Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Bartlett, New Hampshire
Town of Bartlett is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire. Town of Bartlett adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Bartlett’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Town of Bartlett come from Town of Bartlett. 23 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 29, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Carroll County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Bartlett
Town of Bartlett’s own rules
Building permitRequired
Construction, change of use, additions, sheds and sign work inside Bartlett town that affects property value or is subject to zoning
Application is made to the board of selectmen; the board issues the building and use permit once the proposal conforms to the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations.
Application fees are non-refundable (see permit_fees claim).
Driveway, septic and occupancy approvals are separate permits.
house or condo unit application fee: 250 USD per unit (schedule rev. 6/2024 as printed on the packet)
“building permit ordinance: required for construction of signs, structures, change of use, renovations, additions, sheds, etc., which would affect property value and/or to which zoning requirements apply.”
Building code adoptedNot adopted
Construction inside Bartlett town limits
The state building code still applies: the contractor is responsible for meeting the minimum requirements of the state building code (RSA 155-A:2, VIII), as the packet states.
The packet cites RSA 674:51 for the town not adopting a building code.
“the town of bartlett has not adopted a building code under nhrsa 674:51, therefore, the contractor responsible for the construction must notify the state fire marshal before construction begins on any building except one or two family dwellings”
InspectionsLimited
Non-residential buildings and buildings other than one- or two-family dwellings built inside Bartlett town
The town does not inspect under an adopted building code; the packet places the notification duty on the contractor to the state fire marshal before construction begins.
One- and two-family dwellings are excluded from that notification requirement in the packet text.
No town building inspection schedule was found in the sources reviewed.
“the contractor responsible for the construction must notify the state fire marshal before construction begins on any building except one or two family dwellings”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Occupancy of new habitable construction, and of any construction requiring a septic system, inside Bartlett town; the town calls this a permit to occupy, not a certificate of occupancy
Occupancy requires NHDES operational approval of the septic system first, then the town permit to occupy.
The town's ordinance page lists fines of up to $1000 and/or $10 per day for violations.
“permit to occupy ordinance: required before occupancy of any construction that is intended for habitation or for which a septic system is required. violation: fine of up to $1000 and/or $10 per day for each day of violation.”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
All land inside Bartlett town limits, under the Town of Bartlett Zoning Ordinance adopted under RSA 674:16
The town-published ordinance text is marked as amended through March 8, 2022; later amendments were not verified.
The telecommunications ordinance (3/12/2002) and floodplain development ordinance (1979, rev. 3/12/13) are separate documents that the zoning ordinance states are part of it.
Variances and special exceptions are decided by the zoning board of adjustment; the board of selectmen enforces the ordinance.
“this ordinance is enacted pursuant to authority contained in rsa 674:16. its purpose is to promote the health, safety, prosperity, general welfare”
Zoning districtsPublished
Zoning district map and district list for all land inside Bartlett town limits
Districts: town residential a (TRDA), town residential b (TRDB), town commercial (TCD), town industrial (TID), town national forest (TNFD), and ridgeline and hillside overlay (RHOD, all land above 800 ft elevation).
The zoning map is the official Bartlett zoning map certified by the town clerk and filed with the planning board.
“the town of bartlett is divided into the following zoning districts”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Published — Town residential district A (TRDA), the main single-family residential district inside Bartlett town
“town residential district a (trda): includes all land in the town of bartlett not included in the town commercial district, the town residential district b, the town industrial district, and the town national forest district.”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Single-family dwelling (3-bedroom basis) on a lot in town residential district A (TRDA); the same soil-based land area applies in all districts for residential uses
Minimum land area is set by soil group and slope from Table 1; the figure shown is for soil group 1, slope 0-8%.
For soil groups 2 to 5 at the same slope, Table 1 gives larger areas (group 2 39,000 sq ft, group 3 48,000 sq ft, group 4 43,500 sq ft, group 5 90,000 sq ft as read from the PDF table; verify against the printed table).
Units with fewer than 3 bedrooms are calculated as 3 bedrooms; more bedrooms increase the area proportionately.
Single house lots of record are exempt from this article.
minimum land area per 3-bedroom dwelling, soil group 1, slope 0-8%: >= 30000 sq ft (larger for soil groups 2-5 and steeper slopes per Table 1)
“the minimum land area required for each 3-bedroom dwelling unit shall be determined by soil type as shown in table 1.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Specified — Residential lots in all districts, including TRDA
“in all districts, minimum frontage for a residential property is 50 ft. this minimum distance shall be maintained the entire depth of the lot.”
SetbacksSpecified
Structures in town residential district A (TRDA), the main single-family residential district
Residential developments (article XIX definitions) have different setbacks: 60 ft from the centerline of access streets, 40 ft from internal streets, 15 ft from other property boundaries.
Setbacks may be varied by up to 20% by special exception from the zoning board of adjustment (Article XVIII.d.1.b).
