Lebanon, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

In Lebanon, building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the city’s Planning and Development Department (51 N. Park St., 603-448-1524), and applications are filed and paid in the OpenGov online portal. A one- or two-family project over $5,000 pays $75 plus $6 per $1,000 of total cost plus 5%, and the city allows at least 14 days for the first review of a residential application.

What requires a permit in Lebanon?

Lebanon requires a city building permit for work covered by the New Hampshire State Building Code, and the city’s own code adds one more: on detached one- and two-family lots, fences higher than 3.5 feet that are within 15 feet of a street right-of-way. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each have their own permit, and smaller items such as sheds go through a zoning permit.

Zoning permits also cover changes of occupancy, home businesses, signs, and keeping chickens or bees.

Who issues building permits in Lebanon?

The City of Lebanon’s Planning and Development Department handles building permits throughout the city, including West Lebanon; Grafton County does not issue building permits. Under City Code Chapter 36, the city’s Building Inspector issues building permits and certificates of use and occupancy and carries out inspections, and service installations are inspected by the Lebanon Electrical Inspector. Tim Corwin is the Interim Planning and Development Director. The Planning Board reviews all new construction other than one- and two-family homes.

Applying in OpenGov

Lebanon takes permit applications through OpenGov Permitting and Licensing. Create an account once (Sign Up, then verify the email address), and use the personal dashboard to continue applications, upload documents, pay, check status, message staff and schedule inspections. The same account works in any community that uses OpenGov. The city’s permit guides cover residential structures, commercial structures, decks, pools, solar arrays, sheds and garages, minor repairs, and the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and demolition permits.

Before applying, have the site plan and a materials list ready. A complete residential application includes:

• A to-scale site plan showing existing and proposed structures and their distance to each property line.
• A materials list: joist and rafter spans, bedroom window sizes for emergency escape, handrails and guards, insulation R-values, foundation drainage and similar details.
• The state Residential Energy Code Application (EC-1).
• Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical applications from the licensed trades, which are added to the building project.

Plans must carry a licensed architect’s seal except for one- or two-family detached homes and buildings of 2½ stories or less and 4,000 sq ft or less that are not assembly buildings and are not framed in reinforced concrete or structural steel. Homeowners doing their own work in a single-family home they live in must have a pre-permit meeting with a city building official before a permit is issued.

Since 2024, permit records can be searched in the OpenGov public portal by address, parcel or record number; older permit logs from 2015 to May 9, 2024 remain online as PDFs.

Lebanon building permit fees

Building permit fees are set by City Code § 36-3, last amended by the City Council on December 1, 2021 (Ordinance 2021-17); the city’s fee schedule handout was last updated on April 30, 2024. Fees are due when the application is submitted, and a 5% charge for Fire Department and Public Works review and inspection is added to every base fee.

The city’s own example: a $10,000 residential project costs $60 plus the $75 filing fee, or $135, plus 5% ($6.75), for a total of $141.75; the same project as commercial work comes to $194.25. On the same basis, a $300,000 new house would pay $1,875 plus $93.75, or $1,968.75. “Total cost” is approved by the Building Inspector and includes all labor, materials, trade, fire protection, finish and site preparation work for the building, but not on-site water and wastewater utilities. A residential shed that only needs a zoning permit costs $31.

Work started before the permit is issued raises the fee by 25% for a company’s or person’s first offense, 50% for the second and 100% after that. Refunds must be requested in writing within one year of issue and are capped at 50% of the fee.

Impact fees (adopted by the Planning Board on May 20, 2024) are charged per square foot of gross living area: $5.18 for a single-family detached house ($3.12 schools, $0.98 recreation, $0.40 police and $0.68 fire) and $4.78 for other housing units. Non-residential rates per square foot of gross floor area range from $0.41 for industrial and warehouse uses to $1.59 for retail, restaurants and lodging.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate applications filed in OpenGov by the licensed contractor and linked to the building project. An electrical application needs an electrical drawing or plan set; an as-built plan can be supplied at the final inspection, but a plan is required before the certificate of completion or occupancy. For a temporary or permanent service, the electrician also needs a work request number from Liberty Utilities (800-375-7413), which can take 24 to 48 hours, and the Lebanon Electrical Inspector must inspect the service before it is energized. Underground and under-slab wiring and all new wiring are inspected before they are covered, and the electrician who did the work must be on site at the final inspection.

