Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the 9999 street addresses?
2. What types of permits and licenses are listed online?
3. What type of permits and licenses are not listed?
4. Why do I see the same permit listed multiple times?
5. How far back does the permit history go?
6. Where is the information stored and when is it updated?
7. Can I apply for a license online?
8. What are the rules and regulations for each permit or license?
9. I get an error 'More than 1,000 records found!  Please limit the search.

A 9999 street number is used to identify a street location that does not have a postal street address.  These properties include community land without a structure (parks, water areas, and utility easements), railroad right of ways, public utility land (water pumping station, power transfer, MWRA easement, NSTAR natural gas lines), and other parcels that do not have street numbers.  New streets may also have 9999 addresses.

Board of Health Food Service Permits:

• Retail
• Temporary
• Catering
• Milk
• Frozen Dessert
• Vending Machines
• Mobile Vending Trucks
• Restaurants

Building Permits (Commercial and Residential):

• Addition
• Renovation
• Demolition
• Change in Use
• New Construction

Business Certificates (DBA)

Conservation Applications:

• Notice of Intent
• Request for Determination
• Abbreviated Notice of Intent
• Enforcement Order
• Order of Resource Area Determination

Dog Licenses

Electrical Permits

Fire Department Permits and Plan Reviews:

• Fire Alarm
• Ansul System
• Above Ground Tank
• Back-Flow
• Black Powder
• Blasting
• Certificate of Exemption
• Flammable Fluids
• Liquid Propane
• Oil Burner and Tank Installation
• Overnight Parking
• Sprinkler
• Tank Transport
• Tar Kettle
• Underground Tank
• Vapor Recovery
• Waste Oil
• Welding and Cutting
• 26B, 26E, 26F

Gas Line Fitting Permits

General Licenses:

• Amusement
• Auto Reseller (Class I, II, and III Motor Vehicle)
• Auctioneer
• Bowling Alley
• Taxi/Livery Company
• Carnival
• Common Victualer Restaurant
• Coin Operated Amusement Device
• Fortune Teller
• Innholder
• Hawker/Peddler
• Lodging House
• Pool Table
• Second Hand Goods Reseller
• Sunday Entertainment

Liquor Licenses (All Alcohol and Malt & Wine):

• Innholder
• Retail Establishment
• Restaurant
• Club
• Special Events

Plumbing Permits

Street Opening/Sidewalk Obstruction Permits

Burial Permits, Firearms Identification (FID), Fishing Licenses, Gun Dealerships, Hackney Licenses, Raffle Permits, Marriage Licenses, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Rubbish/Septic Transport Permits, Septic Installation Permits, Well Permits, Swimming Pool Permits, Kennel Licenses, Tanning Establishment Permits, Tobacco Resale Licenses, Weights and Measures Certifications, and Public Works Water Services (Meter Certification, Water Entrance, Sewer Entrance, Hydrant/Pump Certification, Lawn Meter).

Many of these licenses and permits are maintained by the state and federal authorities.  The town may act as the issuing agent for these licenses, but the license and permit information is maintained by the central authority.

A permit may appear in the search results multiple times if there are multiple names associated with a permit.  Depending on the type of permit, significant names may include the Applicant, Owner, Contractor, Business Manager, Engineer, Architect, Botanist, Business Name, or Attorney.

An entry for the permit may appear for each address associated with a permit that encompasses multiple addresses.

• Board of Health Food Service Permits:  Since January 2002.
• Building Permits:  Most history is available back to January 1946.  Building permits have been maintained using computer records since 1996.
• Business Certificates:  Since 1994.
• Conservation Applications:  Most history is available back to the mid-1970's.
• Dog Licenses:  Since 1997.
• Electrical Permits:  Since January 2003.
• Fire Department Permits:  Since March 2000.
• Gas Fitting:  Since January 2003.
• General Licenses:  Since 1996.
• Liquor and Malt & Wine Licenses:  Since 1996.
• Plumbing Permits:  Since January 2003.
• Street Opening/Sidewalk Obstruction Permits:  Since 1996.

The Town of Framingham maintains a computerized permit and license system shared by multiple departments.  The software application that we use is PermitsPlus from Accela.  The information is stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database.  As of December 2006, almost 200,000 permits and licenses are stored in the database.

The issuing departments maintain the permit and license information.  Updates to any license or permit are available on the web site immediately after the departments enter the data into the permit system.

Many application forms are available online for download.  Check here for a complete list.

• Board of Health: Food Service Permits
• Building Department: Building, Plumbing, Electric, Gas, Sign, and Demolition Permits
• Conservation Commission: NOI, A-NOI, RDA, N-RAD
• Town Clerk:  Marriage Licenses, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Dog Licenses
• Fire Department Permits
• General Licenses: Common Victualer Restaurant, Amusement, Motor Vehicle Reseller (MGL)
• Liquor and Malt & Wine Licenses (MGL) (By-Laws)
• Street Opening/Sidewalk Obstruction Permits

Sending the data for more than 1,000 license records can take a long time to process.  If more than 1,000 permits match your criteria, try specifying a date range for the Application Date and selecting a specific Permit Type.