780 CMR
Massachusetts Building Code — 780 CMR
JD Building Engineering
Massachusetts licensed services
James Davis, PE provides licensed structural engineering for residential and light commercial permit sets throughout Massachusetts. Permit-ready drawings and calculations are prepared for Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and New Bedford, plus other cities and counties statewide.
Boston-metro alterations, brownstone and wood-frame remodels, and Cape/Islands coastal homes are typical. Stretch energy code adoption can affect detailing coordinated with the architectural set.
Whether you need structural calculations, permit-ready framing and foundation drawings, or plan-check responses, JD Building Engineering delivers code-compliant documents ready for Massachusetts building-department submittal.
Massachusetts Building Code — 780 CMR
ASCE 7 snow, frost, and coastal wind/flood along the South Shore, Cape, and Islands
NDS, AISC, ACI, and TMS design as the structure requires
Electronic seals where accepted by the authority having jurisdiction
Massachusetts building codes
Massachusetts jurisdictions adopt I-Codes or a state-specific code based on them. The tables below summarize the primary codes and referenced standards used for permit drawings and structural calculations. Local AHJ amendments still apply.
Massachusetts occupancy, residential, and accessibility provisions that typically govern the permit set JD Building Engineering’s structural sheets support.
| Code / Standard | Application |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Building Code — 780 CMR | IBC-based commercial and multi-family construction with Massachusetts amendments |
| 780 CMR residential provisions | One- and two-family dwellings based on the IRC with Massachusetts amendments |
| International Fire Code (IFC) | Fire protection systems, hazardous materials, and fire-department access where adopted |
| IBC Chapter 11 / ANSI A117.1 / ADA | Accessibility for public accommodations and commercial buildings where they apply |
Civil deliverables, when the project and licence allow, include site and grading coordination, drainage, and retaining structures tied to the foundation design.
| Code / Standard | Application |
|---|---|
| IBC Chapter 18 — Soils and foundations | Site development, retaining walls, and foundation soils |
| MassDOT / DEP stormwater | Driveway permits and Massachusetts stormwater standards |
| Local grading ordinances | County/city grading permits, erosion control, and cut/fill limits |
| FEMA NFIP / local floodplain | Flood-zone compliance and elevation coordination where the site is mapped |
Boston-metro alterations, brownstone and wood-frame remodels, and Cape/Islands coastal homes are typical. Stretch energy code adoption can affect detailing coordinated with the architectural set.
| Code / Standard | Application |
|---|---|
| IBC Chapter 16 | Structural design requirements — loads, materials, and systems |
| ASCE 7 | Minimum design loads: dead, live, wind, snow, rain, seismic, and flood |
| ACI 318 | Structural concrete design and detailing |
| AISC 360 | Structural steel buildings |
| NDS (AWC) | Wood construction — sawn lumber, glulam, shear walls, and diaphragms |
| TMS 402/602 | Masonry structures |
Structural services
James Davis personally manages the structural design, calculations, detailing, and drafting. Clients receive a coordinated permit-ready package rather than a review of drawings prepared by others.
Coverage
Licensed in 39 U.S. states and 5 Canadian jurisdictions. Remote structural engineering is available for qualifying projects.
Send the project address with your inquiry. JD Building Engineering will confirm sealing format and local AHJ requirements before work is scoped.
Questions
Yes. James Davis, PE is licensed in Massachusetts and prepares permit-ready structural drawings and calculations for qualifying residential and light commercial projects. Sealing format (wet or digital) follows what the AHJ accepts.
Design follows Massachusetts Building Code — 780 CMR, together with the referenced structural standards in the tables on this page and any city or county amendments that apply to the project address. Share the jurisdiction with your inquiry so the correct edition can be confirmed.
Yes. JD Building Engineering provides remote structural engineering for qualifying Massachusetts projects using digital plan sets, email, and phone. On-site visits are not assumed and are confirmed only when a project requires them.
Typical work includes new homes, additions, remodels, ADUs, foundations, decks, retaining walls, and accessory structures. Light commercial structural work is considered when it fits the practice. The sealed work is structural engineering, with civil support where licensing allows.
Contact
Tell us about your Massachusetts project. JD Building Engineering will review the available information and respond regarding scope, availability, and next steps.
Licensed coverage
James Davis, PE holds licenses across 44 jurisdictions. Open a page for local code context and engineering permit services.