsbury Building Inspector
- Shrewsbury permitting fees
Frequently asked questions
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Does Worcester County issue building permits?
No. Its government was abolished as of July 1, 1998; each city or town issues its own.
Does Worcester charge extra for paper applications?
Yes, a $50 administrative fee for applications submitted over the counter or by mail.
How can I pay for a Leominster building permit?
By check only, with the owner’s original signature and a Worker’s Compensation Affidavit.
Simplify Worcester 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
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →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.
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More Massachusetts permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Worcester County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.