Owners may do their own electrical work in a single-family home that is their primary residence and that they occupy, after the pre-permit meeting.

A Fire Code permit application is also required for residential and commercial structures and is submitted directly to the Lebanon Fire Department, which also issues fire protection system permits. The Fire Department inspects underground fuel tanks and piping before backfilling.

Other approvals that go with a Lebanon permit

• Driveway permit from Public Works for a new, expanded or changed driveway in the city right-of-way; the city suggests applying early.
• Excavation permit from Public Works if the project digs into a city street, sidewalk or right-of-way.
• Pole license for utility poles in the right-of-way, which needs notice and approval by city boards.
• Sewer use allocation and the water and sprinkler service permit for new connections.
• Intent to Cut filed with the Assessing Office when trees are being cleared, depending on the number and size of trees.
• Planning Board approval for any new construction other than a one- or two-family home.

How to get a Lebanon building permit

Lebanon inspections

City Code § 36-8 requires inspections to be scheduled 48 hours in advance; requests with less notice go to the next available slot, and the Building Inspector sets the time of day. The residential permit guide asks for at least 24 hours’ notice for routine inspections and four or five days for the final. Inspections can be scheduled through the OpenGov portal.

For a residential structure the city lists these inspections:

• Footings, forms and reinforcement before concrete is poured, with the lot pins in place so the setbacks can be checked
• Foundation insulation, waterproofing and drainage before backfilling
• Underground fuel tanks and piping, by the Fire Department, before backfilling
• Rough framing, electrical and plumbing before they are covered
• Final inspection of plumbing, heating, electrical and any other code items

After the final, the owner or applicant requests the Certificate of Occupancy; no building may be used until it is issued. Where the property has a septic system, the NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau must approve its operation first.

Local Lebanon details

Sheds: a residential shed of 200 sq ft or less needs a zoning permit ($31) rather than a building permit. Sheds of 130 sq ft or less may sit 5 feet from the side and rear lot lines but must meet the front setback; larger ones meet all setbacks. After the permit is issued, call Planning and Development to book the setback inspection.

Street-side fences: on one- and two-family lots, a fence over 3.5 feet high within 15 feet of a street right-of-way needs a building permit even though most fences up to 7 feet do not.

Building code appeals: the city has its own Building Code Board of Appeals.

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

Lebanon building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Lebanon, NH?

The City of Lebanon Planning and Development Department at City Hall, 51 N. Park St., 5th Floor (603-448-1524), open Monday to Thursday.

How much is a building permit in Lebanon?

For a one- or two-family project over $5,000, $75 plus $6 per $1,000 of total cost, plus 5%; a $10,000 job comes to $141.75. Multi-family and commercial work is $110 plus $7.50 per $1,000, plus 5%.

How long does a Lebanon building permit take?

Allow at least 14 days for the first review of a complete application; incomplete applications take longer.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Lebanon?

A residential shed of 200 sq ft or less needs a $31 zoning permit, not a building permit; larger sheds and garages need a building permit.

Are there impact fees on a new house?

Yes. The 2024 schedule charges $5.18 per square foot of gross living area for a single-family detached house.

How much notice do inspections need?

The city code requires 48 hours; book the final four or five days ahead.

Can I do my own electrical work?

Yes, in a single-family home that is your primary residence and that you live in, after a pre-permit meeting with a city building official.

Official Lebanon permitting resources

• NH Department of Environmental Services
• New Hampshire State Building Code statute (RSA 155-A)
• Lebanon Planning and Development Department
• Lebanon building permit resources and OpenGov account setup
• Lebanon: do I need a permit?
• Lebanon residential building permit guide
• Lebanon Building Permit Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Lebanon City Code § 36-3, building permit fees
• Lebanon Impact Fee Schedule 2024 (PDF)
• Lebanon Ordinance 2026-10, adopted October 7, 2026, fee changes from January 1, 2027 (PDF)
• Lebanon building permit log and OpenGov record search

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