Duxbury Building Department 2026: Permits, Fees & Inspections

Duxbury Building Permits, Inspections & Official Services

If you are planning a roof replacement, deck, addition, renovation, new house, siding project, windows, electrical work, plumbing, gas work or demolition in Duxbury, Massachusetts, the Duxbury Building Department is one of the first local offices you may need.

Information reviewed November 2, 2026. Permit rules, fees and staff assignments can change, so use the Town’s current permit record for the final project-specific decision.

What the Duxbury Building Department Handles

The department reviews construction plans, issues building permits, checks zoning-related building requirements and performs inspections during construction. Electrical, plumbing and gas permits are handled through specialized inspectors working within the same Municipal Services structure.

Do You Need a Permit in Duxbury?

For most construction and substantial renovation work, assume a permit may be required until the Building Department confirms otherwise. A small project can still affect structure, egress, zoning, electrical, plumbing, energy-code or safety requirements.

Duxbury’s official expedited permit form specifically provides categories for:

• vinyl or wood siding;
• replacement windows;
• replacement doors;
• reroofing;
• insulation or weatherization;
• kitchen or bathroom remodeling with no structural changes;
• certain tents;
• fire-suppression system repair; and
• other qualifying expedited work approved by the department.

You can review the Town’s official expedited building permit form before preparing a simple residential project.

Projects that normally need fuller review

New houses, additions, structural renovations, decks, larger accessory buildings, major commercial work and demolition normally need more than the expedited form because zoning, structural plans, site information or other department approvals may be involved.

For example, Duxbury specifically states that all deck construction requires a building permit. The Town’s deck guidance also states that decks must comply with applicable setbacks.

How to Apply for a Duxbury Building Permit

1. Confirm the property and project. Have the exact Duxbury street address and a clear description of everything you plan to build, remove or alter.
2. Check zoning before finalizing plans. Setbacks, lot coverage, wetlands, historic restrictions or septic requirements can change what you are allowed to build.
3. Open the Town’s official Online Resources page.
4. Select “Online Building Permit Application & Inspection Requests.” Use the Town-linked permitting system rather than searching for an unofficial permit website.
5. Select the correct permit type. Enter the property, owner, contractor, construction-value and project information requested by the system.
6. Upload or provide the required supporting documents. Plans, plot information, licenses, insurance and affidavits vary by project.
7. Submit and monitor the application. A submission is not the same as an issued permit. Respond to requests for revisions or missing information.
8. Wait for issuance before beginning regulated work. Keep the approved permit and documents available at the job site as required.

What to Prepare Before You Apply

The exact checklist changes with the job, but preparing these items first makes the process much easier:

• property street address;
• owner’s name and contact information;
• map, block and lot information when requested;
• clear written scope of work;
• estimated construction cost;
• contractor name and contact information;
• Construction Supervisor License information when applicable;
• Home Improvement Contractor registration when applicable;
• workers’ compensation affidavit;
• contractor insurance information;
• site or plot plan when location/setbacks matter;
• floor plans and construction drawings;
• engineering or professional design documents when required;
• debris affidavit for applicable projects; and
• other Town approvals that apply to your property.

Duxbury’s Quick Permit form asks applicants to identify whether the work is residential or commercial and whether wetlands are involved. That is a useful reminder that the building permit may not be the only approval your project needs.

Duxbury Building Permit Fees

The Building Department currently links a construction fee schedule originally effective January 1, 2019. The Town continues to make this schedule available, but applicants should verify the calculated amount shown during the current permit process before paying.

See the official Duxbury Building Department fee schedule.

How Duxbury calculates estimated construction value

The same Town schedule publishes valuation figures that may be used when calculating construction value:

Electrical fee examples

Duxbury’s current linked electrical schedule includes these published amounts:

• new residential structure: $175 plus $55 for each 100 amps, or part of a 100-amp service increase;
• existing residential structure: $90 plus applicable service-increase charges;
• service change: $55 per each 100 amps or part thereof;
• swimming pool: $65;
• standby generator: $50;
• A/C unit: $50;
• hot-water heater electrical work: $50; and
• electrical reinspection: $30 paid in advance.

Check the official electrical fee schedule before filing.

Plumbing and gas fees

Plumbing and gas permits use a separate fixture-based schedule. For example, the published schedule lists a $75 residential replacement hot-water-heater fee. New and existing residential and commercial permits use different fee levels depending on the number of fixtures.

Use the Town’s official plumbing and gas fee schedule for the complete table.

Can you get a permit-fee refund?

Duxbury’s refund policy says permit fees are generally non-refundable, but a partial refund may be considered when:

• no work connected with the permit has taken place;
• the request comes from the person or party who paid;
• the request is submitted in writing or email with a reason; and
• the request is made within 90 days after permit issuance.

The published policy states that a $65 application fee is deducted from refunds. Where plan or inter-office review occurred, an additional 20% review fee is deducted. The policy is effective April 26, 2024.

