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Bathroom, Kitchen and Home Remodeling in Billerica, MA
In Billerica, adding living space brings a plot plan requirement, and on the roughly 15% of the town not on sewer, a Board of Health septic upgrade review too. Call (978) 951-4644 or use the form. A person reads every request and replies with what happens next.
- Free for homeowners
- Town and state remodeling rules on this page
- North Billerica to Nutting Lake
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Remodeling in Billerica
What are you changing?
Kitchen Remodeling
New layouts, cabinets and counters, with licensed trades for any plumbing, gas and electrical work.
Bathroom Remodeling
Tub-to-shower conversions, full gut renovations and added bathrooms, permitted the way your town requires.
Additions & Whole-Home
Additions, dormers, second stories and whole-house renovations, with the structural permits and zoning they bring.
Attic & Basement Finishing
Turning an attic or a dry basement into living space, with the building department involved from the start.
On septic or near water?
(978) 951-4644Tell us what you want to add and where the house sits, and we'll connect you with a contractor who knows Billerica's permit path.
Permits
Remodeling permits in Billerica
Building Department. The Building Department is at 365 Boston Road, 978-671-0942. Its FAQ says a building permit is needed to construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures, and that a plot plan is required if any structure or living space is added to the property. Homeowners can pull their own building permit once a homeowners exemption form is on file, but only licensed electricians and plumbers or gas fitters may do that work (Building Department FAQ). Permits are filed through the town's online permitting portal.
Fees. Billerica posts its building permit fee schedule and plumbing and gas fee schedule as scanned documents; ask the department for the current amounts.
- Building Department
- 365 Boston Road
- Phone
- 978-671-0942
- Plot plan
- Required if any structure or living space is added
- Homeowner permits
- Building permit with a homeowners exemption form on file; electrical, plumbing and gas by licensed trades
- Septic homes
- Living-space additions over 200 sq ft trigger a septic upgrade review (Board of Health Chapter 5)
- Energy code
- Stretch Code, effective July 1, 2018
Energy code. Billerica adopted the Stretch Code effective July 1, 2018, with no Specialized Code date on the state list dated November 3, 2026 (energy code adoption by municipality). Under it, an addition over 1,000 square feet or over 100% of the existing conditioned floor area must meet HERS rating limits, and finishing an existing basement or attic without changing the footprint or roofline doesn't need a HERS rating (225 CMR 22).
The state's contractor rules. A contractor remodeling your owner-occupied home of one to four units must be a registered Home Improvement Contractor; you can check on the Contractor Hub. Jobs over $1,000 need a written contract listing the registration number, start and completion dates, the price and the payment schedule, the deposit tops out at one-third unless special-order materials cost more, and a contract signed at home can be cancelled through midnight of the third business day (c.142A §2). Structural work on one- and two-family homes is overseen by a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional (construction supervisor rules). The homeowner exemption has a cost: an owner who pulls the permit is excluded from the Guaranty Fund, which can cover up to $25,000 of losses against a registered contractor (HIC homeowner resources).
Alarms. Massachusetts requires listed photoelectric smoke alarms and a CO alarm on each story, including the basement (780 CMR 51, chapter 3); the building official will check alarms and egress for any new bedroom.
Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by February 2027. New England Remodeling Pros is a referral service. We don't do the work or file permits; the contractor does.
Zoning
Adding on in Billerica
A recodified bylaw. Billerica's zoning bylaw was recodified by a committee and approved at the 2025 Annual Spring Town Meeting, with Village Residence, Neighborhood Residence, Rural Residence and multifamily districts. It says a one-family dwelling may include an accessory dwelling unit or an accessory in-law apartment (May 2025 Zoning Bylaw). Its dimensional and nonconforming sections are the ones to check for setbacks; ask the Building Department for your district's numbers before design.
Nonconforming houses. Under state law, altering or extending a pre-existing nonconforming single- or two-family house needs no special finding when the change doesn't increase the nonconforming nature; otherwise the permit granting authority must find it not substantially more detrimental (c.40A §6).
Accessory units. State law allows one ADU by right in single-family zoning districts, no larger than half the main house or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller, with a separate entrance and no owner-occupancy requirement; towns can still apply Title 5 and dimensional rules (state ADU rules). The bylaw in force before recodification allowed an in-law apartment of no more than 800 square feet for no more than two related persons by special permit (zoning bylaw through December 2024).
