The Town Manager appoints the Building Commissioner who in turn appoints the Wiring Inspector and Gas and Plumbing inspectors. The inspectors are paid by the Town either by the hour or per inspection. The fees which they collect are turned over to the town and goes back into the general fund.
Permits are required from the Building Department for all construction including swimming pools and the installation of wood stoves. Building permit applications also may require Board of Health, Fire Department, Zoning Authority and Conservation Commission approval.
Trench permits are required and are accessed through the building department's online permitting system (see link below).
When calling for an inspection, please make sure to talk to someone directly. This department does not take email requests for inspections and can not guarantee an inspection has been received if left as a voice mail message.
Notice: As of July 6, 2010, the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety has adopted the Federal Lead Paint Regulations. Please go to the website: www.mass.gov/dos to access information on this program.
Note: Energy Code Requirements - the 2009 IECC will be enforced as the only energy code as of July 1, 2010.
Seventh Edition of the State Building Code is now in effect
Eighth Edition of the State Building Code- Base Code (all buildings other than 1 or 2 family) is in effect August 6, 2010 with a concurrency with the 7th edition ending February 6, 2011.
NEW: Flood Plain Information, Due to the refinancing of many homes there has been an increased number of phone calls asking about flood plain information.
FEMA has updated all flood maps and is now accessible from the web. Go to www.msc.fema.gov and that will bring you to the website to make flood maps of your area. On the left hand side type in your address and a map will show up for your area. You can print that map from the directions given on the site. You may also use the Town of Westford GIS mapping system to help in finding what the approximate elevation is of your property (do that by using the layers tab on the left hand side of the screen, open up the base
layers folder and go down to contours - click on it!).
The Town of Westford is available to assist you in your search for flood plain information.
NOTE: Any changes that are made to the FEMA FLOOD MAPS are through FEMA and you may need the assistance of a licensed Surveyor to address proper elevations for your property.
Building Permit Process:
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