Hanover, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

In Hanover, the town’s Planning, Zoning & Codes Department issues building permits, and one online application covers zoning, building and every trade for the project. Under the FY2027 rate schedule adopted on June 15, 2026, new living space in a one- or two-family home costs $100 plus $0.75 per square foot, with a $150 minimum, and the town has 30 days to review a complete one- or two-family application.

What requires a permit in Hanover?

Before any building or structure is built or altered in Hanover, the property owner must get a building permit from the Planning, Zoning & Codes office. Hanover permits by building type rather than by trade, so electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is listed on the same application as the building work.

The permit application covers both zoning and building, and the town stresses that work exempt from a building permit is not exempt from zoning. A small shed, for example, may still need a zoning permit ($50 when only zoning applies).

Who issues building permits in Hanover?

The Town of Hanover’s Planning, Zoning & Codes Department reviews and issues zoning and building permits for the whole town and keeps the records of all building inspections; Grafton County does not issue building permits. Ryan Borkowski is the Building Official and Health Officer, and Jennifer Murray is the Director of Planning, Zoning & Codes.

The town’s 2023 Building Code Adopting Ordinance, which sets local administration such as blanket permits, amendments and appeals, is being updated to reflect recent changes in state law.

Applying in Hanover’s online portal

Hanover requires online permitting for building work. Pick the application for the building type (one- or two-family, or commercial, multi-family and condominium), then fill in each section; every section has a No or N/A option, and the page times out if left idle too long. The town’s 2026 companion guide walks through the one- and two-family form field by field.

• Property and owner: find the parcel by address or tax map number; the owner’s name must match the tax records on the town’s GIS map.
• Contractor: only contractors registered in the town’s system appear; otherwise choose “Property Owner”.
• Fire Department review: say whether the job adds or changes sprinklers, other fire suppression or fire alarm devices.
• Deferred submissions: list items to be sent later; structural elements cannot be deferred, and deferred work cannot start until its plans are approved.
• Trades: electrical and plumbing work lists the responsible master licence.
• Energy code: upload the New Hampshire EC-1 form for projects it applies to.

Separate online applications cover amendments to an approved permit (needed for any change in building location, footprint, structure, exits, life safety or significant trade changes), demolition, septic design, signs and awnings, and temporary construction controls. Accessory dwelling unit applications are still filed on paper. Building and zoning permit applications received since May 2020 can be searched in the town’s online permit database.

Blanket permits are limited to owners who employ licensed architectural or engineering staff and maintenance staff: one permit, filed monthly, covers small jobs such as up to 10 device or outlet changes, up to 6 new drainage fixture units, mechanical work for up to 300 sq ft or general construction up to 500 sq ft with no structural or life safety work.

Hanover building permit fees (FY2027)

Hanover’s Selectboard sets fees in the annual Schedule of Rates and Fees. The FY2027 schedule, adopted on June 15, 2026, covers July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and it raised the minimum permit fee from $100 to $150.

For example, a new house with 2,000 sq ft of finished dwelling space costs $100 plus 2,000 × $0.75, or $1,600, for the building permit. Other FY2027 charges include $100 for a temporary construction controls permit, $100 per project for a blanket permit, $150 to reinstate a suspended building permit (reinstating the zoning permit is a separate, additional fee) and $150 to resubmit a rejected application (after six months a new application is needed). If the applicant asks for expedited review, or the Building Official sends a project out for third-party review, the applicant also pays the consultant’s cost.

Trade work and fire permits in Hanover

Because Hanover permits by building type, the electrical, plumbing and mechanical work for a project goes on the same building permit application, with the responsible master licence listed. For one- and two-family projects the town may ask for electrical plans showing lights, switches, receptacles, services and feeders, plumbing fixtures on the floor plans with a riser diagram of drains and vents, and heating system data with venting details; small kitchen and bathroom renovations can often use a written description of the work instead. Commercial and multi-family projects often need plans from a registered architect or engineer, covering architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire alarm, fire suppression and site work.

The Hanover Fire Department issues its own permits for installing gas or oil appliances: $85 for a stand-alone installation or replacement, $25 for each additional appliance and $120 for a re-inspection under FY2027 rates. LP gas and oil-burning equipment applications are filed in the same online portal, and the Fire Department publishes sprinkler regulations.

What to submit for a Hanover home project

How to get a building permit in Hanover

Hanover inspections and occupancy

Inspections and appointments are booked with the Planning, Zoning & Codes office by phone (603-643-0708) or email. The owner or the owner’s agent must book an inspection before any work is covered, and must uncover work on request if it was covered first. Missing a scheduled inspection can bring a fee, and if work goes ahead without the required inspections the Building Official suspends the permit until it is reinstated ($150, plus a separate fee to reinstate the zoning permit).

A building with a permit may not be used or occupied until the department issues a Certificate of Occupancy/Completion, which also requires compliance with zoning, subdivision and site plan approvals. A partial or temporary certificate can be issued for up to 30 days, and a life safety inspection to allow occupancy before the full certificate costs $100, paid before it is scheduled. Re-inspections and additional inspections are $75 each.

Local Hanover details

Combined zoning and building review: one application covers both, so exempt building work and changes to an approved permit still go through the department.

Public hearings: from July 1, 2026, the notification fee for applications that need abutter notices is $36.04 per name on the notification list.

Other town permits: Public Works issues excavation and curb cut permits, the Water Department handles new or modified services, and the town’s noise ordinance can limit construction days and times.

Permit records: the online permit database shows building and zoning applications received from May 2020; for older files, email the Planning Department.

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

Hanover building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Hanover, NH?

The Town of Hanover Planning, Zoning & Codes Department at Town Hall, 41 South Main Street (603-643-0708). Ryan Borkowski is the Building Official.

How much does a building permit cost in Hanover?

For a one- or two-family home, $100 plus $0.75 per sq ft of finished dwelling space or additions, or $0.50 per sq ft for renovations and non-habitable structures, with a $150 minimum. Commercial and multi-family work is $100 plus $6 per $1,000 of construction cost.

Do I need separate electrical and plumbing permits in Hanover?

No. Hanover permits by building type, so all trades go on one application; gas and oil appliance installations also need a Fire Department permit.

Do I need a permit for a shed or deck?

A detached one-story shed up to 400 sq ft, or a detached deck up to 200 sq ft and 30 inches high that does not serve a required exit, needs no building permit, but zoning rules still apply and a zoning permit may be required.

How long does Hanover take to review a permit?

Up to 30 days for a complete one- or two-family application and 60 days for commercial, multi-family and condominium projects.

Which building code does Hanover enforce?

New Hampshire’s State Building Code, which moved to the 2024 International Building and Residential Codes on July 1, 2026 alongside the 2018 energy code and 2023 National Electrical Code; until December 31, 2026 an applicant may file under the 2021 code set instead, without mixing the two.

Official Hanover permitting resources

• NH Department of Environmental Services
• New Hampshire State Building Code statute (RSA 155-A)
• Hanover applications and online permitting
• Hanover Building Code office
• Hanover Planning, Zoning & Codes Department
• Hanover Schedule of Rates and Fees FY2027, adopted June 15, 2026 (PDF)
• Hanover 1–2 Family Project Permit Companion Guide, 2026 (PDF)
• Hanover Building Code Adopting Ordinance, 2023 (PDF)
• Hanover online permit database

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