Windham, New Hampshire Building Permit Guide

Building permits in Windham come from the Building Safety Division of the Community Development Department at 3 North Lowell Road (603-432-3806), where the Building Inspector reviews plans, issues permits and carries out inspections. The Town asks applicants to file through its online permitting portal. Under the fees in force since June 17, 2025, a general building permit costs $60 plus $0.50 per square foot of accessible gross floor area.

What requires a permit in Windham?

The Building Safety Division permits residential and commercial buildings, chimneys, pools and the electrical and plumbing work in them. Its fee notice lists these permits:

A permit is required for every fence. Residential fences may be no more than 6 ft tall, and lower in some parts of the yard, and in-ground pools, and above-ground pools under 4 ft tall, need a pool fence that meets the State Building Code.

Who issues building permits in Windham?

The Community Development Department oversees building permits and code enforcement, and its Building Safety Division issues the permits. Keith Meile is the Building Inspector and Health Officer: he reviews and issues permits, carries out the inspections and works with residents and developers on the town rules and the State Building Code.

Windham’s online permitting portal and forms

The Community Development Department asks homeowners, businesses and contractors to apply through its online permitting portal. New users request an account, confirm their email address from the message the portal sends, and wait for staff to grant access. From then on, every building and trade permit, fence permit, minor WPOD permit and Board of Health waiver can be filed online, and inspections can be requested there too.

The Building Safety Division also posts downloadable forms: the Residential and Commercial Building Permit, Electrical Permit, Plumbing Permit, Chimney Permit, Demolition Permit, Well Permit, Waste Disposal Permit, Year Round Conversion Permit, Residential Energy Code, Small Wind Energy System and Food Service License forms, and the Required Inspections list. A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issue.

Windham building permit fees

Fees come from the Notice of Land Use Board Fees the Board of Selectmen adopted on June 16, 2025, for applications submitted from June 17, 2025.

For example, a new 2,000 sq ft house is charged $60 + $1,000 = $1,060 for the building permit, and $110 each for the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. Work started without a permit costs double the permit fee. The residential application PDF still prints an older fee line ($25 plus $0.35 per sq ft of heated area); the June 2025 notice adopted by the Board of Selectmen sets the current fees.

Electrical, plumbing and fuel-burning equipment in Windham

Electrical, plumbing and non-fuel-burning mechanical permits are issued by the Building Safety Division and filed in the portal. A smaller job such as a mini-split, water heater, boiler or ERV unit costs $50 per trade, and the fee notice says each trade involved needs its own permit.

Windham Fire at 3 Fellows Road (603-434-4907) issues its own permits for fuel-burning appliances, fuel delivery piping, fire alarm systems and fire suppression systems. The residential application asks for Fire Department approval of any propane or oil appliances, tanks and furnaces.

What to submit with a Windham residential permit

• A plot plan drawn to scale whenever the footprint expands, showing easements and the setback lines from lot lines and wetlands (the Town posts this as a 2014 Town Meeting amendment to the building code)
• Two sets of plans to scale (11 x 17 preferred) with elevations, cross sections, basement, floor and roof framing plans
• An energy compliance report
• Cut sheets for LVLs, glulams and steel beams, window types and sizes for emergency egress, and an engineer’s stamp for wood trusses
• Fire Department approval for propane or oil appliances, tanks and furnaces
• Septic approval for added bedrooms or a year-round conversion, and NHDES approval for shoreland or septic work
• For a new well, the well completion report and a VOC water test

How to get a building permit in Windham

Inspections in Windham

Inspections are carried out daily, except in severe weather, generally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Request them at least 24 hours ahead through the portal or by calling Community Development at 603-432-3806, and have the address, permit number and map, block and lot number ready. The inspector will not enter an occupied home unless someone is there.

The Building Inspector’s minimum inspection list (August 15, 2024) includes:

• Erosion controls and a construction entrance before excavation, and the soil profile before footings
• Footings and foundation walls before concrete, with rebar in place and the UFER ground visible; sono tubes and piers for a 4 ft depth
• The foundation before backfill, with drains and damp-proofing; sanitary facilities on site and the street number posted
• Frame, rough plumbing and rough electric, then insulation once the building is weather-tight
• Permanent electric service, underground conduit and septic bed bottom

New homes and commercial projects must keep a dumpster on site for construction debris. Before a certificate of occupancy, the Town needs final inspections by the Building Inspector and the Fire Department, sign-off from the Planning/Zoning Administrator, a current water test for homes not on municipal water, the septic approval for operation, and any impact and water allocation fees paid. A failed or repeat inspection costs $50.

Local Windham details that matter

Payment scams: the Town has warned of fake emailed invoices asking for permit, application or inspection fees. It will never ask you to wire funds; report suspicious messages to DirectorCD@windhamnh.gov.

Impact fees: under the schedule the Planning Board adopted on August 21, 2024, a new fee-simple single-family house pays $11,583.43 for schools and $1,628.62 for public safety, $13,212.05 in all, before the certificate of occupancy inspection. The school fee for other residential dwellings is $4,027.49.

Permits issued: Community Development posts the past week’s permits on its website, and decisions of the administrative officer can be appealed under Section 904 of the Zoning Ordinance.

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

Windham building permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Windham?

The Building Safety Division of the Community Development Department, 3 N Lowell Road, 603-432-3806.

How much does a building permit cost in Windham?

$60 plus $0.50 per sq ft of accessible gross floor area for a general building permit, under the fees effective June 17, 2025. A 2,000 sq ft house is $1,060 before the trade permits.

Do I need a permit for a fence or shed?

Yes. Every fence needs a $25 permit, and sheds, garages, outbuildings and decks are permitted at $0.40 per sq ft.

Can I apply online?

Yes. Request an account on the Town’s permitting portal; once staff grant access you can file building, trade, fence and minor WPOD permits.

When are inspections done?

Daily, generally 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with at least 24 hours’ notice through the portal or at 603-432-3806.

How long does a certificate of occupancy take?

The department asks for 5 days to process a certificate of occupancy request, so it can confirm that all paperwork is in and every inspection is complete.

Official Windham permitting resources

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

• Windham Building Safety Division
• Windham Required Inspections list (August 2024)
• New Hampshire State Building Code statute (RSA 155-A)
• Windham online permitting portal
• Windham Notice of Land Use Board Fees (effective June 17, 2025)
• Windham Community Development
• Windham Residential Building Permit Application
• Windham residential fence rules
• Windham Fire Prevention

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