Building Department

Building Department updated January 18, 2022

The Building Department is OPEN and looks forward to seeing you.  Our hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

ALL Permit Applications are submitted on-line only.

To apply for a Permit click here:    https://needhamma.viewpointcloud.com 

We no longer accept paper permit applications.

Building Permit Applications  are being processed for all work.  Due to the demand for permits, wait times for processing may be longer than normal. All permit applications and attachments must be submitted electronically via https://needhamma.viewpointcloud.com/  We no longer accept paper permits.

OUR CURRENT PLOT PLAN can be found here:

https://www.needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15445/Plot-Plan-Form?bidId=

Failure to use our current Plot Plan form will result in your application being rejected.

To amend an active permit, simply complete a new Residential or Commercial Building Permit Application. 

Payment  may be made by check, e-check and credit card.  Please reference both the Permit # and Permit Property Address on your check.  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 for Credit Cards).  Payment by credit card is generally posted within two to three business days.  Please click below for on-line payments:

 https://www.invoicecloud.com/portal/(S())/2/cloudstore.aspx?cs=62c59505-97a8-4670-a923-99809bbe5719&bg=035b17dd-059c-418c-82f6-4d0fd6f3acf6&uid=2&ps=13

Inspections  are performed daily and the permit contractor must be present at all inspections.  Inspections are not performed until a Permit has been paid in full and work can not begin until full payment has been made.  Contact us (781-455-7550, Ext. 537) to schedule 2+ days in advance.  Please don't 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 blue ribbon on the left hand side of this page.  Once there, click on "Inspection Schedule" to scroll through the Inspection Schedules (Building, Electrical, Plumbing and Gas).

2nd / Irrigation Water Meters  are being installed by the Water Department only. Tampering with the Town of Needham's water supply will result in a fine.  Please apply for a Plumbing Permit today, and once your permit is paid for in full, contact David Branson (781-455-7550, Ext. 306) 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, in the blue ribbon.

Street Excavation Permits will not be issued for public right-of-ways after November 15, 2021.  All work must be completed by November 30.  Questions, please call Street Inspector Paul Ciesluk at 781-455-7550, Ext. 352.

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
  • Mike DeRubeis
    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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