How Duxbury Inspections Work

Do not cover framing, wiring, plumbing or other regulated work before the required inspection. The inspection sequence depends on the project and the permit issued.

For a building inspection request, start from the Town’s online permit and inspection page. Have these details ready:

• permit number;
• project address;
• inspection type;
• contractor or owner contact information; and
• any access instructions.

Electrical inspections

The Town states that electrical inspections are generally conducted in the afternoon, approximately 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Joseph A. Matterazzo, Jr. is currently listed as Electrical Inspector. General questions can be routed through 781-934-1100 ext. 6002.

Plumbing and gas inspections

Duxbury states that plumbing and gas inspections are generally conducted Monday through Thursday beginning around 3:00 PM and Friday around 8:00 AM. They can be scheduled by calling the Municipal Services office during business hours. Scott Bizzozero is currently listed as Plumbing/Gas Inspector.

Duxbury Zoning and Setbacks

A building permit does not override zoning. Before drawing a deck, addition, pool or accessory structure, identify the property’s zoning district and verify the correct dimensional requirements.

Duxbury publishes the following quick reference for its RC (Residential Compatibility) district:

Other Reviews That Can Affect a Building Permit

Wetlands and Conservation

Duxbury’s Conservation Department states that the Conservation Administrator reviews building permit applications to determine whether a project also requires Conservation Commission approval. This matters especially near wetlands, waterways and other regulated resource areas.

If you suspect wetlands are involved, check with the Duxbury Conservation Department before investing heavily in final construction drawings.

Septic and Board of Health

Projects involving bedrooms, septic systems, additions or certain changes of use may require Board of Health review. A building plan that is acceptable structurally can still be delayed if required septic or health approvals are incomplete.

Historic buildings and demolition

Duxbury states that demolition of a structure 75 years old or older is referred to the Historical Commission. For a demolition permit, the Town also requires items such as the building application packet, contractor information, plot plans and utility sign-offs.

The currently published residential demolition fee is $155. Review the official demolition requirements before planning removal.

Stormwater

Larger land-disturbance projects can trigger separate stormwater review. Duxbury’s adopted stormwater regulations publish filing fees beginning at $1,000 for qualifying disturbance from 30,000 square feet up to 2 acres, with higher fees for larger disturbed areas.

This is separate from an ordinary building-permit fee, so large development or grading projects should identify stormwater requirements early.

Which Building Code Applies in Duxbury in 2026?

Massachusetts currently uses the 10th Edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR. The transition period that allowed use of the previous edition ended June 30, 2025, so the 10th Edition is the applicable statewide building code in 2026.

Duxbury has also adopted the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code. Energy requirements can therefore be important for new construction, additions and other work affecting the building envelope or building systems.

For current state code material, use the Massachusetts State Building Code page and the state’s building energy code guidance.

How to Check Duxbury Building Permits and Records

The Town publishes monthly permit listing reports and maintains years of historical permit reports online.

1. Open the Town’s Building Permits Issued page.
2. Select the year you need.
3. Open the relevant monthly permit report.
4. Look for the property address, permit number, project description or other identifying information.
5. If you need the status of an active permit or an inspection, use the Town’s online permitting/inspection service or call the Building Department.

A permit appearing in a monthly report confirms that a permit record exists; it does not automatically prove that all final inspections were passed or that the project is closed. For a property purchase or an older project, ask specifically whether required final inspections and occupancy approvals are complete.

Who Should Pull the Permit?

Massachusetts requires licensed supervision for many types of construction. A Construction Supervisor License or registered design professional may be required depending on the building and project.

A qualifying owner-occupant may have a homeowner exemption for certain building work, but that does not mean homeowners can personally pull all trade permits. Regulated electrical, plumbing and gas work generally must be performed and permitted by appropriately licensed professionals.

For larger home-improvement jobs, allowing the properly registered contractor to obtain the permit can also help preserve protections available under Massachusetts home-improvement rules.

Before You Submit: 60-Second Duxbury Checklist

• Confirm the property is within the Town of Duxbury.
• Write down the complete scope of work.
• Check the zoning district and setbacks.
• Check wetlands before fixing the building location.
• Know whether septic/Board of Health review is involved.
• Check historic requirements if demolition or exterior work affects an older protected property.
• Prepare contractor licenses and insurance.
• Prepare plans and a plot/site plan when required.
• Calculate a realistic project value.
• Use the official Town permit link.
• Do not begin regulated construction until the permit is issued.
• Do not cover work before required inspections.

If your property is actually in another Massachusetts municipality, do not reuse Duxbury’s fees or procedures. Nearby and regional permit systems can be very different. Our existing guides explain the separate processes for Cohasset Building & Inspections, Bridgewater Building Department, Brockton Building Department and Dartmouth Inspectional Services.

Duxbury Building Department FAQs