County Permit SearchU.S. compliance directory
MassachusettsPlymouth County

Administrative overview · FIPS 25023

Plymouth County permit authority

The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.

Jurisdictional status

Municipal Fallback

This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.

Required jurisdiction check

Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.

The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.

Responsible agency

Town of Plymouth Inspectional Services Department (representative municipal fallback)

For a project in or near Plymouth County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.

Direct contact

508-322-3431

Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.

Permit counter

26 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360

Operating hours

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM; Tuesday 7:30 AM-6:30 PM; Friday 7:30 AM-noon. Inspectors are generally in the office Monday-Friday 7:30-9:30 AM and in the field afterward.

Review expectation

N/A; the Town states that application accuracy and completeness directly affect processing time but does not publish a general review-time estimate.

Compliance workbench

Choose the next project decision.

Source trail

Official sources for this profile

Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.

Project questions

Frequently asked questions for Plymouth County

Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?

This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.

How should I begin an application?

Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 508-322-3431.

How long might review take?

N/A; the Town states that application accuracy and completeness directly affect processing time but does not publish a general review-time estimate.

How are inspections scheduled?

Use the OpenGov Citizen Services portal to submit, track and complete the permit review and inspection process online 24/7. For questions or inspection assistance, call Inspectional Services at 508-322-3431; inspectors are generally available in the office from 7:30-9:30 AM before field inspections.

Which codes and exemptions should I review?

Massachusetts State Building Code 780 CMR Tenth Edition, based on the 2021 I-Codes with Massachusetts amendments, plus applicable Massachusetts Electrical, Plumbing/Gas, Mechanical, Fire and accessibility requirements, Plymouth zoning bylaws and the Town's Stretch Energy Code. Plymouth adopted the Stretch Energy Code effective January 1, 2021; current energy provisions are 225 CMR Chapter 22 for low-rise residential and Chapter 23 for commercial, multifamily and other construction. Plymouth's official Inspectional Services FAQ lists ordinary repairs and, subject to other laws and zoning, one-story detached sheds/playhouses up to 200 square feet for residential work, fences up to 7 feet, qualifying retaining walls up to 4 feet, grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons, sidewalks and driveways, painting/papering/tiling/carpeting/cabinets/countertops and similar finish work, qualifying pools under 24 inches deep, playground equipment, qualifying wall awnings, qualifying unattached decks up to 200 square feet and 30 inches above grade, and plastic-film greenhouses. Commercial exemptions are narrower; zoning permits or specialized trade permits may still be required.

Before contacting the permit counter

Have the project facts ready.

A productive call starts with a clear description of the property and proposed work. Keep the site address, parcel or assessor number, project valuation, existing occupancy, approximate square footage, structural scope, contractor information, and desired start date in front of you. Those facts help the Authority Having Jurisdiction route the question to building, planning, fire, environmental health, or another reviewing discipline.

Questions worth asking

  • • Is the parcel inside an incorporated city or county service area?
  • • Does this scope require building, trade, zoning, fire, or site permits?
  • • What plans and supporting documents make the submittal complete?
  • • How much lead time is needed for each inspection?