Strafford County, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

Strafford County has no building department. All 13 of its municipalities, the cities of Dover, Rochester and Somersworth and the towns of Barrington, Durham, Farmington, Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Rollinsford and Strafford, issue their own building permits through a local building inspector or code enforcement office. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are Dover (34,623), Rochester (33,716), Durham (15,346) and Somersworth (12,171).

This guide lists every city and town in Strafford County with its permit office, phone and, where published, its fees. Dover and Rochester also have their own guides: Dover building permits and Rochester building permits.

What requires a building permit in Strafford County?

There are no county building rules, and the municipalities’ own lists of what needs a permit differ:

• Somersworth treats all work as needing a permit unless the code office says otherwise, naming fences, roofing, windows and doors, sheds, water heaters and furnaces among others.
• Farmington does not require a permit for roofing, siding, exact-size window and door replacements, sheds under 120 square feet, fences of 7 feet or less, or retaining walls under 4 feet.
• Middleton lists siding, roofing, sheds over 120 square feet, fences and walls over 42 inches, and insulation replacement over 200 square feet among the projects that need one.
• Rollinsford exempts only a yard fence and painting, repair or maintenance of an existing structure costing less than $2,500.
• Rochester permits expire one year from the issue date, and renewal means reapplying and paying again.

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

Who handles permitting in Strafford County?

Every city and town in the county issues its own building permits through a local office:

Local rules town by town

Dover

The Division of Inspection Services has moved to 269 Mast Road, next to the public works complex. Permits and licenses are applied for through the city’s online portal.

Rochester

Applications go in online or on paper: a major permit for a new home, more units or any commercial building; a minor permit for residential additions, renovations, decks, garages, pools, solar and accessory apartments; and an express permit for fences, re-shingling, siding, sheds of 200 square feet or less and windows. The city waives building permit fees (section 40.15) for an honorably discharged veteran, National Guard or reserve member who builds a home or appurtenance for their own family’s exclusive occupancy.

Durham

Permits generally take 7 to 10 days after a complete application, up to two weeks in summer and up to 4 weeks for large residential projects. The fee is paid before plan review begins.

Somersworth

The Code Enforcement Office takes applications through the SmartGov portal or at Development Services and typically processes a building permit in five to seven business days. The owner or contractor schedules the inspections. Work in the public right of way, from the curb to the property line, such as a driveway, tree planting or a dumpster, needs its own permit.

Farmington

Farmington stopped taking new applications through Cloudpermit and, until its new online system is ready, accepts permits in person or by email to buildingpermits@farmington.nh.us. It allows up to 30 days for processing and returns incomplete applications.

Milton

The Building Inspector issues every building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, occupancy and sign permit. Dropping off an application does not count as being permitted, and work started before approval costs $200 plus a double permit fee.

Rollinsford and Strafford

In Rollinsford the Select Board starts its setback and zoning review of each building application at its next meeting. In Strafford a new home needs an E-911 address before the town can issue a building permit; the 911 liaison (603-664-2192, ext. 102) assigns numbers free of charge in two to four weeks.

Strafford County permit costs and fees

Each city and town sets its own fees:

• Rochester: $9.00 per $1,000.00 of construction cost (rounded up to the nearest $1,000.00) plus a $10.00 application fee; $20.00 for work under $1,000. The city’s own example: $4,300 of work costs (5 × $9) + $10 = $55. After-the-fact permits pay two times the normal fee.
• Durham (effective December 16, 2025): one- and two-family residential, $50 application fee plus $7 per thousand of construction cost; multi-family and commercial, $100 plus $10 per thousand; work done without a permit, minimum $100 or 200% of the fee. Septic system test pit inspection, plan review and final inspection after NHDES approval cost $100 per system.
• Somersworth (fee notice revised May 4, 2026, effective July 1, 2026): residential building permits, a $50 application fee plus $10 per $1,000 of construction cost, or $12 per $1,000 when labor is not included; commercial and industrial, $50 plus $10 per $1,000; electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, $50 plus $10 per $1,000 of that work; demolition $100 for structures up to 1,500 sq ft; re-inspection $50; permit renewal $50.
• Barrington (schedule last amended April 8, 2024): $10 per $1,000 of construction cost, $50 minimum, plus flat fees of $25 for the building permit and $50 each for electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits as the job needs them.
• Rollinsford: $10 per $1,000 of value plus a $25 administrative fee.
• Strafford (effective March 1, 2025): houses $0.30 per sq ft finished and $0.20 per sq ft unfinished; porches and decks $0.20 per sq ft; garages and barns $0.30 per sq ft; commercial $0.60 finished and $0.40 unfinished.

How to get a building permit in Strafford County

Inspections in Strafford County

Each office books its own inspections. Durham inspects on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, first come, first served (603-868-8064), with electrical work inspected by the town’s electrical inspector; a septic system there gets a test pit inspection and a final inspection after NHDES approval. Milton inspects Monday to Thursday from 8:00 am to noon and Friday until 11:00 am, booked through the Land Use Clerk. Farmington needs 48 hours’ notice, Rochester inspects in person except for express permits, and in Somersworth the owner or contractor books inspections using the contacts on the application.

Official Strafford County permitting resources

• Strafford County cities and towns
• Barrington Building and Code Enforcement and town fee schedule
• Dover Inspection Services
• Durham Building office, fees and inspections
• Farmington building permit applications and Planning & Community Development contacts
• Lee Planning & Zoning Administration and Building Inspection and fee schedule
• Madbury Building Inspector
• Middleton: projects requiring a permit
• Milton Code Enforcement
• New Durham building permit application
• Rochester building permits and minor building permit application
• Rollinsford building permits for property owners
• Somersworth Code Enforcement and permit fees effective July 1, 2026
• Strafford Building Inspectors and 2025 building fee schedule
• RSA 155-A:7, enforcement of the state building code

Frequently asked questions

Does Strafford County issue building permits?

No. Each of the 13 cities and towns in the county issues its own building permits.

Which towns in Strafford County issue their own building permits?

All of them: Barrington, Dover, Durham, Farmington, Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Rochester, Rollinsford, Somersworth and Strafford each have a building inspector or code enforcement office.

How much is a building permit in Rochester or Somersworth?

Rochester charges $9 per $1,000 of construction cost plus a $10 application fee, and $20 for work under $1,000. Somersworth charges a $50 application fee plus $10 per $1,000 of construction cost ($12 per $1,000 when labor is not included).

Do I need a permit for a shed?

It depends on the town. Farmington and Middleton draw the line at 120 square feet, Rochester covers sheds up to 200 square feet with an express permit, and Somersworth lists sheds among the work that needs a permit.

Does Rochester waive permit fees for veterans?

Yes. Under section 40.15 fees are waived for an honorably discharged veteran, National Guard or reserve member building a home or appurtenance for their own family.

How long does a Durham building permit take?

Generally 7 to 10 days after a complete application, up to two weeks in summer and up to 4 weeks for large residential projects.

Which building code applies?

The state building code applies in every town: since July 1, 2026, the 2024 international codes with the 2018 energy code and the 2023 electrical code. Applications filed through December 31, 2026 may use the previous 2021 set instead, as a whole. New Hampshire code editions

Simplify Strafford County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which of the 13 town and city building offices has the parcel and the project type
• Prepare the town application with any driveway, septic or fire department approvals it needs
• Schedule the town’s inspections and close out the permit

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