Basement finishing and flooring in Saugus, MA. Along the tidal Saugus River and in East Saugus, we deal with water before we build walls.
Free · no obligation · we call back within 1 business day
Saugus zoning puts every FEMA Zone A and AE area on the Essex County flood maps dated July 3, 2012 into a Floodplain overlay district. In the floodway, new construction and substantial improvements are banned unless a registered engineer certifies they won't raise the base flood level.
[1]Section 10.2 of the Saugus zoning bylaw says a building permit waits on a Certificate of Zoning Compliance, which the Zoning Enforcement Officer issues within 30 days. The application needs a drawn plan of the lot showing existing buildings and where the new work goes.
[1][2]One statewide building code. Massachusetts uses a single building code for every town: 780 CMR, now in its tenth edition. Your local building department enforces it and issues the permits. source
Dig Safe before digging. State law requires notice to Dig Safe at least 72 hours before digging, not counting weekends and legal holidays. That includes holes for deck footings. Call 811. source
The town's hazard plan says cellars in East Saugus have flooded when tides slow stormwater drainage, and the tidal stretch of the river up to the Iron Works sees basement flooding in heavy storms. A finished basement there starts with a moisture check and a drainage plan.
In Saugus's Floodplain district, substantial improvements in the floodway need an engineer's certification. Most basement jobs aren't in the floodway, but we look up the 2012 Essex County map for your address before we price.
Often, with care. The town's hazard plan notes flooded cellars there when tides back up drainage, so we check for water and plan for it before any framing.
Our work around Boston and the North Shore.
Local rules change. We link the official pages so you can check the current version, and we confirm what your job needs when we come look.
Send a request or give us a ring. We'll come to Saugus, look at the job and give you a written price. Free.
