Municipal Inspections / Building Department

Coronavirus Notice

Notice: Due to Coronavirus the municipal inspections office will be closed to the public indefinitely. In the meantime we will continue to process permits and conduct inspections whenever possible.

You can still apply for permits online and they will be processed in the usual manner. As an option, you can download and complete a paper application and scan/email it or fax it in.

Please wait to request inspections that are not time sensitive or where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Leave inspection requests (address of inspection, type of inspection and your name and phone number) on our voicemail or email. We will be monitoring both. Do not assume that your request has been accepted unless you hear back from us.

Thank you for your understanding.

Responsibilities

The Municipal Inspections Department enforces the:

  • Architectural Access Board Regulations
  • Beverly Zoning Ordinances
  • State Building Code
  • State Electrical Code
  • State Mechanical Code
  • Uniform State Plumbing and Gas Code

This involves plan review, permit issuance, and inspection of all building, electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical construction in the city, including new structures, additions, alterations, and repairs.

New Construction Inspections

In addition to inspections of new construction, the department is responsible for inspecting and issuing Certificates of Inspection for all existing:

  • Educational uses:
    • Colleges
    • Day care centers
    • Schools
  • All residential uses other than one and two-family dwellings:
    • Group dwellings
    • Hotels
    • Motels
    • Multi-family dwellings
  • Places of assembly:
    • Bleachers
    • Nightclubs
    • Public and semi-public pools
    • Recreational facilities
    • Religious institutes
    • Restaurants
    • Schools
    • Theaters

Architectural Access Board Regulations

The department is also responsible for enforcing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Regulations involving handicapped accessibility to buildings. The Sealer of Weights and Measures reports to the Director. The sealer determines the accuracy of all weights and measuring devices in commercial and public use within the city.

Stretch Energy Code

The City of Beverly has adopted the Stretch Energy Code. All applications for building permits must include the applicable Stretch Energy Code Compliance Checklist, available on our Permit Applications and Forms page.