Sullivan County, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

Building permits in Sullivan County are issued by the municipality, never the county. Claremont’s Planning and Development office takes applications online, Newport, Sunapee, Charlestown, Grantham and other towns have building inspectors or code officers, and Acworth and Washington issue Select Board permits. The table below names each office and its phone number.

What the towns require a permit for

• Washington: any construction or placement of a building or structure of any size, temporary or permanent, needs a Land Use Compliance Permit; structures of 25 sq ft or less pay no fee.
• Acworth: building, relocating or changing the bulk of any dwelling, building or structure needs a Select Board application under Article XI of the Zoning Ordinance.
• Goshen: new structures, additions, structural remodeling and exterior work such as roofing and siding, plumbing, HVAC and electrical work, changes of use, pools, solar panels and signs.
• Claremont: most building, renovation and demolition work, including replacement windows, roofing and siding; some work also needs a zoning permit or Historic District Commission approval.

A septic system needs approval for construction from the NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau in every town, on top of any town permit.

Who issues permits in each Sullivan County town?

All fifteen municipalities, the City of Claremont and its fourteen neighbors, are listed.

Building codes and permits, town by town

Towns with their own building code ordinance. Grantham’s Building Code, last revised March 11, 2025, adopts the New Hampshire Building Code as the town’s code and sets out general building permits, flood hazard area permits and code compliance inspections. Langdon posts a Building Code dated March 29, 2023, and Goshen’s Select Board announced a Building Code Enforcement Officer on March 10, 2026; the officer’s duty is to perform building inspections and enforce the Town’s building and zoning ordinances.

Building inspector or code officer. Claremont, Newport, Sunapee, Charlestown, Plainfield, Lempster and Unity each list a building inspector, code compliance officer or Planning and Development staff who review permits. Sunapee’s Land Use Office takes applications online, and Claremont accepts payment only through OpenGov or at its office.

Select Board permits. In Acworth the Board of Selectmen issues the building application; the form says the Town has no local building code ordinance but builders must still meet the state building and fire codes. Washington’s Select Board issues a Land Use Compliance Permit and, when work is finished, inspects it and signs a Certificate of Compliance, without which the building may not be used. Cornish’s Select Board also handles building permits.

Permit fees in Sullivan County towns

Goshen’s Select Board agreed on September 14, 2026 to put its new schedule into use after posting it for public notice in August; the minutes record no formal vote. Claremont adds a $250 surcharge from the third time work starts before a permit is issued (a written warning the first time, $100 the second), and Plainfield’s fees may be doubled for a project started without a permit.

Trade, generator and heating permits

Goshen charges $50 each for outside wood boiler, solar and generator permits and says separate permits may be needed for electrical, heating, gas, solar or water system changes. Langdon has its own solar and generator permits, and Charlestown posts a fire inspection application alongside its building permit application.

How to get a permit in a Sullivan County town

Inspections and final approval

Charlestown’s Building Inspector works by appointment at 233 Main Street. Goshen’s Code Enforcement Officer has no fixed office hours yet; call for an appointment. Grantham’s Building Code includes its own code compliance inspection article, and Lempster posts occupancy permit requirements. In Washington the landowner contacts the Select Board when the project is done, and the building may not be used until the signed Certificate of Compliance is issued.

Newport’s permit window is open Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m.

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

Sullivan County building permit FAQ

Does Sullivan County issue building permits?

No. Claremont and each town issue their own permits; the table above lists every office.

Who issues building permits in Claremont?

The City’s Planning and Development office, 14 North Street (603-542-7008). Building permit applications are filed through the City’s OpenGov portal.

Who issues building permits in Newport?

Newport’s Planning, Zoning & Permits office at 15 Sunapee Street (603-863-6278), which also reaches the Building Inspector.

How much is a building permit in Goshen?

Under the schedule the Select Board agreed on September 14, 2026, a habitable building is $75.00 plus 10¢ per square foot, an addition $50.00 plus 10¢, and an outbuilding $35.00 plus 10¢.

Does Acworth have a building code?

Acworth has not adopted a local building code ordinance, but its building application reminds owners and contractors that the state building and fire codes still apply. Permits come from the Board of Selectmen.

Do I need a permit for a small shed in Washington?

Yes, any structure needs a Land Use Compliance Permit, but there is no fee for 25 sq ft or less and a $25 flat fee under 320 sq ft.

Official Sullivan County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Sullivan County: towns
• Claremont Planning and Development
• Claremont Building Safety and Codes
• Newport Planning & Zoning
• Sunapee Planning, Zoning and Compliance
• Charlestown departments: Building & Health
• Grantham Building Code, revised March 11, 2025 (PDF)
• Goshen Code Enforcement Officer
• Goshen building permit fees, agreed by the Select Board September 14, 2026 (PDF)
• Acworth building application (PDF)
• Washington Land Use Compliance Permit application (PDF)
• Plainfield Building & Inspections
• NH Department of Environmental Services
• New Hampshire State Building Code, RSA 155-A

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