Massachusetts Construction Pros
Massachusetts Construction Pros home
Request an Estimate (877) 838-5444

Massachusetts Construction Pros

Construction & Remodeling Experts in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Construction Pros plans and builds kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, repairs, commercial spaces and new homes for Massachusetts homeowners and businesses. Much of the state's housing is old: about 30% of homes were built before 1940 and about two-thirds before 1980. That means many projects start with what is behind the walls, lead-safe work practices and a permit from the local building department. Service areas are still being confirmed, so every project starts with your address.

Request an Estimate (877) 838-5444
Newly built center-chimney Colonial with white clapboard, black shutters and granite steps behind a fieldstone wall in a MetroWest suburb.
Illustrative image
Outline of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

Construction Pros

Remodeling, roofing, repairs and new construction planned around Massachusetts' older homes, snow loads and local permits.

Serving communities across Massachusetts

Service areas

Building in Massachusetts

What shapes a project in Massachusetts

Codes, climate and permit rules differ across Massachusetts. These are the local factors we plan around before any work is scheduled.

  1. One state code, enforced by each city and town

    Massachusetts writes one building code for the whole state, and the 10th edition of its residential code adopts the 2021 International Residential Code with state amendments. The state Board of Building Regulations and Standards writes and amends the code, and the local building inspector in each city or town enforces it. A city or town that wants stricter rules for local conditions can recommend them to the state board for adoption.

  2. Energy code: climate zone 5A, plus stretch and opt-in versions

    The state energy code is based on the 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments and took effect on October 11, 2024. The code places the whole state in climate zone 5A. Massachusetts also publishes a stretch energy code, with appendices for a Municipal Opt-in Specialized code. Confirm with the local building department which version applies at your address before design starts.

  3. Snow and wind values are set town by town

    The residential code lists a ground snow load and design wind speed for every municipality. Among the cities in this guide, ground snow loads range from 30 psf in Fall River to 50 psf in Worcester, Lowell and Pittsfield, and design wind speeds range from 112 mph in Pittsfield to 128 mph in Fall River. Statewide, the code sets frost depth at 48 inches, requires ice barrier underlayment on roofs, and rates termite risk as moderate to heavy.

  4. Coastal storms and flood mapping

    Hurricane Bob in 1991 pushed a 10 to 15 foot storm surge into Buzzards Bay and destroyed 29 of 37 homes on Cove Road in Mattapoisett. More than 60% of residents across southeast Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts lost power. The residential code lists windborne debris regions, as defined in the code, among its design criteria. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for checking a property's flood zone.

  5. An old, mixed housing stock

    Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 show about 30% of Massachusetts homes were built before 1940 and about 67% before 1980. About half are single-family detached houses, and about one in five are in two- to four-unit buildings. Paid work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978 must follow lead-safe rules, and Massachusetts runs its own EPA-authorized program.

Sources (11)

Licensing & permits

Verify any contractor in Massachusetts

Official Massachusetts resources for checking a contractor's registration or licence and understanding which permits your project may need. Use them for anyone you are considering, including us.

Contractor licensing

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (Home Improvement Contractor registration) and the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards (Construction Supervisor License)

Massachusetts uses two state credentials for home improvement and building work. Under the state's home improvement contractor law, a contractor doing residential contracting, meaning work on an existing, owner-occupied building with one to four units, must be registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. The law exempts some contractors, including licensed electricians, plumbers and architects working only within their licenses, and anyone whose total contract price for a project is under $500. Contracts over $1,000 must be in writing and list the contractor's registration number, the scheduled start and substantial completion dates, and a payment schedule. Separately, the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards licenses construction supervisors. In Cambridge, for example, building permits are issued to licensed construction supervisors or to homeowners working on one- or two-unit homes where they live. Ask for the registration and license numbers and check them with the state before you sign.

Check a contractor’s status (opens the official Massachusetts site in a new tab)

Building permits

Permits in Massachusetts

Building permits in Massachusetts come from the building department of each city or town, where the local building inspector enforces the state building code. The code itself is written by a state board, and a city or town that wants stricter local rules must recommend them to that board. Local reviews can add steps: Springfield's building division also enforces the city's zoning ordinance, and Boston adds a flood hazard plan review for long-form permits in FEMA flood zones. In local historic districts created under the state historic districts law, a building permit for exterior changes cannot be issued until the historic commission issues its certificate. What needs a permit and which reviews apply vary by city and town, so we confirm them for your address during planning.