Septic homes. About 85% of Billerica is sewered (2024 Open Space and Recreation Plan). For the rest, Board of Health Chapter 5, with amendments adopted June 2, 2025, makes additions of bedrooms, living rooms, dens, family rooms or other living or substantial storage area require a septic upgrade as determined by the Director; additions up to 200 square feet, vehicle-only garages, porches, decks and screen houses are exempt. New systems are sized at 440 gallons per day per dwelling unit, or 330 only with a recorded three-bedroom deed restriction (Board of Health Chapter 5). On a septic lot, the system belongs in the addition's plan from the start.
Floodplain and wetlands. Board of Health Chapter 5 bars new construction in the floodplain and within 25 feet of it unless the Board grants a variance, requires review for work between 25 and 100 feet, and uses FEMA flood maps dated July 8, 2025 (Board of Health Chapter 5); the open space plan adds that floodplain zoning bars buildings in the floodplain district without a special permit (2024 Open Space and Recreation Plan). The Wetlands Protection By-Law reaches 100 feet from resource areas and 200 feet from rivers (Wetlands Protection By-Law), and its regulations, approved June 25, 2008, keep a 25-foot undisturbed strip on lots developed as of June 27, 2003 and 50 feet on undeveloped lots (wetland regulations).
Historic review
Old houses and historic review in Billerica
Four local historic districts. Billerica's Historic Districts Commission, under Chapter 40C, reviews exterior changes in the Center, North Billerica Mills, Corner and Richardson's Mill districts; the district bylaw exempts storm windows, screens and window air conditioners (Historic Districts Commission). The recodified zoning bylaw also lists a Historic Overlay District. If your house is in one of the districts, plan for Commission review of exterior work such as an addition, alongside the building permit.
Demolition. We could not confirm whether Billerica has a demolition delay bylaw; ask the Building Department before removing part of an older house.
Lead and asbestos. If the house was built before 1978, renovation, repair or painting must be done by a licensed lead-safe renovation contractor (MA lead-safe renovation); window replacement is always covered by the federal rule (EPA RRP). MassDEP requires an asbestos survey before renovation or demolition on a structure of any age (asbestos survey guide).
Billerica's homes
Mill villages and small-lot neighborhoods
The 2015–2019 American Community Survey put single-family homes at 71.1% of Billerica's housing stock (Billerica housing plan draft, October 2021). The 2018 Master Plan describes older, denser neighborhoods on lots of half an acre or less in East Billerica, Pinehurst, Nutting Lake, Rio Vista, River Pines and North Billerica (2018 Master Plan), where setbacks leave less room for an addition.
North Billerica
A mill village on the Concord River in the state historical survey, and home to the North Billerica Mills historic district.
Pinehurst
One of the older, denser neighborhoods the 2018 Master Plan lists, on lots of half an acre or less.
Nutting Lake
Another small-lot neighborhood in the Master Plan, where lots near the lake also bring the wetland rules into an addition.
The state survey also names Billerica Center and East Billerica, once known as Pattenville (MHC town report).
FAQ
Billerica remodeling questions
Does a Billerica addition need a plot plan?
Yes, when living space is added. The Building Department's FAQ says a plot plan is required if any structure or living space is added to the property, on top of the building permit needed to construct, alter, repair or demolish a one- or two-family home.
My Billerica house is on septic. Will an addition affect it?
Likely. Board of Health Chapter 5, with amendments adopted June 2, 2025, says additions of bedrooms, living rooms, dens, family rooms or other living or substantial storage area require a septic upgrade as determined by the Director. Additions up to 200 square feet, vehicle-only garages, porches, decks and screen houses are exempt.
Can I remodel a house near the floodplain in Billerica?
Carefully. Board of Health Chapter 5 bars new construction in the floodplain and within 25 feet of it without a Board variance and requires review for work within 100 feet, and the town's 2024 open space plan says floodplain zoning allows no buildings in the floodplain district without a special permit. Check the flood map before you design an addition.
Which Billerica neighborhoods have historic review?
The Historic Districts Commission reviews exterior changes in four local historic districts: the Center, North Billerica Mills, the Corner and Richardson's Mill. The district bylaw exempts storm windows, screens and window air conditioners.
What does it cost me to use New England Remodeling Pros?
Nothing. Asking is free for homeowners; the contractor prices the job, and the price and contract are between you and them.
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