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City of Springfield, MA
Hampden County
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Misc. Documents (5182)
[Adopted as Title 12, Ch. 12.08, §§ 12.08.010 through 12.08.190, of the 1986 Code; amended in its entirety 2-24-2004[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that it is the intent of this ordinance that all revenues generated by these fees shall be used by the Department for salaries and general operating expenses of the Code Enforcement Department as the City Council may from time to time determine.
The permit for the erection, alteration, repair, demolition, or removal of, or the addition to, a building or other structure; or a permit for the installation, alteration, repair, or removal of any equipment or appurtenances which are regulated by this article and the State Building Code; shall have been paid to the City Collector; and any amendment to a permit which necessitates an appurtenance of the building or structure that is involved shall not be approved until the additional fee shall have been paid thereto. This section shall not apply to permits issued to the City of Springfield for City-owned and/or -occupied buildings.
The payment of any fee which is required by the above § 175-1 shall not relieve the applicant or holder of the permit from the payment of any other fee or assessment that may be prescribed by other privilege or requirement, both within and without the jurisdiction of the Building Department.
A. 
The fee for a building permit for the erection of, or the addition to, a building or other structure shall be based upon the square footage per R.S. Means costs (annual edition), including basement or cellar as determined by the following use groups which are classified and defined in the Massachusetts State Building Code:
(1) 
A minimum of $100 or $10 per 1,000 per R.S. Means square foot costs (per annual edition):
(a) 
Group A, Assembly.
(b) 
Group B, Business.
(c) 
Group E, Educational.
(d) 
Group F, Factory and Industrial.
(e) 
Group H, High Hazard.
(f) 
Group I, Institutional.
(g) 
Group M, Mercantile.
(h) 
Group R, Residential.
(i) 
Group S, Storage.
(j) 
Group U, Utility and Miscellaneous.
B. 
The minimum fee for a permit for the use and occupancy listed in this section shall be $75.
C. 
The minimum fee for a permit for a temporary use and occupancy listed in this section shall be $50.
D. 
The minimum fee for roofing commercial buildings shall be $75 and $0.05 per square foot.
E. 
The minimum fee for multiresidence repairs shall be $75 and $0.48 per square foot.
A. 
The fee for a building permit for the alteration or repair of a building other than a one-family or two-family dwelling shall be based on the square footage of the area of the building to be altered or repaired: a minimum of $60 or $0.45 per square foot.
B. 
For other alterations and repairs which do not involve square footage, such as changing doors, replacing windows, etc., the minimum fee shall be $60 per floor.
(See definition of "structure" as defined in the Massachusetts State Building Code.)
A. 
The minimum fee for a building permit for a temporary structure and for a retaining wall is $75.
B. 
The minimum fee for a building permit for a radio antennas and towers is $250, plus $10 per $1,000 of value per R.S. Means square foot costs (per annual edition).
C. 
A minimum fee for a building permit for adding an antenna to an existing tower shall be $500 per antenna.
The fee for a building permit for an open shed, carport, open storage shed or building of similar character with large overhanging roofs or marquees; the square footage shall be measured to the outer edge of the roof or overhang.
A. 
The fee for a building permit for the relocation of a building to a new location on the same lot shall be $150.
B. 
The fee for a building permit for the relocation of a building to a new location on a different lot shall be $250.
C. 
The fee for a building permit for moving one- and two-car detached garages shall be $50.
D. 
The fee for a building permit for moving a house from one lot to another shall be a demolition fee (old lot) of $100 ; and an erection fee for a new lot of $150.
A. 
The fee for a permit for the demolition of a one- to three-family dwelling shall be a minimum of $150 plus $0.05 per square foot.
B. 
The fee for a building or structure permit other than one- to three-family dwellings shall be $150 plus $0.05 per square foot of area or part thereof.
A. 
The fee for a building permit for the erection of, or addition to, a one-family or two-family dwelling, including mobile homes, shall be a minimum of $250 plus $8 per square foot based upon 1,000 square feet per R.S. Means costs (annual edition).
B. 
Fee for reinspection of unsatisfactory work: $50.
The fee for a permit to alter or repair a one- or two-family dwelling, including mobile homes, shall be a minimum of $50, plus $0.25 per square foot.
A. 
Permit fees for building structures, additions and alterations to accessory use buildings for one- or two-family dwellings and mobile homes shall be a minimum of $150, plus $8 per 1,000 square foot of R.S. Means costs (annual edition).
B. 
Detached garages: $100.
C. 
Permit fees for swimming pools:
(1) 
In ground: $125.
(2) 
Aboveground (with deck): $100.
(3) 
Aboveground (without deck): $65.
D. 