Sources (12)

Our services

Construction & Remodeling Services in Massachusetts

Kitchens, bathrooms, exteriors, repairs and new construction, planned around Massachusetts codes and permit offices.
View all services
  • Illustrative image

    Kitchen Remodeling

    Kitchen remodels that update the layout, cabinets, counters, lighting and finishes, planned around how you cook and use the room.

  • Illustrative image

    Bathroom Remodeling

    Bathroom remodels built on sound waterproofing and ventilation, with fixtures and finishes that fit who uses the room.

  • Illustrative image

    Repairs & Maintenance

    Planned repair visits for the small and mid-size problems that build up in a home or building, from sticking doors to rotted trim and loose railings.

Inspiration

Design inspiration for Massachusetts projects

Styles, materials and layouts suited to Massachusetts homes and businesses, to help you picture your own project.

See more ideas
Newly built center-chimney Colonial with white clapboard, black shutters and granite steps behind a fieldstone wall in a MetroWest suburb.
Design inspiration
Remodeled kitchen in a Worcester triple-decker apartment with a bay window, painted wood trim, navy cabinets and a butcher-block counter.
Design inspiration
Renovated bathroom in a Cambridge Victorian two-family house with a clawfoot tub, marble hexagon floor and beadboard wainscot under a sloped ceiling.
Design inspiration
Carpenters in hard hats framing a full shed dormer on a Cape Cod house in Quincy, with new rafters and sheathed walls.
Design inspiration
Roofers tied off with harnesses laying architectural shingles on a Pittsfield farmhouse-style home with Berkshire hills behind.
Design inspiration

Images are illustrative and created for this website. They are not photographs of completed customer projects.

How it works

Our Simple 4-Step Process

A clear path from first conversation to finished project.
  1. 1

    Consult

    Tell us about your project and goals. We review the location, scope and any constraints.

  2. 2

    Plan

    We define the scope in writing, confirm selections and identify permits the work may need.

  3. 3

    Build

    Work proceeds against the agreed plan, with updates when decisions or changes come up.

  4. 4

    Enjoy

    We walk through the finished work with you and hand over care and warranty information.

Questions

Massachusetts Project FAQs

Answers about building and remodeling in Massachusetts. Still have a question? Contact us.
Who issues building permits in Massachusetts?

Your city or town does. The local building inspector enforces the state building code in the city or town that appointed them. Electrical, plumbing and gas work usually need their own permits. In Boston, Worcester and Springfield, for example, the same department issues those trade permits. We confirm which permits your project needs during planning.

How do I check a contractor before hiring one in Massachusetts?

For work on an existing owner-occupied home with one to four units, the contractor must hold a Home Improvement Contractor registration unless a state exemption applies. Also ask who will take out the building permit and for their Construction Supervisor License number. Boston's permit guide recommends hiring a licensed construction supervisor who also has a Home Improvement Contractor registration and having that person apply for all permits. The guide also notes you can check a builder's license through the state's website. Get the numbers in writing and check them before you sign.

How large a deposit can a home improvement contractor ask for?

For work covered by the Home Improvement Contractor law, the deposit cannot be more than one-third of the total contract price, or the actual cost of special-order or custom materials, whichever is greater. The contract must also include a payment schedule and the dates the work is expected to start and be substantially complete.

My house was built before 1978. What changes for a remodel?

Anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified and follow lead-safe work practices. Massachusetts runs its own EPA-authorized program. This applies to a large share of Massachusetts homes, since about two-thirds were built before 1980.

Which energy code applies to my project?

The state energy code follows the 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments, and the whole state is in climate zone 5A. Massachusetts also publishes a stretch energy code, with appendices for a Municipal Opt-in Specialized code. We confirm with your local building department which version applies to your address before design starts.

My home is in a historic district. What does that mean for exterior work?

Under the state historic districts law, the local historic district commission must issue a certificate before a city or town can issue a building permit for work that changes an exterior architectural feature, or a demolition permit. The commission can issue a certificate of appropriateness, non-applicability or hardship. Plan time for that review before ordering windows, siding or roofing.

Sources (14)

Local resources

Planning guides for Massachusetts

All resources

Ready to Start Your Massachusetts Project?

Tell us what you are planning and where. We'll confirm availability for your address and follow up to talk through scope and next steps.

Request an Estimate (877) 838-5444
CallRequest an Estimate