Building Permits & Licensing

Building permits and contractor licenses are available at Newton City Hall, 201 E. 6th St., at the 3rd floor reception desk. Applications are available for download below.

Contractors

Contractor licensing ensures that contractors are qualified and insured. View a list of licensed contractors(PDF, 51KB) as of October 6, 2025.

• Class A contractors are licensed for all commercial and residential construction.
• Class B contractors are licensed for all residential and commercial construction not exceeding three stories.
• Class C contractors are licensed for residential construction up to two stories/three units and non-structural commercial remodeling.
• Class D contractors are licensed for residential repair and remodeling only.

When hiring a contractor:

• Get at least three written estimates from contractors who have come to your home to evaluate what needs to be done. 
• Get recommendations and references. Talk to friends, family, and other people for whom the contractor has done similar work.
• Make sure the contractor meets licensing and registration requirements.
• Be sure your contractor has the required personal liability, property damage, and workers’ compensation insurance.
• Insist on a complete written contract. Do not sign the contract until you read it carefully.
• Beware of contractors who ask you to pay for the entire job up front.

Permit fees

Building permit fees are based on the value of the construction:

Project Valuation	Building Permit Fee
$1 to $500	$22.43
$501 to $2,000	$22.43 for the first $500 plus $2.99 for each additional $100.00 or fraction thereof
$2,001 to $25,000	$67.28 for the first $2,000 plus $11.96 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
$25,001 to $50,000	$342.36 for the first $25,000 plus $8.97 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
$50,001 to $100,000	$566.61 for the first $50,000 plus $5.98 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
$100,001 to $500,000	$865.61 for the first $100,000 plus $4.49 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
$500,001 to $1,000,000	$2,661.61 for the first $500,000 plus $3.74 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
$1,000,001 and up	$4,531.61 for the first $1,000,000 plus $2.99 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof

Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits have itemized fees depending upon the installations to be performed.

Forms

Forms available to download, fill out, and submit to the Engineering and Code Enforcement Office on the 3rd floor of City Hall: