Hi, We are finishing our basement. I want to add a zone for heat in the basement. Is permit required to put heat in the basement. Our house is heated with oil. I applied for permit for finishing the basement as a home owner and got the permit! I live in Massachusetts! Thank You for answering my question.

You would need to check with your zoneing board. Zoneing is different state by state and city by city. Where I live it needs a permit because you would be altering the plumbing on the radiator system.

Depends on what you will do to accomplish the zoning. New furnace, dampners, valves or what. You can ask the building inspector the question because like siber says, it varies from city to city. Normally, where I live, alterations to the existing heat plant do not require a permit. Side note, many cities and counties use permits just as a cash cow and could care less about some things we build. They need cash so they sell permits, the assessors office like to see permits so he can raise your taxes. Prime example, have an old asphalt driveway and need a new one, got to have a permit.

Thank you for answering my questions. It's a great help.

SMC...

When we install boilers in Massachusetts permits are required for the electrical, the plumbing water connection and the relief valve. Interesting enough there are no codes or permits required for the heat part of the job (except national fire codes requirements).

To add a zone in Massachusetts you should not need to pull a permit because you are not changing the plumbing... only the heat piping and wiring. When I install a new zone I run the piping and then extend the wiring to include the new zone valve or relay switch.

You should be all set!

MARK

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