Need to check a building permit in Boston, Massachusetts? The City of Boston provides separate tools for current permit status, older property records, and inspection scheduling. The right tool depends on whether you have a permit number or only a property address.
Quick answer · Boston permit lookup
Have a permit number? Use the City’s Permit Finder to check the current application or permit phase.
Have only a property address? Use Boston’s historical permit records or its public building-permits dataset.
Need an inspection? Sign in to the Inspectional Services permit portal or call 617-635-5300.
Official authority: City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Information reviewed October 2026.
Official Boston permit search tools
Track a permit or application using its permit number.
Check Permit Status ↗Find older permits, document images, and property permit history.
Search Records ↗Access applications, existing permits, and inspection requests.
Open Permit Portal ↗Learn how to request building inspections online or by phone.
View Instructions ↗How to search a Boston building permit by number
The official Permit Finder is the fastest starting point for checking a recently active building permit or application.
- Open the search: Visit permitfinder.boston.gov.
- Enter your permit number: Type the complete number, including its letter prefix, exactly as shown on your application, approval, or other permit document.
- Select “Look Up Permit”: The finder will retrieve available status information for that number.
- Review the project: Confirm the address, permit type, current phase, and any displayed review information.
- Resolve outstanding steps: If additional reviews or inspections are needed, use the relevant official permit portal or contact ISD.
Depending on the record, Permit Finder may show a process timeline, project details, review progress, assigned personnel, or next-step guidance. Not every permit displays identical information.
How to search Boston building permits by address
If you’re checking a home before purchasing it, reviewing renovation history, or researching work at a commercial property, an address-based historical search is often more useful than the current Permit Finder.
- Prepare the property address: Include the street number, street name, and any relevant unit information.
- Open Boston’s Historical Permit Records guide.
- Choose document images: Follow the City’s document-image search option to locate scanned permit records. Boston notes that this tool works best in Google Chrome.
- Or choose permit data: Follow the link to the Analyze Boston dataset for permits issued after December 15, 2009.
- Search the property: Use the available address or street filters, confirm matching results, and review the permit information.
- Check for open records: Pay particular attention to permits that appear unfinished, still open, or without a recorded final closure.
Direct public resources: Boston permit document system and Analyze Boston approved building permits dataset.
Understanding Boston building permit statuses
Boston’s official Permit Finder presents stages of the permitting process. These stages help identify the next action, but a stage alone does not establish that all associated approvals are complete.
| Permit phase | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Intake and Payment | The application is entering the process, including required intake or payment steps. Check for outstanding items. |
| Project Review | The proposed work is being examined by relevant reviewers. Additional documentation or corrections may be needed. |
| Zoning Appeal | A zoning appeal process may apply. This stage is relevant only when an appeal is necessary. |
| Issuance | The application is progressing toward permit issuance. Confirm the permit has actually been issued before starting regulated construction. |
| Inspection | The project requires applicable construction inspections and approvals. |
| Occupancy | Any applicable occupancy review or documentation must be resolved. |
| Completed | The system indicates that the permit has completed its tracked process. Confirm closure if needed for a sale or property records. |
The City’s Permit Finder may also show target durations for individual phases. These are not guarantees of approval or completion dates. Actual review times depend on project complexity, missing documents, zoning issues, and required agency approvals.
How to schedule a building inspection in Boston
Once permitted construction reaches an inspection stage, Boston allows inspection requests through the Inspectional Services portal or by telephone. Many projects require rough and final inspections; more complex work may require additional inspections.
Option 1: Request an inspection online
- Open the Boston Inspectional Services portal and sign in.
- Find your permit under Recent Activity, or select Search My Permits.
- If searching, choose the applicable application type, status, and date range. Select Search.
- Open your permit number and choose the Inspections tab.
- Find the needed inspection type and select Request Inspection.
- Open Details and enter the contact person’s name, phone number, inspection information, and relevant floor, suite, or work-area details.
- Select Submit and verify that the request is recorded.
- Check your email and watch for the inspector’s call to arrange the specific inspection date.
If an older permit is missing from Recent Activity, use Search My Permits and expand the date range beyond one year if necessary.
Option 2: Schedule by telephone
Call 617-635-5300 and prepare the following information:
- Building permit number
- Complete project address
- Contact person’s name and phone number
- Email address, if available
- Preferred inspection date
- Type of inspection required
For electrical and plumbing inspections, Boston requires the licensed contractor as the appropriate point of contact. For other work, confirm who must be present with ISD.
Inspection scheduling timeframe
Boston states that an inspector will contact the designated person within 48 hours after the request to finalize the inspection date. This is a contact timeframe, not a promise that the inspection itself will happen within 48 hours.
How to check inspection results and close an open permit
Completing construction is not always the same as closing a permit. Boston’s March 2026 guidance emphasizes confirming that all required inspections have passed and that the permit is officially closed.
- Check permit activity: Sign in to your online permit account and open the relevant record.
- Review inspection information: Look for pending, requested, or completed inspection activity and any outstanding requirements.
- Arrange the final inspection: If required and not yet completed, request it through the portal or ISD call center.
- Resolve deficiencies: Address any required corrections and arrange reinspection when directed.
- Verify final closure: Check the permit record and, where applicable, the status field in the Analyze Boston building-permits dataset.
- Contact ISD if the record remains open: Provide the permit number, final inspection date, inspector’s name, or a signed permit copy if available.
Use the City’s Closing Open Permits guide (PDF) for the official explanation.
Which records can you access online?
| Information needed | Best official resource |
|---|---|
| Current application or permit phase | Permit Finder using the permit number |
| Older permits for an address | Historical Permit Records and document search |
| Issued building permit data after December 15, 2009 | Analyze Boston building-permits dataset |
| Your application and inspection requests | Inspectional Services account portal |
| Original building plans | ISD document room, subject to access rules |
| Confirmation of permit closure | Permit records and direct ISD verification |
Can you see original building plans?
Boston’s historical records guidance says that building plans must be viewed in person at the document room on the fifth floor of 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118. Online document images should not be assumed to include complete building plans.
Call ahead to confirm access requirements, document availability, and any applicable copying procedures.
Why a Boston permit may not appear in search results
If your search returns no record, check these common causes before concluding that the property has no permits:
- Incorrect permit number: A missing letter prefix or mistyped number may prevent a match.
- Old or inactive record: Current Permit Finder coverage is not a complete historical archive.
- Different address format: Street abbreviations, unit numbers, or historic addressing differences can affect search results.
- Different permit category: Electrical, plumbing, building, and fire-related permits may have different records or workflows.
- Incomplete dataset coverage: Boston’s issued-permit dataset begins after December 15, 2009, so earlier records require other sources.
- Account access: Some application details are accessed through the permit holder’s account rather than the public status lookup.
If these steps do not resolve the problem, contact ISD with the property address, the permit number if known, the approximate work dates, and the type of construction.
Boston Inspectional Services contact information
Boston Inspectional Services Department
Address: 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-635-5300
Email: isd@boston.gov
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time
Official department: Boston Inspectional Services
Office hours and contact information can change, particularly around holidays. Confirm before visiting.
If the property is in another Massachusetts municipality, use the correct local office. Our Billerica Building Department guide and Beverly Building Department guide include local permit-status and records guidance.
Boston building permit search: 10 FAQs
1. How do I look up a building permit in Boston?
Open Boston Permit Finder, enter the complete permit number, and select “Look Up Permit.” The available result shows the current tracked phase and relevant project information.
2. Can I search Boston building permits by property address?
Yes. Use Boston’s historical permit records or the Analyze Boston building-permits dataset. The current Permit Finder is designed primarily for permit-number searches.
3. Are Boston building permit records public?
Many permit records and issued-permit data are publicly accessible. Some materials, including building plans, require in-person access, and other records may be subject to disclosure restrictions.
4. How do I check the status of my Boston building permit application?
Enter the application or permit number in the official Permit Finder. Applicants can also sign into the Inspectional Services portal to review their application and any required actions.
5. How do I schedule a Boston building inspection?
Sign into the ISD portal, open your permit, select the Inspections tab, and choose Request Inspection. You can also call 617-635-5300 with your permit and project details.
6. How long does it take to get a building inspection in Boston?
Boston says an inspector will contact the designated person within 48 hours of an inspection request to arrange a date. The actual inspection date depends on scheduling and project requirements.
7. How do I find older building permits in Boston?
Use the City’s historical permit document search or the Analyze Boston dataset. For older records or plans that are not available online, contact the Inspectional Services document room.
8. How can I tell whether a Boston building permit is still open?
Review the permit’s status in the appropriate city system or building-permits dataset. If the record is unclear, ask ISD to verify whether the required final inspection and permit closure have been completed.
9. What should I do if my Boston permit does not appear online?
Verify the permit number and search historical records using the property address. If it still cannot be located, contact ISD at 617-635-5300 with the address and available application information.
10. Who do I contact about a failed inspection or an unclosed permit?
Contact Boston Inspectional Services at 617-635-5300 or isd@boston.gov. Provide the permit number, property address, and any inspection documentation so staff can identify the outstanding issue.
Official sources and verification
- City of Boston — Permit Finder: current permit status lookup.
- Boston — Historical Permit Records: address searches, archives, and record access.
- Boston — How to Schedule an Inspection: official portal and telephone procedures.
- Boston — Closing Open Permits (2026 PDF): final inspections and closure guidance.
- Boston Inspectional Services: department contact information.
Last researched: October 9, 2026. This independent informational guide is not affiliated with or operated by the City of Boston. Official city systems control permit records, decisions, inspections, and regulatory requirements.