Durham, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

Durham’s Building Inspector (Code Enforcement, 8 Newmarket Road, 603-868-8064) issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire protection permits for the town. A one- or two-family project pays $50 plus $7 per $1,000 of construction cost, due before plan review starts, and a complete application is generally approved in a week to ten days.

What requires a building permit in Durham?

Durham requires a building permit for most construction and renovation work. The building application also covers fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems, and separate permits are needed for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating or air conditioning work, signs and driveway access.

A shed that meets those limits still needs a Building Permit Application so the town can check the zoning setbacks, at no charge.

Who issues building permits in Durham?

The Town of Durham’s Building Inspector issues building permits for the town and carries out every inspection except electrical, which is done by Durham’s Electrical Inspector. Audrey Cline, CBO, is the Building Inspector. Strafford County does not issue building permits.

Durham permit applications

Durham posts its applications as downloadable forms on the Code Enforcement Permit Application Forms page:

• Building Permit Application (updated August 1, 2025), also used for fire alarm (IBC Section 907) and fire sprinkler (IBC Section 903) permits. It splits the cost of the work into building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other, and includes an Owner’s Statement of Understanding on parking limits and short-term rentals.
• Electrical Permit Application, signed by a master electrician; a journeyman needs a letter from the master electrician to pull a permit.
• Plumbing, Gas, Mechanical, Fire and Septic Permit Application (updated December 17, 2025).
• Residential Energy Code Application and Checklist.
• Demolition, Driveway and Change in Commercial Tenant applications.
• Transfer of Building Permit: an issued permit cannot be assigned, so a new owner uses this form.
• Home Occupation, Short-Term Rental, Sign, Sidewalk Cafe, Outdoor Display, Special Events and Street Vending applications.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits must be taken out by New Hampshire master-licensed contractors, or by the owner when the owner does the work.

Durham building permit fees

Durham’s building construction permit and inspection fees took effect on December 16, 2025. The permit fee is paid before the permit is issued and before plan review begins, and the town asks applicants not to round the fee up.

LP and natural gas piping carries neither the Building Department fee nor a Fire Department fee. For example, a $200,000 addition to a single-family home costs $50 plus 200 × $7, or $1,450, for the building permit. If the homeowner supplies the labor, the fee is figured on twice the cost of the materials; where the owner and the Building Official disagree, the Building Official uses the International Code Council’s Building Valuation Data. If a permit is withdrawn, the town keeps 20% of the fee.

School impact fee: a new single-family house pays $3,699. The fee applies to new dwelling units on vacant lots or where the number of units on a lot increases, is assessed automatically when the building permit is issued and must be paid before the Certificate of Occupancy; fees for other housing types come from the Administrative Assistant.

Electrical, plumbing, gas and fire permits in Durham

Trade work is permitted through Durham’s own applications. The electrical permit is inspected by the town’s Electrical Inspector, and a temporary service is listed on the electrical form at $10. Plumbing, gas, mechanical, fire and septic work share one application, and the town publishes a separate plumbing ordinance for properties on town water and an electrical ordinance for Durham.

Fire alarm and sprinkler systems are permitted on the building permit application; a sprinkled structure needs approval from both the Department of Public Works and the Durham Fire Department. Adding bedrooms, bathrooms or kitchens also needs Public Works approval.

Septic systems are handled in steps: the town inspects the test pits and the bed bottom, the NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau inspects the installation and approves the system, and the town makes the final inspection once the area is loamed and seeded. A new house cannot be occupied until NHDES has approved the septic system for operation.

Documents for a Durham building permit

Once everything required has been submitted, a building permit generally takes a week to ten days, up to two weeks in summer and up to four weeks for large residential projects.

How to apply for a Durham building permit

Durham inspections and certificate of occupancy

Inspections are done on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., booked first come, first served by calling 603-868-8064. The town’s inspection guidelines ask for at least two working days’ notice and allow three working days to carry out an inspection. Work covered with insulation or wall material before it is inspected must be opened up at the contractor’s expense.

The guidelines list the main stages: footing locations certified by a licensed surveyor before construction starts; the foundation after drains and damp-proofing and before backfill; basement and garage slab preparation before the pour; structural framing, ideally at the same visit as rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical; plumbing air or water tests; insulation before walls are covered; and pools and the septic bed bottom on site.

A building may be occupied only after the Building Inspector issues a Certificate of Occupancy. For a new building or major renovation, the town’s checklist includes: NHDES approval for operation of the septic system with a state-certified lab test of a private well (and the well driller’s mechanical permit), or Public Works approval of the sewer and water tie-ins, Public Works engineering and Tree Warden approvals, a backflow test report, a 911 address from the Fire Department, final trade inspections and a gas pressure test, the residential energy code application and a blower door test, the surveyor’s foundation certification when requested, Fire Marshal approval and payment of all fees.

A permit becomes void if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days.

Local Durham details

Short-term rentals: overnight room rentals and rentals of less than 30 days need a permit from the Zoning Administrator, and the town asks owners to contact it before advertising.

Parking: in the Residence A and Residence B districts, no more than three vehicles may be parked regularly on a residential lot unless the owner shows they belong to lawful occupants, and parking areas must be graded, stabilized and clearly marked.

Construction debris: the applicant or contractor must remove and dispose of it; it may not be left out for Public Works trash pickup.

Building guides: the town’s supporting documents include a deck construction guide, egress window rules, a table of dimensions, a solar ordinance and historic district information.

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

Durham building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Durham, NH?

The Town of Durham Building Inspector at 8 Newmarket Road (603-868-8064); electrical work is inspected by the town’s Electrical Inspector.

How much is a building permit in Durham?

For one- and two-family homes, $50 plus $7 per $1,000 of construction cost; multi-family and commercial projects pay $100 plus $10 per $1,000. The fee is due before plan review.

How long does a Durham building permit take?

Generally a week to ten days once everything is submitted, up to two weeks in summer and up to four weeks for large residential projects.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Durham?

Not if it is one of no more than two accessory buildings, 200 sq ft or less, 14 feet high or less, unheated and without water or sewer, and meets the setbacks. You still submit a Building Permit Application for a free zoning setback review.

Is there an impact fee for a new house?

Yes. A new single-family house pays a $3,699 school impact fee, which must be paid before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

When are inspections done?

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; call 603-868-8064 to get on the schedule.

Can a homeowner pull electrical or plumbing permits in Durham?

Yes, when the owner does the work. Otherwise trade permits are taken out by New Hampshire master-licensed contractors.

Official Durham permitting resources

• NH Department of Environmental Services
• New Hampshire Building Code — RSA 155-A
• Durham Code Enforcement permit application forms
• Durham Building office
• Durham building permit and inspection fees, effective December 16, 2025
• Durham Building Permit Application, updated August 1, 2025 (PDF)
• Durham Building Permit Requirements Checklist (PDF)
• Durham inspection scheduling
• Durham Building Inspection Guidelines (PDF)
• Durham Certificate of Occupancy Checklist (PDF)
• Durham accessory buildings that do not need a building permit (PDF)
• Durham application information and supporting documents

Simplify Durham permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New Hampshire. 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 Durham permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.