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

Town of Dighton’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Dighton town limits, under the Dighton Zoning Bylaws administered by the Planning Board and the Building Commissioner as Zoning Enforcement Officer

  • Bylaw adopted under the zoning act, G.L. c. 40A, per its purpose section
  • Use, dimensional and timing regulations are in Section II and Appendices A and B

  “For the purposes of this by-law, the Town is hereby divided into the following districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts in Dighton town: residence, business, open recreation and conservation, industrial, plus overlay districts (flood hazard, water resource protection, mixed use, center street and main street village business)

  • Boundaries are set on the zoning map titled 'zoning map, town of dighton', dated 1978, as amended by town meeting; the map is on file with the town clerk
  • Appendix A and B of the bylaw also apply by district

  “Residence Business Open Recreation and Conservation Industrial The following “overlay” districts are also hereby created: Flood Hazard Overlay District Water Resource Protection District Mixed Use Overlay District Center Street & Main Street Village Business Overlay District”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Dighton town without town water or sewer connection

  • Appendix B note: side yard of 50 ft required when abutting land zoned industrial
  • Connection noted as required (one required) in the Appendix B note

  minimum lot area: >= 43560 sq ft (lots without town water or sewer connection (one required)) · minimum lot frontage: >= 250 ft (lots without town water or sewer connection (one required))

  “Lots without Town water or sewer connection (one required) shall have a min. area of 43,560 sq. ft. and 250′ of frontage”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling lots in all zoning districts inside Dighton town

    “Single family dwelling, all districts 35,000”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary occupancy of a trailer or mobile home on a lot by a non-paying guest of the owner or occupant

  • Guest occupancy is limited to 7 days

  guest occupancy period: <= 7 days

  “Temporary occupancy of a trailer or mobile home by a non-paying guest of the owner or occupant of the land may be permitted for a period not to exceed seven (7) days.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used for living on lots in Dighton town

  • Living occupancy is prohibited except the listed exceptions
  • Temporary office or dwelling incidental to construction may be authorized by special permit of the Board of Appeals, subject to Board of Health approval, for a limited term

  “Use and occupancy for living or business is prohibited, except as follows:”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in the residential and business zoning districts of Dighton town (not allowed in other districts)

  • Allowed as of right, subject to Section 2500 requirements; prohibited in all other districts
  • ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals or rented for less than 31 days
  • ADU construction must comply with 310 CMR 15.000 (Title 5) for a single-family residential dwelling
  • Protected-use ADUs require a building permit approved by the zoning enforcement officer (Section 2540)

  “ADUs are allowed as a matter of right in the Residential and Business Zoning Districts, subject to the requirements of this Section. ADUs are prohibited in all other districts.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems in Dighton town, administered by the Dighton Board of Health under state Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000)

  • Board of Health regulations add local rules on top of Title 5
  • State Title 5 applies to the systems; the local Board of Health is the permitting authority

  “The Town of Dighton observes the minimum requirements for the subsurface disposal of sanitary sewage as set forth in the Massachusetts State Environmental Code 310 CMR 15.000 (Title V) with the following additions/exceptions:”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic system construction in Dighton town

  • The design engineer of record performs the required inspections and prepares the as-built plan
  • Installers may not prepare the as-built plan (item 19)
  • The health agent may visit the site to confirm work (Board of Health procedures)

  “The design engineer of record shall be responsible for performing all required inspections and preparation of as-built plan.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Homes in Dighton town where public sewer is available

  • Where sewer is available, the home must tie in to sewer when the Title 5 system fails
  • Lots without town water or sewer connection have larger minimum lot requirements (see minimum lot claim)

  “If sewer is available, must tie in when Title 5 failure.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land in Dighton town, administered by the Planning Board

  • Plans must follow the Dighton subdivision rules and regulations and M.G.L. c. 41, §81K-GG (cited in the retreat-lot section)
  • The Planning Board is the special permit granting authority for retreat lots

  “Any person desiring to make a subdivision within the meaning of the subdivision control law of any land within the Town shall, before proceeding with the improvement or sale of lots in the subdivision, or the construction of ways, or the installation of municipal services therein, submit to the Board a plan of such subdivision and secure approval by the Board of a Definitive Plan as hereinafter provided.”

• Short-term rentalsProhibited

  Accessory dwelling units only, in Dighton town

  • ADUs may not be rented for a period shorter than 31 days

  “ADUs may not be used as Short-Term Rentals, as such term is defined in G.L. c. 64G, §1 or otherwise rented for a period shorter than thirty-one (31) days.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications in Dighton town through the Building Department online PermitLink system

  • Applications and payments are made online through PermitLink (profile required)
  • Forms and step-by-step process details were not located on the page opened

  “Through an easy-to-use web portal you can create a profile, apply or pay for a permit, attach supporting documents, get email alerts, check status of a permit or inspection and view or search all permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction in Dighton town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for owner-occupants in Dighton town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Dighton town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Dighton town
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks for single-family lots in Dighton 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Dighton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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