In Conway, including villages such as North Conway and Center Conway, building permits come from the Town’s Building Inspection & Code Enforcement office at Town Hall, 23 Main Street (603-447-3811, ext. 223), and are applied for online through Cloudpermit. A house or addition costs a $75 base fee plus $0.45 per square foot; apply at least 30 days before work starts, because starting without a permit can bring fines of up to $275 a day.
What requires a building permit in Conway?
Chapter 23 of the Conway Code, last amended at the April 8, 2025 Town Meeting, sets out when a building permit is needed:
Permit needed
- Any structural change, addition or alteration, or work that may affect a building’s structural capacity
- Any expansion of a building’s footprint, whatever its size or cost
- Residential improvements costing more than $1,500 per structure per year (if the owner does the work, the value is double the cost of materials)
- Every improvement to a commercial structure, regardless of value
- Moving a building
- Demolition
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, on separate applications
No building permit
- Fences: the Town does not regulate them
- Residential work under the $1,500 threshold that does not change the structure or footprint
A certificate of occupancy is required before using a building that needed a building permit or whose use changes or expands. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations and non-occupiable structures may need a certificate of completion instead.
Who issues permits in Conway?
The Building Inspection & Code Enforcement office handles building, fire, health and zoning inspections for the Town. Jeremy Gibbs is the Building Inspector. Permits are issued by the Selectmen or their agent under Chapter 23, and every contractor must be registered with the Town before working in Conway; registration is free.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Building Inspection & Code Enforcement, Town Hall |
| Address | 23 Main Street (PO Box 2680), Conway, NH 03818 |
| Phone | 603-447-3811, ext. 223 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Apply | Cloudpermit online portal |
Changes of use or tenancy and site expansions that do not go to the Planning Board need a separate zoning permit. The Zoning Board of Adjustment acts as Conway’s Building Code Board of Appeals.
Conway permit applications
Since 2025 residents and contractors apply online through Cloudpermit, where they can follow the approval status and required inspections; the office issued 734 permits that year. The Town’s Documents page also posts the paper forms:
- Residential Building Permit Application and Commercial Building Permit Application (both marked rev. 2024). The commercial form applies to any construction activity, whether or not the footprint changes.
- Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Applications; the mechanical form asks for the installer’s NH gas fitter licence.
- Contractor Registration form.
- Demo Permit Requirements: owner’s signature, a certified agency’s letter that asbestos and lead have been identified and abated, proof that utilities, septic and fuel tanks are disconnected or emptied, the disposal site and the site safety measures.
- Zoning Permit for small undertakings such as a change of use, an accessory dwelling unit, a home occupation or an expansion of up to 1,000 sq ft.
- Septic System Application, Driveway Permit Application and Construction/Excavation Permit Application for work on Town roads or property.
Conway permit fees
Chapter 23 leaves the amount of the nonrefundable building permit fee to Town Meeting and requires cost estimates to at least match the latest Marshall Valuation Service figures held by the Assessor. The Town’s current application forms (rev. 2024) charge:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| House, addition, finished basement, attic or loft, porch, deck, in-ground pool, garage, barn or shed | $75 base fee + $0.45 per sq ft |
| Commercial building permit | $75 + $12 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost |
| Permit renewal | $75 on or before the expiration date, $150 after it |
| Electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit for a home | $75 each |
| Commercial electrical, plumbing or gas piping permit | $75 + $12 per $1,000 of estimated installation cost |
| Town septic system design review | $15 |
| Driveway permit (Town road) | $100 application fee, plus a surety of the cost of the work or $2,000, whichever is greater |
| Construction/excavation permit on Town roads or property | $100 application fee, plus a surety of the cost of the work or $5,000, whichever is greater |
| Contractor registration | No fee |
| Rental property certificate, one- or two-family | $50 for 2 years |
| Rental property certificate, multifamily | $50 base fee plus $25 per rental unit |
For example, a two-story house with 1,000 sq ft on each floor pays the $75 base fee plus 2,000 × $0.45 = $900, a total of $975 before any trade, driveway or septic fees. Starting before a permit is issued can bring a cease and desist order, removal of materials and fines of up to $275 a day; a conviction under Chapter 23 carries a $275 fine for a first offense and $550 for later ones.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in Conway
The Building Department issues electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits on separate applications, listing the estimated cost of the installation. For a home each costs $75; for commercial work, electrical, plumbing and gas piping permits cost $75 plus $12 per $1,000 of the installation’s estimated cost. The electrical form names the NH master electrician, and the mechanical form, which covers gas appliances, propane tanks, furnaces, boilers and water heaters, names the NH gas fitter licence holder. The owner, the contractor or an authorized agent can apply.
