Bathroom, Kitchen and Home Remodeling in Nashua, NH

Permits

Remodeling permits in Nashua

Building Safety Department. Permits come from the Building Safety Department on the second floor of City Hall, 229 Main Street, 603-589-3080, with the permit desk open 8 to 4:30 (Building Safety Department). There's no portal: applications are fillable PDF forms sent by email, which the city notes don't work on phones, and forms are also available at the Building Safety Department (Permits). Inspections run Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and are requested by online form, email or phone.

What a remodeling plan set must show. The city's Residential Plan Requirements cover additions, alterations and renovations as well as new homes: one paper and one electronic set to scale, a scaled plot plan, a floor plan of each level with rooms labeled, two elevations, a stair detail, header sizes for every opening in a bearing wall, floor, wall, roof framing and foundation plans, a full cross section through the building or addition, engineered lumber specifications, smoke and CO alarm details and proof of New Hampshire energy code compliance. Every sleeping room needs an emergency escape opening of 5.7 square feet net clear (5 at grade), at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with the sill no higher than 44 inches. Signs, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and demolition work each need a separate permit (Residential Plan Requirements; Building and Land Use Permit Application).

Permits

Building Safety Department, City Hall 2nd floor, 229 Main Street

How to apply

Fillable PDF by email, or paper at City Hall; no portal

Plan set

Plot plan, floor and framing plans, full cross section, energy code proof

Bedroom egress

5.7 sq ft net clear (5 at grade), 24 in high, 20 in wide, sill 44 in max

Building code

2024 codes from July 1, 2026; grace period through December 31, 2026

Mechanical permit

$50 application fee (form MECH Res May 2021)

Historic district

Public hearing on every application

Fees. Permit fees are set by Ordinance O-21-045 (O-21-045); the posted copies are scanned images, so ask the desk for building permit amounts. The residential mechanical form (MECH Res May 2021) lists a $50 non-refundable application fee, gas piping at $0.30 per 1,000 BTU, and a 100% surcharge, up to $275, for work started without a permit (residential mechanical permit). Demolition forms marked June 2026 list a $50 application fee, a $50 Planning fee and a permit fee of $40 up to 1,000 square feet plus $3.15 for each additional 100 square feet, with sign-offs from the utilities, Fire Marshal, Engineering, Environmental Health and Planning or the Historic District Commission, an NHDES asbestos notification and photos of all four sides; the permit expires if work doesn't begin within 180 days (demolition permit).

The 2024 code change. The city's building page says New Hampshire moved to the 2024 codes on July 1, 2026, with a grace period through December 31, 2026 (Building Safety Department). Under state law, permits and fees are a local matter, and a local code stricter than the State Building Code stays in force (RSA 155-A:2). If your plans were drawn to the older set, ask Building Safety which code your application will be reviewed under.

State rules. New Hampshire's Attorney General says "contractors do not need to be licensed" here, so vet a remodeler yourself: ask for references and proof of insurance, and "Always have a written contract before any work is done or any payment made," with the scope, materials, total price and payment schedule. The AG lists a down payment over 50% or full payment before the job is done as warning signs (NH AG home improvement advice). On a contract over $5,000, the contractor must give you the RSA 359-G notice, and before suing over a defect you must serve written notice at least 60 days ahead (RSA 359-G). Plumbing, gas and electrical work is for licensed trades unless you do it yourself in the single-family home you own and live in, and that work still needs permits and inspections (RSA 153:36; RSA 319-C:15). Problems can go to the Consumer Protection Hotline, 1-888-468-4454.

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 do the remodeling or pull permits; the contractor you hire files them.

Historic review

Old houses and historic review in Nashua

Historic District Commission. Nashua's Land Use Code sets up a Historic District overlay (§190-22) and a Historic District Commission that reviews building permit applications inside the district. Since Ordinance O-23-059, approved December 19, 2023, the commission holds a public hearing on every application, with certified-mail notice to abutters at least 14 days before, a newspaper notice at least 5 days before and a "HISTORIC DISTRICT APPLICATION" sign on site; the abutter fee is postage plus $3 each (O-23-059). Ask Planning whether your address is in the district before you plan exterior work.

Demolition. We found no demolition delay ordinance. The city's demolition form does require a Planning Department or Historic District Commission sign-off before a permit issues (demolition permit).

Lead paint. New Hampshire isn't an EPA-authorized state, so EPA runs the federal lead rule here: anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified, and window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are always covered, whatever the area (EPA RRP; EPA RRP for contractors). The city's Consolidated Plan flags lead paint concerns in the downtown housing stock and describes a city lead hazard remediation program (FY2026–2030 Consolidated Plan).