Manchester Building Permit Office

The City publishes an Application for Plan Review and Building Permit for Manchester projects. The form identifies the property, proposed work, building use, construction information and the parties responsible for the project.

• Property address and zoning district
• Ownership and the type of permit requested
• Description of the proposed work and proposed building use
• Building dimensions, number of stories, height and construction type
• Estimated project costs, including building and applicable trade work
• Applicant, owner or lessee, contractor and architect/engineer information when applicable
• Existing restrictive easements, nearby wetlands and conditions imposed by the Planning or Zoning Boards

Commercial construction has an additional published plan requirement: the City requires two sets of stamped plans for commercial construction projects.

Manchester publishes different approximate review periods based on the project. These periods begin once the required documentation has been submitted.

These are published review estimates rather than guaranteed permit-issuance dates. A project requiring zoning, fire, public works or another separate approval can involve additional review.

New Hampshire updated its state building code effective July 1, 2026. The current state code adopts the 2024 International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Existing Building Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. The state definition retains the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code and uses the 2023 National Electrical Code.

The City also placed a new Manchester Zoning Ordinance into effect on March 1, 2026. Applications submitted under the current zoning system should therefore be checked against the ordinance and zoning map now in force rather than Manchester’s superseded 2001 zoning ordinance.

• New one- and two-family dwellings: estimated cost of work multiplied by 0.006.
• Other new construction and additions: estimated cost of work multiplied by 0.01.
• Alterations, renovations and repairs: estimated cost of work multiplied by 0.01.
• Building permit application fee: $25.
• Multi-family and commercial plan review: $0.02 per square foot in addition to the applicable building permit charges.

Manchester maintains separate fee schedules for other permits and municipal services. The current City fee page should be checked when calculating the cost for a specific project.

Manchester’s structural division schedules inspection requests through the appropriate inspector. The City directs applicants to email the inspector and include the approved permit or application number and the project address. The inspection page lists separate contacts for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections.

The structural inspectors, except for the Plans Examiner, are listed as being in the office Monday through Friday from 7:00–8:30 a.m. and 3:00–4:00 p.m.. Current inspector assignments and email addresses are published on the City inspection page.

Manchester requires advance requests for final inspections and Certificates of Occupancy. For a one- or two-family dwelling, the City asks that the Certificate of Occupancy be requested five business days before it is needed. For commercial projects and residential projects containing more than three dwelling units, the request should be made ten business days in advance.

All inspections associated with the project, including required inspections performed through other City departments, must be approved and supporting paperwork must be complete before Manchester issues the Certificate of Occupancy or completion letter.