Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Savoy, Massachusetts

Town of Savoy’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Savoy town limits (Berkshire County, MA): the town administers its own zoning bylaw

  • Bylaw may be amended at town meeting under MGL c.40A s.5 (section 12.1)
  • Amendments may be initiated by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Berkshire County regional planning commission, ten registered voters, or an affected landowner (section 12.2)

  “this bylaw may be amended at a town meeting in accordance with the provisions of section 5, chapter 40a of the general laws of massachusetts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Savoy town limits: the bylaw defines one district covering the whole town

  • The bylaw describes a single district; no district map or multiple-district schedule was located in the opened text

  “for the purpose of this bylaw the whole area of the town of savoy constitutes a single rural, residential and agricultural zoning district with uniform regulations for each class or kind of structures or use permitted.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Main single-family residential lots in the single rural, residential and agricultural district (entire town of Savoy)

  • Section 5.1 applies to any building used for dwelling purposes or for housing a principal permitted use, except as otherwise provided in this bylaw
  • Section 5.2: no lot may be changed in size so as to violate lot area or frontage requirements
  • Section 4.3.1 special permit allows conversion of an existing dwelling to multiple-family use only if lot area exceeds the minimum by at least 1/2 acre per added unit

  minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 3 acres (one dwelling or principal building per lot) · minimum lot frontage on a street: >= 150 feet

  “5.1.1 the lot not be less than three acres per dwelling unit and no more than one dwelling or principal building shall be located on such a lot. 5.1.2 the frontage for any such lot shall be not less than 150 feet on a street.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and structures in the single rural, residential and agricultural district (entire town of Savoy)

  • Yard dimensions apply to any dwelling or principal permitted use under Section 5.1, except as otherwise provided in this bylaw
  • Section 6.2 (visibility at corners) is a separate special provision not reviewed here

  front yard: >= 30 feet · side yard: >= 20 feet · rear yard: >= 20 feet · lot width: >= 100 feet

  “5.1.3 the minimum yard and which dimensions for any building or structure shall be: a. front yard - 30 feet b. lot width - 100 feet c. side yard - 20 feet d. rear yard - 20 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the single rural, residential and agricultural district (entire town of Savoy)

  • Coverage includes accessory buildings and hard-surfaced areas

  maximum lot coverage by buildings, structures and hard-surfaced areas: <= 10 percent of total lot area

  “5.1.5 the lot coverage by buildings and structures, including accessory buildings and hard surfaced areas, shall not exceed ten percent of the total lot area.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings and structures in the single rural, residential and agricultural district (entire town of Savoy)

  • Height restriction does not apply to agricultural buildings or structures, spires, chimneys, antennae or other appurtenances usually placed above roof level and not intended for human occupancy

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (agricultural buildings or structures, spires, chimneys, antennae and similar appurtenances not intended for human occupancy)

  “5.1.4 the height of any building or structure shall not exceed 35 feet. height restrictions do not apply to agricultural buildings or structures, spires, chimneys, antennae or other appurtenances usually placed above roof level and not intended for human occupancy.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A mobile home placed on or affixed to a permanent foundation on private land inside Savoy town, counted as a one-family dwelling

  • Mobile home parks and expansions of existing mobile home parks are prohibited (section 4.5.2)
  • The definition does not address a mobile home that is not placed on or affixed to a permanent foundation; not established from the opened text

  “one family dwelling - a building designed for or occupied by a single family, including mobile homes placed on or affixed to permanent foundation.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions into subdivisions inside Savoy town, under the Planning Board's subdivision regulations

  • Subdivision regulations are approved together with the zoning bylaw (header lists AG approvals through 6-29-2022)
  • Planning Board approval governs street design under section 5.10

  “all streets in the subdivision shall be designed so that, in the opinion of the planning board, they will provide safe vehicular travel.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Savoy

Town of Savoy does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Uses inside Savoy town are subject to the state building code

  • Local bylaw confirms the state building code applies; the town adopts no separate building code in the opened text

  “every use permitted by right or authorized by special permit under the provisions of this bylaw shall be subject to the state building code, state sanitary code, the town's board of health regulations and all other applicable statutes, bylaw and regulations, including parking and sign regulations as set forth in this bylaw.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Savoy or Berkshire County directly.

• Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside Savoy town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Savoy town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Savoy town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Savoy town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Savoy town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.