The residential application also needs the Fire Chief’s signature, and for commercial and multifamily (three or more units) buildings one set of plans goes to the Building Inspector and one to the Fire Chief having jurisdiction.
How to get a building permit in Conway (6 steps)
The Town asks applicants to contact the Building Inspector before applying to learn what extra items the project needs, and to read the Zoning and Building Permit Ordinances.
A Town or State driveway permit, the NHDES septic Approval for Construction, a Shoreland permit for a footprint change within 250 ft of a water body over 10 acres (including the Saco and Swift Rivers), any ZBA variance and, on a Class VI or private road, the recorded waiver of liability.
For a house: a to-scale plot plan with distances to lot lines and buffers, a foundation plan, framing plans, one elevation per side and an insulation plan or EC-1 form. The application says roofs must withstand a ground snow load of at least 90 lb/sq ft and a 115 mph design wind speed.
Submit at least 30 days before the project starts, with one full set of plans as PDF and hard copy and an energy compliance letter that includes REScheck.
The permit is signed off by the Fire Chief and Building Official and, where they apply, by Kearsarge Lighting, the water and sewer precinct, and the driveway, subdivision, site plan and shoreline approvals.
Follow inspections in Cloudpermit and obtain the certificate of occupancy or completion before use. Permits expire when the project is complete or after one year.
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Get a free quote →Conway inspections
The office carries out building, fire, health and zoning inspections, and applicants can see the status of required inspections in Cloudpermit; certificates of occupancy and compliance are issued electronically. The Assessing Office also visits construction sites to check permits.
Local Conway details
Septic systems: a new or upgraded septic design needs Town approval before it goes to the State. The Town review costs $15, plans are reviewed within seven days, and the plan must show all water bodies within 125 ft of the system. Construction approval itself comes from the NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau.
Rentals: the Town re-established its rental program in 2025. A one- or two-family rental certificate costs $50 for two years and can use the owner’s self-affidavit; multifamily permits are reviewed and inspected by the Fire Chief.
Code editions: the Town’s building page and its “Codes Being Enforced” sheet (August 2024) still name the 2021 codes. Since July 1, 2026 the New Hampshire State Building Code has been the 2024 IBC and IRC with the 2018 IECC and 2023 NEC, and applicants may use the 2021 set instead only for applications filed through December 31, 2026.
New Hampshire building code
Every building in New Hampshire must meet the state building and fire codes (the 2024 codes since July 2026). Only towns that have adopted an enforcement mechanism issue local permits, and any local amendment must be administrative and confirmed by the state. New Hampshire rules
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Get a free quote →Conway building permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Conway and North Conway?
The Town of Conway’s Building Inspection & Code Enforcement office at Town Hall, 23 Main Street (603-447-3811, ext. 223). North Conway and the other villages are part of the Town.
Can I apply for a Conway building permit online?
Yes. Since 2025 applications go through Cloudpermit, where you can also track approval and inspections.
Do I need a permit to renovate in Conway?
For a home, yes if the work changes the structure or footprint or costs more than $1,500 per structure per year; owner labor is valued at double the materials. Every improvement to a commercial building needs a permit.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Conway?
No. The Town does not require building permits for fences.
How far ahead should I apply?
At least 30 days before the project starts. Starting early can bring a cease and desist order and fines of up to $275 a day.
How much is a building permit in Conway?
For a house, addition, garage, deck or similar project, a $75 base fee plus $0.45 per square foot; a 2,000 sq ft house comes to $975. Commercial permits are $75 plus $12 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost.
What do trade permits cost in Conway?
$75 each for electrical, plumbing or mechanical work on a home; commercial electrical, plumbing and gas piping permits are $75 plus $12 per $1,000 of the installation’s estimated cost.
Official Conway permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Conway Building Inspection & Code Enforcement
- Cloudpermit online permit portal
- Conway documents: building, trade, driveway and zoning applications
- Conway Residential Building Permit Application (PDF)
- Conway Commercial Building Permit Application (PDF)
- Conway Code Chapter 23, Article IV, Building Code
- Conway Septic System Application (PDF)
- NH Department of Environmental Services
- New Hampshire State Building Code, RSA 155-A
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More New Hampshire permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Conway permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.