Terms and notices
What this is
Civic Hum is an independent local news service. Permit Watch reports building permits, zoning cases and construction projects in Massachusetts towns. We are not part of, or endorsed by, any town government.
Not an official record
We copy permit lists and board agendas from each town's public websites, and our copies can be incomplete, late or wrong. "Work described" is the applicant's own text, not a finding by the town or by us. For official records, ask the town's Building Department or the board involved. Don't rely on this site for legal, financial, property or construction decisions.
Privacy
- We never publish homeowners' names. Owner and applicant names are removed from the permit lists we publish.
- We may name developers of larger projects, architects and engineers named on public filings, businesses at their own premises, public officials acting in their role, and people who spoke on the record at a public hearing.
- We publish no interior plans of private homes. Drawings come only from public town filings, are credited to their architect, link to the filing, and have personal names removed.
- This site has no ads and no tracking cookies.
- If something here identifies you and you think it shouldn't, write to us and we'll review it promptly.
Corrections
We check every story against its source before publishing. When we get something wrong, we fix it in place and add a dated note at the end of the story saying what changed. We don't change stories without a note.
Using our content
You're welcome to quote and share our stories with a link back. The underlying permit data are public records. Drawings belong to their authors; if you hold the rights to one and want it removed, tell us.
Map data
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Locations come from MassGIS address points, or the US Census geocoder for new addresses MassGIS doesn't list yet, which can sit a few houses off.
No warranty
This site is provided as is, without warranties of any kind. To the extent the law allows, Civic Hum is not liable for losses that come from using it.
Contact
For corrections, removal requests and tips, use the contact address that will be posted here at public launch.