Office of the Building Inspector

Town of Barnstead, Building Inspector
PO Box 11
Center Barnstead, New Hampshire 03225

Phone: 603-269-2299 • Fax 603-269-4072
Email: BuildingInsp@Barnstead.Org

Paul A. Richardson - Building Inspector
Rodney Boyd - Fire Prevention Inspector
Paula Vardaro - Secretary

Office Hours:
Paul Richardson:  Tuesday       6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
                          Thursday      3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
                          Friday           3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
By Appointment
Closed the Third Wednesday of every month.

Paula Vardaro:      Monday & Wednesday    8:30 am - 4:30 pm
                                  Friday                          8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Field Inspections
Performed Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings

Fire Inspections
Call: 603-776-8191

The Fire Prevention Inspector does the following inspections:
Fire Investigations
Fire Safety Inspections
Wood Stove Inspections
Foster Care Inspections


This page contains information pertaining to all of the permit application forms for new construction or renovations/remodeling of current structures. Depending on your project, you may not need to fill out all of the permit applications. If you have questions, please ask the Building Inspector.

We recognize that filling out forms and being familiar with the multitude of laws, codes and ordinances has the potential of being irritating, confusing and sometimes overwhelming. For the most part, all of the codes serve a life safety purpose and help to insure that buildings are designed and built or renovated to minimum standards.

The permitting process ultimately affects everyone who owns property in Barnstead by helping to ensure that basic building standards are adhered to. A high quality permitting process also affects our overall property insurance rates and reduces the reliance on paid outside agencies to review each property for new or renovated structures. Please keep in mind that when permits and codes are properly followed, there is a benefit to the individual property owner as well as to all members of the community.

Plans and Specifications:
1. ALL new buildings and structures require detailed plans, scale drawings, specifications and bill of materials detailed enough to enable a review of the project by the Inspector’s office. It must also include:

A. Footing and foundation cross-section drawing.
B. Electrical drawing including panel size.
C. Plumbing drawing with general locations and specifications.
D. Property line set backs need to be noted on drawings.
E. State required energy package.
F. Approved driveway permit.
G. State septic system approval.
H. A copy of Locke Lake Colony construction approval (if applicable).

2. ALL renovation/remodeling requires plans, scale drawings, specifications and bill of materials detailed enough to enable an office review of the project. If applicable, it must include:
A. Footing and foundation cross-section drawing.
B. Electrical drawing including panel, branch panel and wire sizes.
C. Plumbing drawing with general locations and specifications.
D. Property line set backs need to be noted on drawings.
E. State required energy package (depends on project).
F. A copy of Locke Lake Colony construction approval (if applicable).

Please note that the Building Inspector cannot assist you with the design and specifications or act as a consultant for buildings or projects that he will be required to inspect at a later date. The Building Inspector is only authorized to refer questions to the applicable codes and/or ordinances.

Building Permit Checklist

Building Permit Fee Schedule
Work Exempt from Permit

Septic systems:
A copy of the State of New Hampshire approved septic design must be on file prior to a building permit being issued.
Septic system design documentation must be submitted with the permit applications for any renovation or remodeling that increases the number of bedrooms.

Set backs:
Building/structure set backs are 50’ from the road right of way, 50’ from the high water mark, and 30’ from the side lines. Set backs are sometimes an issue with small lot sizes and must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Town ordinances allow exceptions under certain circumstances.

Please be sure that you know where your property boundaries are. You may want to review them with your neighbors to be sure that any issues are resolved before a project is started. An on site review is part of the inspection process. An accurate plot plan speeds up the permit process.

Town of Barnstead Setback Table

Inspections:
The list of required inspections is attached to the actual Building permit. It is the responsibility of the applicant, or the person coordinating the project to call for inspections.

Please call a minimum of 48 hours in advance for inspections. Incomplete or failed inspections require a re-inspection and are charged for. Please help us to not have to do the paper work for a re-inspection. Depending on the project, the following inspections are required:
1. Site review (property lines, new building and septic should be staked out).
2. Temporary electrical service inspection.
3. Footing inspection.
4. Foundation inspection.
5. Frame inspection.
6. Rough plumbing inspection.
7. Rough electrical inspection.
8. Insulation inspection.
9. Service entrance inspection
10. Final inspection with Fire Department

PLEASE CALL FOR THE FOLLOWING INSPECTIONS

Commercial, Industrial, and two or more family structures:
Please make an appointment with the Building Inspector to review your project. Each has its own special requirements.

Commercial Building Permit Fee Schedule

Filling out the forms:
Please complete all applicable items on forms with special attention to:
1. Street/road address of project;
2. Map and lot number of project;
3. Owners full name, address and telephone number (day and evening);
4. Contractor/builder name, address and telephone number;
5. License number and expiration date.

Applications for Permits

Building Permit
Demolition Permit
Electrical Permit
Plumbing Permit
Mechanical Permit
Locke Lake Colony Building Permit
Driveway Permits can be obtained from the Town Hall or the Road Agent's office.

Codes:
Please be familiar with them. Barnstead uses BOCA, CABO, Life Safety 101, National Electrical Code, Plumbing code, and the Fuel Gas code.

Town of Barnstead Code of Building Regulations
NH Residential Energy Code can be found at www.puc.state.nh.us or you can obtain a copy from the Town Hall.

2003 Fire Protection Code

Licensed trades:
Barnstead aggressively enforces the State licensing requirements of the electrical and plumbing trades. Only master electricians and master plumbers are authorized to submit permit applications for their respective trades on projects/jobs/properties that are owned by others. Each master must personally appear with his/her license and a second form of identification when submitting the permit application.

In New Hampshire, only a New Hampshire licensed journeyman or master plumber can perform plumbing.
Electrical work can be performed by the actual resident homeowner (not a non-licensed contractor, friend or relative).
Temporary electrical services and new or replacement electrical service entrances must be installed by a licensed electrician.

Licensed trade members performing plumbing or electrical work without a permit are reported to the respective licensing boards. Unlicensed individuals performing work on a property or project that they do not personally own, with or without a job permit, are reported to the respective licensing board for their decision on legal action.

Dig Safe:
Please be sure to follow the Dig Safe requirements for excavation (particularly in built up areas). The Dig Safe approval number is part of the permitting process.

Permit application and plan review:
Please allow 30 days from the date you submit your completed application. We do our best to approve completed applications and process permits in a timely manner. During high activity months (spring, summer and fall) this becomes difficult due to the large numbers of applications and inspections.

Building permit applications submitted without other required permit applications (such as plumbing and electrical) will not be processed until all the paper work is in.

Please allow plenty of lead-time. Emergency situations are exceptions and we act on them immediately. Remember that there is no substitute for good planning.

Portable toilets:
The codes require that a portable toilet be installed on all projects that do not have an on site connected and accessible toilet facility for construction personnel. Please note that this has been a particular issue in built up areas. Jobs that do not have toilet facilities will be shut down until a portable toilet is installed.

A note on beginning your project:
By State law and building codes, approved permits must be in place and posted before beginning any work. This includes clearing lots and excavation for new construction.

A note on enforcement of permits. laws, codes, licenses and ordinances:
Enforcement is not the pleasant part of the job. For those who repeatedly refuse to work within the rules, we will aggressively do our best to persuade them to change. If this fails, the issue is referred for legal action. Misunderstanding and mistakes are part of life and we all make them. Ignoring the rules is a different issue.

Building Inspector’s Office Hours:
There is only one of me and it is a part time position in Barnstead. Office work, appointments and field inspections have to be accomplished. Please, always call and make an appointment so that you do not make wasted trips.
Call: 603-269-2299 x4