House Painting in Salem, MA
House painting in Salem, MA, including homes in the McIntire, Derby Street, Lafayette Street and Washington Square historic districts.
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House painting in Salem, MA, including homes in the McIntire, Derby Street, Lafayette Street and Washington Square historic districts.
Inside one of those four districts, a new color on the clapboards, trim, doors or even the storm windows goes to the Salem Historical Commission first. Bring a paint chip. The guidelines leave room for personal taste but ask that colors fit the house's period and its neighbors. Repainting the colors you already have counts as maintenance and gets a Certificate of Non-Applicability.
Outside the districts, South Salem's Queen Anne and Shingle style houses carry a lot of trim to scrape, fill and prime before any finish goes on. In the Point, the brick apartment blocks put most of the painting indoors: hallways, units and window trim. Prep comes first either way.
Our house painting work.
Our work around Boston and the North Shore.
Salem rules that matter for house painting.
We confirm what your job needs when we come look.
Historic district certificates
In the McIntire, Derby Street, Lafayette Street and Washington Square districts, exterior changes visible from a public way need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Salem Historical Commission before work starts. Applications go through the city's online permit system, due 16 days before a meeting. [1][2][3]
Paint colors are reviewed
Inside the districts, the Commission reviews paint colors, including windows, doors, porches and the colors of storm doors and windows. Include a paint chip. Repainting in the same colors is ordinary maintenance and gets a Certificate of Non-Applicability instead. [1]
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
More in Salem.
Everything we do in Salem, MA →Kitchen & Bath Remodeling in SalemCarpentry & Built-Ins in SalemBasement Finishing & Flooring in SalemDeck Building & Repair in SalemHouse Painting questions from Salem
Yes, if the colors change. The Historical Commission reviews paint colors in all four local districts. Same colors are ordinary maintenance and get a Certificate of Non-Applicability.
Where this information comes from.
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.
- 1.Historical Commission, City of Salem
- 2.Salem Historical Commission Guidelines (without photos), PDF (Official, but chapters are dated 1996-2010 (paint colors rev. 1996, porches rev. 1996).)
- 3.Individual Local Historic District Maps, City of Salem
- 4.Inspectional Services (Building Department), City of Salem
- 5.Conservation Commission and Chapter 50 wetlands ordinance, City of Salem
- 6.FEMA & Flood Map Revisions, City of Salem
- 7.Salem Historic Preservation Plan Update 2015, PDF
- MATenth edition of the MA State Building Code (780 CMR), Mass.gov
- MAM.G.L. c. 82, § 40A (excavation notice)
House Painting in Salem?
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