Ashland Launches New OpenGov Permitting Portal

DATELINE — ASHLAND Ashland's town government has rolled out a new online License and Permitting Portal built on the OpenGov platform, giving residents and contractors a way to handle permitting and licensing needs digitally rather than in person at Town Hall.

TOWN HALL The town announced the new License/Permitting Portal in its latest News Flash update, saying the OpenGov-based system is meant to modernize how residents and contractors apply for and track permits and licenses. Town Hall, at 101 Main St., keeps its regular hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and closed Fridays.

COMMUNITY & ARTS The Ashland Public Library keeps its summer calendar full this week. Wednesday, Aug. 12 alone brings six programs: Baby Time for children up to age 3 with a caregiver, a Sensory Safari for ages 1 to 3, a Garden Workshop for grades K-6, an evening Ice Cream Bar and Summer Reading Discussion for adults, and two virtual author events, an inclusive and diverse romance book recommendation session with Read My Lips Boston and a science fiction recommendation talk with author Elizabeth Bear.

Young readers can also enter the library's Summer Reading Raffle Drawing, running Thursday and Friday, Aug. 13-14, and adults have through Thursday, Aug. 13, to take part in the Online Adult Summer Reading Challenge 2026.

COMING UP The Planning Board meets in hybrid format Thursday, Aug. 13.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.