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Bathroom, Kitchen and Home Remodeling in Merrimack, NH
Merrimack prices additions, interior alterations, renovations and finished basements at one posted square-foot rate, takes inspection requests only online, and lets an attached in-law apartment reach 1,000 square feet. 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
- Kitchens, baths, additions and basements
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Remodeling in Merrimack
What are you planning?
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.
Not sure what the town needs?
(978) 951-4644Tell us what you want to change and whether the house is on sewer or septic, and we'll help you sort out the permits before work starts.
Permits
Remodeling permits in Merrimack
Who issues them. In Merrimack, building permits come from the Building & Code Enforcement Division, which sits under Fire & Rescue at 432 Daniel Webster Highway and is open weekdays 8 to 4. Its inspections cover "any additions or remodel work done to existing buildings and structures," and the owner must get "all permits necessary to complete the work before starting construction." Plans and applications go in through the town's OpenGov portal; oil burner, oil tank and LP storage permits are handled by fire prevention and are not online (Building; Building Permit Applications).
Posted fees. The fee schedule effective January 1, 2025 charges a $35 non-refundable application fee on every permit and $0.68 per square foot for additions of occupied space, for "Interior alterations, finished basements, and renovations," and for porches, decks and sheds. Plumbing or electrical work not tied to a building permit is $75 each, as are heat conversions and gas piping to logs, stoves, generators or dryers. Work started before the permit carries a 100% surcharge, and a re-inspection is $50 (fee schedule).
What a renovation needs. The town's permit checklist lists renovations under a combined Building & Septic Application, plus gas or mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits as applicable, and notes that some applications need a Planning & Zoning sign-off (permit checklist). Trade permits go through the same division and portal.
- Building permits
- Building & Code Enforcement Division (Fire & Rescue), 432 Daniel Webster Hwy
- Apply online
- OpenGov
- Remodel fee
- $0.68 per sq ft plus $35 application (effective January 1, 2025)
- Covers
- Additions, interior alterations, renovations, finished basements
- Inspections
- OpenGov requests only, 24–48 hours notice
- Virtual inspections
- Pre-approved small residential jobs, incl. basement insulation
- Starting early
- 100% surcharge
Inspections. Requests go through OpenGov only, with no voicemail requests, at least 24 to 48 hours ahead, and each trade must confirm its work is "complete, fully accessible, and ready for inspection." Inspectors go out Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 to 12 and 1 to 3, and Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 1. Pre-approved virtual inspections are allowed for small residential work, including pier footings for a non-heated addition, open trenches and insulation in finished basements or minor renovations. A certificate of occupancy is issued only after the town's department sign-off checklist is complete (Inspections).
State rules. Merrimack's own code page says the 2024 New Hampshire State Building Code took effect July 1, 2026, with either code set accepted through December 31, 2026, and that all permit requests follow the 2024 codes from January 1, 2027 (NH State Building Code). Permits and their fees are the town's to set under RSA 155-A:2. The state does not license general remodelers: the Attorney General says "contractors do not need to be licensed," so ask for references and proof of insurance, and put the scope, materials, total price and payment schedule in a written contract before any work or payment. The AG treats a deposit over half the price as a warning sign (NH AG home improvement advice). On a contract over $5,000 the contractor must give you the RSA 359-G notice, and a homeowner must serve written notice of a defect claim at least 60 days before suing (RSA 359-G). Plumbing, gas and electrical work for hire needs licensed trades (OPLC).
Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by January 2027. New England Remodeling Pros is a referral service. We don't design or build; your contractor files the permits.
Zoning
Adding on in Merrimack
Setbacks and older houses. Merrimack's Zoning Ordinance, revised September 12, 2024, has a single Residential District, and its setbacks and other dimensional limits are in Table 1 of Section 3.02; nonconforming structures are covered in Section 9 (Zoning Ordinance). Have your designer pull both for your lot before an addition is drawn, and ask Planning & Zoning whether the house already sits inside a setback.
In-law apartments. An attached accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use: it "shall not exceed 1,000 square feet in area," may have up to two bedrooms, must share a common wall or connect by an enclosed breezeway no longer than 20 feet, and needs one added parking space; "The property owner must occupy one of the two dwelling units." A detached unit needs a Planning Board conditional use permit, can be no larger than half the main house or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller, must sit in the side or rear yard, and needs a lot at least 125% of the minimum size (Zoning 2.02.1). State law already requires towns to allow one ADU, attached or detached, wherever single-family homes are allowed, and lets towns require owner occupancy (RSA 674:72; RSA 674:73).
Septic. The town's 2013 Sewer Master Plan says sewer serves "approximately a third of the community," with the rest on septic (Master Plan sections 1–2). On an unsewered lot, the zoning says an ADU's septic system must meet state requirements "for the combined system demand for total occupancy," and the Town Code requires an NHDES design approval plus a permit signed by the Building Inspector, with a town inspection before the system is covered (private sewage systems).
Wetlands and flood zones. The zoning includes a Wetlands Conservation District, and Zoning Board agendas show buffer work going to the board as a special exception, so check for wetlands on the plot plan early. Flood Hazard and Aquifer Conservation Districts also apply in parts of town, with flood maps dated September 25, 2009 (Zoning Ordinance). Digging footings needs a free Dig Safe ticket at least 72 hours ahead, weekends and holidays excluded.
Merrimack's homes
A town of single-family houses, with no historic district
Of Merrimack's 10,264 housing units, 8,609 are single-family homes (NHES community profile, ACS 2014–2018). The town doesn't publish year-built figures we could read, so ask your contractor to confirm the age of the house before any work that disturbs old paint or framing.
Historic review. None of Merrimack's zoning districts is a historic district, and we found no demolition delay. The Heritage Commission, created by town vote in 2000, works to "recognize, protect, and promote" the town's historic resources, and its landmarks list includes the Olde Kings Highway, Simonds Rock, Chamberlain Bridge and Thornton Cemetery (Heritage Commission; historic landmarks).
Lead and radon. In a home built before 1978, anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces must be EPA-certified, and window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are always covered (EPA RRP). Before finishing a basement, test for radon; the NH Radon Program offers free test kits (NH DHHS radon).
FAQ
Merrimack remodeling questions
Does finishing a basement in Merrimack need a permit?
Yes. The town fee schedule effective January 1, 2025 lists interior alterations, finished basements and renovations as permit work at $0.68 per square foot, plus a $35 application fee. The town permit checklist adds gas or mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits as the job calls for them.
How big can an in-law apartment be in Merrimack?
An attached accessory dwelling unit can be up to 1,000 square feet with no more than two bedrooms, and the owner must live in one of the two units. A detached unit needs a Planning Board conditional use permit, can be no larger than half the main house or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller, and needs a lot at least 125% of the minimum size.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Merrimack?
Through OpenGov only; the town does not take inspection requests by voicemail. Give 24 to 48 hours of notice, and have each trade confirm its work is complete, fully accessible and ready. Small residential jobs can be pre-approved for a virtual inspection, including insulation in a finished basement or a minor renovation.
Which building code will my Merrimack permit follow?
The town says the 2024 New Hampshire State Building Code took effect July 1, 2026, with a concurrence period through December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, all permit requests follow the 2024 codes.
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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