Decks & Porches in Hudson, Massachusetts

Hudson is served by Hudson Light and Power Department, a municipal light plant that is not part of the Mass Save program. Hudson homeowners are not eligible for Mass Save rebates on any home improvement. Deck projects are not covered by any rebate program.

For deck permitting, the Assabet River corridor is the primary environmental consideration. The Hudson Conservation Commission handles Wetlands Protection Act filings for any project within 100 feet of the Assabet River or its tributaries. Properties in the Assabet floodplain or near Millbrook tributaries in south Hudson frequently trigger review. Interior lots away from the river go through the Hudson Building Department under 780 CMR: 48-inch frost-line footings, ledger flashing, guardrail height (36 inches minimum), and baluster spacing.

Hudson deck permits are filed with the Hudson Building Department under 780 CMR. Hudson Light and Power has no permitting role. The Assabet River and associated wetlands require Conservation Commission review under the Wetlands Protection Act for lots within 100 feet. Hudson has no active local historic district commission that typically reviews residential deck designs. Standard inspections cover footing depth, ledger connection and flashing, framing, and guardrail compliance.

Deck construction in Hudson runs at a mid-Middlesex County rate, below the Route 128 premium but above Hampden County. Pressure-treated pine decks for a 300-400 sq ft project cost $15,000-$26,000; composite or PVC decking (Trex, TimberTech) is $24,000-$40,000. The Assabet River valley's varied terrain in south Hudson can add $1,500-$4,000 for hillside lots with elevated decks. Conservation Commission filing and consultant costs add $600-$1,500.

Hudson has 19,947 residents in about 8,560 housing units in Middlesex County, between Marlborough and Stow along Route 85 and Route 117. The median home age of 54 years places most housing in the late 1960s and 1970s, with colonials and raised ranches in established neighborhoods.

The Assabet River runs through the center of town and is designated Wild and Scenic through the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge corridor west of Hudson. The river's associated wetlands and floodplains affect many properties near downtown and south Hudson.