Any work in Boston that involves a building's structural elements must be performed by a Department of Public Safety licensed construction supervisor. Nonstructural residential home improvement work can be performed by a home improvement contractor registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Typically, state law requires a registered contractor for projects costing over $1,000 of work on a residential building where the owner lives on site.

The Department of Public Safety sets a high standard for licensing construction supervisors. Applicants must demonstrate 3 years of experience in building construction or design, pass an examination on building code and general construction practices and pay a licensing fee. Licenses must be renewed every two years for a fee of $100. Contractors must comply with continuing education requirements to be eligible for renewal.

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation does not require an examination or previous work experience to register as a home improvement contractor. Home improvement contractors must pay a fee and contribute to the State Guaranty Fund at the time of registration.

Contractors are required to hold general liability insurance and an active workers’ compensation policy to acquire permits in Boston. You should request copies of each of these insurance certificates for your records prior to the start of any work on your property.

Most construction and home improvement work in Boston requires a building permit. Generally, a permit is necessary for all new construction, major additions, remodels and demolition. Common projects requiring a permit include adding insulation, installing doors or replacing fire doors, installing or replacing windows, structural carpentry and flooring, fencing over 6 feet high, masonry work, plastering, building a deck, roofing, sheetrock, siding work, and work on stairs. Permits are also needed to add solar panels, swimming pools and septic systems. This is not a complete list of projects that require permits.

The Department of Inspectional Services - Building Division is responsible for issuing permits and protecting public safety by ensuring project compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances. It is advised that building permits are taken out by your contractor. This protects homeowners if they have to pursue legal action against the contractor, and is required to be eligible for reimbursements from the State Guaranty Fund. The Building Division provides numerous services to guide you through the permitting process. The process varies depending on the scale of your project, and whether you're making structural changes or not. While some minor projects can obtain permits electronically, others will need to be applied for in person. Many smaller projects may be eligible for same-day permits. More details are available on Boston’s Building Division’s website.

Hiring a registered Home Improvement Contractor provides access to the state arbitration program if something goes wrong. Homeowners who have suffered financial loss may have access to up to $10,000 restitution through the Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund. The property must be the owner's primary residence, and a claim must be filed within 6 months of the initial court judgement or the arbitration award date.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the Department of Public Safety; building permit data, gathered from the Boston Department of Inspectional Services; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Boston, Massachusetts. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Boston. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.