Demolition, per floor: $200.
E. 
Fireplaces (including wood, pellet or coal stoves): $50.
F. 
Roofing, siding and decks: $50.
G. 
Repairs and alterations: $50, plus $0.25.
A. 
Plumbing permit fees for residential occupancies. New, additions and alterations: $50 per unit, plus $6 for each fixture.
(1) 
A "unit" shall consist of each living unit or apartment, including but not limited to a single-family (one unit); two-family or duplex (two units); three-family or apartment complex (each is a separate unit).
(2) 
Hotels, motels, lodging houses, dormitories and rooming houses. A "unit" shall mean each room or space containing plumbing fixtures, including public and private toilet rooms and/or kitchens.
B. 
Minor repairs and alterations (e.g., water test and gas test).
(1) 
Permit fee: $50 (if no change of fixtures).
C. 
Gas permit fees shall be the same as plumbing permit fees when a "unit" contains one or more gas appliances.
(1) 
New, additions, and alterations: $50 per permit, plus $6 for each fixture.
(2) 
Minor repairs and alterations: permit fee of $50 (if no change of fixtures).
D. 
Nonresidential occupancies.
(1) 
New and additions (or as stated on application as renovations):
(a) 
Plumbing permit: $100, plus $6 for each fixture.
(b) 
Gas permit: $100, plus $6 for each fixture.
(2) 
Alterations and repairs (as stated on application as replacements):
(a) 
Plumbing permit: $50, plus $6 for each fixture.
(b) 
Gas permit: $50, plus $6 for each fixture.
(3) 
Alterations and repairs of a minor nature (e.g., water test, and gas test):
(a) 
Plumbing permit: $50.
(b) 
Gas permit: $50.
(4) 
Large installations of 250,000 BTUs or more: 0.05% of the total BTUs (0.05% x BTU).
E. 
Others.
(1) 
Residential hot water tank permits (includes plumbing/gas permits): $50.
(2) 
Nonresidential hot water tank permits (includes plumbing/gas permits): $100.
(3) 
Fee for reinspection of unsatisfactory work: $50.
F. 
Buildings owned by the City of Springfield. Any building owned and/or occupied by the City of Springfield shall be exempt from the requirement of this schedule.
All fees listed below (Subsections A through L), excluding the cost of service/services (Subsection A), permit fees are not transferable.
A. 
Electrical services.
(1) 
The fee for all electrical service or devices shall be $0.30 per ampere with a minimum fee of $30.
(2) 
Service panel board charges are as follows:
Size of Service Panel
(amperes)
Fee
60
$30
100
$30
200
$60
400
$120
800
$240
B. 
Residential, new additions and alterations.
(1) 
One-family: $70 per dwelling unit; after three inspections, $40 each unit.
(2) 
Two-family: $70 per dwelling unit; after three inspections, $40 each unit.
(3) 
Multifamily: $70 per dwelling unit; after three inspections, $40 each unit.
(4) 
Garages: $70 per dwelling unit; after three inspections, $40 each unit.
C. 
Miscellaneous residential.
(1) 
Hotels: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
(2) 
Motels: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
(3) 
Dormitories: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
(4) 
Nursing homes: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
(5) 
Rooming houses, etc.: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
D. 
Change of use group. Change of use group to residential shall be treated the same as listed in Subsections A, B and C.
E. 
Accessory work items (residential).
(1) 
Accessory buildings (e.g., separate garages, temporary trailers): $50.
(2) 
Any major appliance (e.g., air conditioner): $30.
(3) 
Oil burner or gas burner: $30.
(4) 
Aboveground swimming pool: $40.
(5) 
In-ground swimming pool: $60.
(6) 
Smoke detectors (per detector): $10.
(7) 
Pole lights: $50, plus $10 per pole.
(8) 
Wiring of signs: $50.
(9) 
Grounding aluminum siding: $10.
F. 
Wiring additions (residential) not involved with construction work and not listed in Subsection E.
(1) 
Minimum fee: $25, plus $5 per room.
(2) 
Residential alarm systems: $40.
G. 
Commercial, new, additions and alterations with building permit:
(1) 
Includes all buildings or structures not listed in Subsections B, C, D and E: $80, plus $0.10 per square foot.
(2) 
The fee for open canopies, open warehouse space and open parking garage space shall be $80, plus $0.08 per square foot.
H. 
Wiring addition (commercial); no building permit required.
(1) 
Major repairs or additions: $50.
(2) 
Lighting retrofits: $50.
(3) 
Comfort control systems: $80.
(4) 
Communications systems, etc.: $80.
(5) 
Fire alarm and security alarm systems:
(a) 
First floor: $80.
(b) 
Each additional floor: $30.
