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Building Department
Updated May 23, 2023
SUMMER HOURS
Inspector Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Thursday
7:00am to 12:00noon, Fridays Only
Inspections start at 8:00am. Monday through Friday
Office Staff Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
8:00am to 6:30pm, Tuesdays
8:00am to 12:00noon, Fridays Only
There is a Building Inspector available Office Staff Hours too (Tuesday nights).
ALL Permit Applications are submitted on-line through VPC.
To apply for a Permit click here: https://needhamma.viewpointcloud.com
Building Permit Applications and attachments must be submitted electronically via https://needhamma.viewpointcloud.com We do not accept paper permits. If you need to amend an active permit, simply submit a new Permit Application.
Our CURRENT Plot Plan can be found below. If you don't use our Current Plot Plan, your application will be delayed while we wait for you to get a corrected one. https://www.needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15445/Plot-Plan-Form?bidId=
Payment may be made by check (payable to Town of Needham), e-check, credit card or cash. Please reference both the Permit # and Permit Property Address. You may drop it off in the drop box at 500 Dedham Avenue; USMail to 500 Dedham Ave., Needham, MA 02492; pay by e-check or pay by credit card (2.95% Processing Fee). Payment by credit card is generally posted within two to three business days. Please click below for on-line payments:
Inspections are performed daily and the permit contractor must be present at all inspections. Inspections are not performed and work cannot begin until a Permit has been paid in full. Contact us (781-455-7550, Ext. 537) to schedule 2+ days in advance. Do not leave a phone message to schedule an Inspection, you must speak with an Associate. For details of Inspections being performed on the next business day, please click on "Inspection Schedule" in the ribbon on the left hand side of this page. Then click on "Inspection Schedule" to scroll through the Inspection Schedules.
2nd / Irrigation Water Meters are installed by the Water Department only. Tampering with the Town of Needham's water supply will result in a fine. Apply for a Plumbing Permit today, and once your permit is paid in full, contact Kristen Bent (781-455-7550, Ext. 303) for complete details and scheduling.
Building Permits issued since March 18, 2020 are available on-line. Log into VPC, click on "Search for Records" in the bottom right hand corner, enter the property address, and then click on "Record Number" of the permit you wish to view. Or, click on "Building Permits Issued" on the left hand side of this page. This has been updated to include plot plans and construction plans when possible.
Scanning and uploading documents in ViewPoint is easy. Many of the attachments that we receive with Permit Applications are photographs taken with iPhones and iPads. Photographs aren’t clear pictures. If you have an iPhone or iPad, please check out Apple’s Document Scanner that is in the Notes tab. This produces a clear image therefore allowing us to process your permit quicker. Please check it out at: https://www.imore.com/how-use-document-scanner-iphone-and-ipad
Smoke Detector Inspections. For Smoke Detector inspections, please click this link Executive Order
On-Line Permitting
All applications must be submitted via ViewPoint Cloud (VPC) On-Line Permitting:
https://needhamma.viewpointcloud.com/
Responsibilities
The Building Division staff enforces state building, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical codes, and sheet metal as well as local zoning by-laws and Architectural Access Board Regulation.
Services
Our staff:
- Conducts periodic safety inspections of multi-family dwellings, restaurants, schools, religious institutions, museums, and other places of assembly
- Issues permits
- Inspects construction sites
Main Phone Number 781-455-7550, Ext. 537
Staff Members
- David A. Roche CBO
Building Commissioner - Ext. 308 - Erik J. Tardif
Assistant Building Commissioner - Ext. 341 - Bernard Ashley
Local Building Inspector - Ext. 335 - Jim Grover
Local Building Inspector - Ext. 310 - Larry V. DiBona
Plumbing & Gas Inspector - Ext. 311 - Cyril Kavanagh
Assistant Plumbing & Gas Inspector (PT) - Ext. 214 - Scott W. Chisholm
Wiring Inspector - Ext. 312 - Eric Woods
Assistant Wiring Inspector (PT) - Ext.333 - John J. McGourty
Wiring Inspector - Ext. 312 - Lyn Heintz
Administrative Specialist - Ext. 309 - Rick Rutherford
Department Assistant - Ext 332 - Sheila Whisler
Department Assistant - Ext. 215
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