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Window Replacement in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Single-pane sashes rattling in their weights, double-pane units fogged between the glass, frames gone soft at the sill, or windows that simply won't open. Replacing them brings in the energy code, egress for bedrooms and, in older homes, the lead rules. Call (978) 788-0374 or send the form. A person reads every request and replies with what happens next.
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Glass, frames and openings
Replacing the windows in an older house
Insert or full frame. Some jobs set a new window inside the existing frame and trim; others take the opening back to the rough framing so rot, flashing and insulation around the window can be fixed. Which way a contractor goes depends on what it finds once the old sash and trim come out.
Energy ratings. Each new window carries an NFRC label listing its U-factor. Massachusetts' Stretch and Specialized Code table lists a window U-factor of 0.30 for the state's climate zone (225 CMR 22); ask your installer what your town's code requires and for the label on the windows you choose.
Lead paint. In a home built before 1978, window replacement is always covered by the federal lead renovation rule, however small the job (EPA RRP for contractors). The old sashes and trim are often where the most lead paint is.
Massachusetts
Replacing windows in Massachusetts
Registered and supervised. The contractor must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor for work on your owner-occupied home of one to four units, and OCABR's chart marks window installation or replacement as needing a building permit and at least a Window/Siding construction supervisor license (HIC contractor resources). Check both on the Contractor Hub and the OPSI verification site.
Bedroom egress. When an existing single- or double-hung window serves as an emergency escape opening, the Massachusetts code calls for at least 3.3 square feet of net clear opening, at least 20 by 24 inches in either direction (780 CMR R310.7.1). A permit is required for any work that removes or changes a required means of egress (780 CMR R105.2.2).
Energy code. The base code is the 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments, and many towns use the Stretch or Specialized Code (Building energy code). In those towns, alterations and repairs to existing homes follow the code's chapter for existing buildings (225 CMR 22). The state lists each town's choice (adoption by municipality).
Mass Save. Mass Save pays $75 per window when ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows certified for the north region replace single-pane windows. The rebate covers purchases from January 1 through December 31, 2026, and applications must be postmarked or submitted online by February 28, 2027. The existing windows must be verified before installation, and you must complete the weatherization recommendations from your home energy assessment (Mass Save windows).
Lead and the contract. In pre-1978 housing, paid window replacement is done by a licensed lead-safe renovation contractor (DLS contractor guide). Custom-size windows are typical special-order materials, which is when a deposit may exceed the usual one-third cap; any job over $1,000 needs a written contract (M.G.L. c.142A §2).
New Hampshire
Replacing windows in New Hampshire
Your town's permit. The town or city issues building permits and may keep codes stricter than the state's (RSA 155-A:2). Ask the building department whether your window job needs a permit; ask the town building official about egress for bedroom windows. The state building code moved to the 2024 editions on July 1, 2026, with either set accepted through December 31, 2026 and the new codes required from January 1, 2027 (Town of Merrimack code page).
Lead paint. New Hampshire uses the federal program directly, so anyone paid to replace windows in a pre-1978 home must be EPA-certified, sole proprietors included (EPA RRP).
The contract. The Attorney General says "contractors do not need to be licensed" in New Hampshire, recommends a written contract with the scope, materials, total price and payment schedule before any work or payment, and treats a down payment over 50% of the final cost as a warning sign (NH Attorney General). On a contract over $5,000, the contractor must give you the RSA 359-G notice about the state's construction defect claim process (RSA 359-G).
New Hampshire exterior rules and the towns we cover.
Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by January 2027. New England Exterior Pros is a referral service. We don't sell or install windows.
FAQ
Window questions
Do replacement windows need a permit in Massachusetts?
The state's contractor chart lists window installation and replacement as building permit work, done under at least a Window/Siding construction supervisor license. It is general guidance, so confirm with your building department.
Is there a rebate for new windows?
Mass Save offers $75 per window when ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows replace single-pane windows, for purchases made in 2026 with applications due by February 28, 2027. The existing windows have to be verified before installation, and the weatherization recommendations from your home energy assessment must be completed. It applies to customers of the participating Massachusetts utilities.
How big does a bedroom window have to be?
In Massachusetts, an existing single- or double-hung window used as an emergency escape opening needs at least 3.3 square feet of net clear opening and at least 20 by 24 inches in either direction. In New Hampshire, ask the town building official about egress on the permit.
My house is from the 1930s. Does window replacement fall under the lead rules?
Yes. Under the federal rule, window replacement in a pre-1978 home is always covered regardless of size, so the contractor must be certified. In Massachusetts, that means a state-licensed lead-safe renovation contractor; in New Hampshire, an EPA-certified firm.
What does it cost me to use New England Exterior Pros?
Nothing. The request and the referral are free; the contractor prices the work.
Town guides
Local rules for window replacement by town
Each town page covers that town's permits for exterior work, historic review and the homes you'll find there. Towns with a local guide so far: Greater Lowell, MA (Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, Billerica, Westford, Tyngsborough and Pepperell), Andover, Lawrence & Haverhill, MA (Methuen, Lawrence, Andover, North Andover and Haverhill), Woburn, Reading & Melrose, MA (Woburn, Lexington, Burlington, Wilmington, North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester), Nashua Region, NH (Nashua, Hudson and Merrimack), Salem, Derry & Londonderry, NH (Pelham, Salem, Windham, Derry and Londonderry), Manchester & Bedford, NH (Manchester and Bedford) and Portsmouth, Dover & Rochester, NH (Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester). We add towns across New England as we can cover them properly.