(6) 
Minor repairs or additions.
(a) 
Minor repairs, such as wiring or equipment replacement, etc.: $50.
I. 
Maintenance permits.
(1) 
Any business operation (commercial or industrial) which maintains an electrical maintenance force shall pay a blanket fee of $500 annually for on-premises work, subject to the following:
(a) 
The permit application and fees are due the first day of January each year.
(b) 
Any work done by outside contractors is subject to the appropriate section of this schedule.
(c) 
A log of work completed shall be kept by the supervisors of electrical maintenance and arrangements shall be made for a wiring inspection semi-annually.
(2) 
Permit reissuance fee: $40 or original permit fee if less than $40.
J. 
Temporary wiring. Temporary wiring in conjunction with bazaars, outdoor shows, exhibitions, carnivals, etc.: $70.
K. 
Any fee not covered by the above. The Building Commissioner shall determine all fees not covered.
L. 
Buildings owned by the City of Springfield. Any building owned and occupied by the City of Springfield shall be exempt from the provisions of this schedule.
M. 
Permits issued where no work is commenced within six months of the issuance date will no longer be valid. A new application will have to be taken out.
Permit fees for fire equipment shall be as follows:
A. 
Sprinkler system.
(1) 
New installations: $100, plus $2 for each sprinkler head.
(2) 
Additions, alterations, and repairs: $50, plus $2 for each sprinkler head.
B. 
Standpipes not connected to sprinkler systems.
(1) 
New installations, each story: $75.
C. 
Additions, alterations and repair, each story: $50.
D. 
Reinspection fee for unsatisfactory work: $50.
Permit fees for sign permits shall be as follows:
A. 
Nonilluminated wall sign: $30, plus $0.25 per square foot.
B. 
Illuminated wall sign: $60, plus $1 per square foot.
C. 
Illuminated double-faced projecting sign: $60, plus $1 per square foot.
D. 
Illuminated ground sign: $60, plus $1 per square foot of total face area of each side.
E. 
Illuminated roof sign: $100 per square foot, plus $1 per square foot of total face area of each side.
F. 
Illuminated directional signal such as exit, entrance: $50.
G. 
Nonilluminated double-faced projecting signs, ground signs, roof signs and direction signs; such as exit, entrance: $30, plus $1 per square foot of total face area of each side.
H. 
Sign removal.
(1) 
Unbonded sign: $25.
(2) 
Bonded sign: $40.
I. 
Sign alteration: $25, plus $1 per square foot of the face area.
J. 
Sign repair.
(1) 
Accessory: $20.
(2) 
Nonaccessory: $40.
K. 
Outdoor advertising sign (billboards) reinspections. The fee for outdoor advertising signs as required by MGL c. 93, §§ 29 through 33, shall be $40.
L. 
Outdoor advertising signs (billboards).
(1) 
New: $50, plus $1 per square foot of total face area of each side (if applicable).
A. 
The fee for removal of stop-work orders shall be $150.
B. 
The fee for removal of cease-and-desist orders shall be $150.
C. 
No fees paid for the issuance of a permit under this article are returnable.
D. 
Any failure to obtain permits before the start of work defined by this article shall cause the applicable fees to be doubled.
E. 
Any fees for reinspection trips are not set for defective work, but are for incomplete work or when access cannot be obtained at the appointed time of inspection. Said fees shall be paid prior to the reinspection appointment and shall not be less than $50.
F. 
After-hours inspection fees for any residential or commercial new, addition, repair or alteration permit shall be $150.
G. 
The fees for the certificates of inspection will be 150% of the indicated fees listed in Table 106 of the Massachusetts State Building Code rounded to the highest dollar value. A building or structure shall not be occupied or continue to be occupied without the posting of a valid certificate of inspection where required by said Table 106.
Fees which are not specifically covered or defined by this article shall be set as determined by the Code Enforcement/Building Commissioner.
Board of Appeals fees shall be as follows:
A. 
The fee for an appeal for a variance from the requirements of the State Building Code shall be $175.
B. 
The fee for an appeal for a variance from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance for a commercial zone shall be $500 and for a residential zone shall be $400.
C. 
The fee for an appeal for a variance from the requirements of both the State Building Code and the Zoning Ordinance shall be $500.
D. 
The fee for adding to a Board of Appeals filing for a variance from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance for a commercial zone or residential zone shall be an additional $150 from the issuance of a cease-and-desist order.
E. 
The fee for a certificate letter of zoning compliance shall be $50.
The Commissioner shall keep a permanent accurate record of all fees which are covered under this article, the names of the persons upon whose accounts the same were paid, dates and amounts thereof, together with the locations of the structures or premises to which they relate.