Structures of record may extend a non-conforming dimension once by up to 50% (Article XI.f).
setback from centerline of streets: >= 60 ft · setback from other property lines: >= 15 ft
“2) all other structures will be set back a minimum of 60 ft. from the centerline of streets and 15 ft. from all other property lines.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Specified — Buildings and structures in all districts, including TRDA, measured from the water
“d. all districts: any buildings or structures except wharves, piers, docks, or bridges will be setback a minimum of 20 ft. from the normal high-water mark of any watercourse or standing body of water.”
Building heightSpecified
All buildings in all districts, including TRDA (town-wide height limit)
Height is measured from the lowest point of finished ground level adjoining the building; retaining walls and fill may not be used to modify the measured height.
Radio and television antennas, towers, chimneys, flagpoles and similar slender structures may go to 60 ft only by special exception (Article V.a).
maximum building height to roof or parapet: <= 38 ft · maximum building height to eave: <= 30 ft (overhang excluded)
“a. maximum building height: 1) will not be more than thirty-eight (38) feet representing the vertical distance from the lowest point of finished ground level adjoining the building to the high point of any roof or parapet”
Accessory dwellingsLimited
Accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a single-family dwelling in the town residential district A (TRDA)
Permitted use in TRDA (Article XIII.a.12).
Owner must keep either the primary unit or the ADU for personal use; the unit cannot be rented or leased if the owner occupies the other unit. The ordinance's exact wording is 'either the primary dwelling unit or adu must be retained for use by the owner (i.e., cannot be rented or leased)'.
Requires a connecting door if attached; adequate water supply and sewage disposal under RSA 485-A:38 and NHDES rules.
Only one ADU per lot; it does not count toward dwelling units allowed on a single driveway.
maximum total floor space: <= 800 sq ft · maximum bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms · accessory dwelling units per lot: <= 1 units
“12) accessory dwelling units (added 3/8/11; amd 3/14/17)”
Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)
Septic system design review and test pit inspection inside Bartlett town, before the state design approval
Designs are reviewed by the selectmen's office before submission to the state; test pits are inspected by a town representative first.
“septic system design and construction ordinance: governs the design and construction of septic systems and requires all septic system designs, before submission to the state, to be reviewed by the selectmen's office.”
Septic permitRequired
Any building that discharges waste inside Bartlett town (septic design approval by NHDES plus town design review)
Town design review is required for each septic design before state submission.
NHDES approval is required before construction of a waste disposal system (see septic_authority state claim).
septic design review fee: 50 USD per design
“septic system design and construction ordinance: governs the design and construction of septic systems and requires all septic system designs, before submission to the state, to be reviewed by the selectmen's office. fee of $50 per design.”
Septic inspectionRequired
Test pits for septic design in Bartlett town, before the state septic design application
Town representative inspects test pits before the state design approval application.
Final operational approval of the septic system is by NHDES before occupancy (zoning Article IV.n).
test pit inspection fee: 50 USD per pit dug
“test pit inspection ordinance: requires inspection of test pits by a representative of the town before application for a state septic design approval. fee of $50 per pit dug.”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Buildings inside Bartlett town that are not connected to municipal sewage
Allowed only after waste disposal plans are approved by NHDES before construction.
Occupancy requires NHDES operational approval and the town permit to occupy.
Ordinance refers to buildings including tents, barns and mobile homes for this purpose.
“any person who is proposing to construct a building from which waste will be discharged and which will not be connected to municipal sewage must, prior to construction, submit waste disposal plans and obtain approval from the new hampshire department of environmental services”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision of land inside Bartlett town, reviewed by the planning board under the town's subdivision regulations
Planning board subdivision approval does not show zoning compliance; compliance is decided by the board of selectmen.
A high intensity soil survey map is required for subdivisions and commercial site-plan development, unless the planning board waives it.
Ordinances page lists subdivision regulations as a separate PDF (not opened).
“for all proposed subdivision of land, and for commercial development requiring site plan review, a high intensity soil survey (hiss) map will be prepared and submitted to the planning board prior to granting of final approval.”
Driveway accessRequired
Installing a new driveway, or changing an existing driveway or access road, inside Bartlett town
Road agent reviews the application; culvert minimum 15 inch stated on the packet.
Owner agrees to the street regulations section V-C-10 (per the packet).
driveway application fee: 50 USD
“driveway permit ordinance: requires that permits to install a driveway be obtained.”
Building in a floodplainLimited
Building in the floodway or floodplain inside Bartlett town
Floodplain activity is governed by the town floodplain ordinance (1979, rev. 3/12/13), a separate document.
The permit packet says a floodplain activity permit and flood elevation certificate may be required; the trigger was not verified in the ordinance text.
“if yes, a permit for activity in the floodplain and flood elevation certificate may be required.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Building and use permit application fees and septic and driveway fees inside Bartlett town
Application fees are non-refundable.
The packet's fee schedule is dated rev. 6/2024; the packet's column layout for commercial and misc. fees is ambiguous, so only the residential items are stated here.
Septic design and test pit fees are listed on the ordinances page.
house or condo unit application fee: 250 USD per unit · garage application fee: 30 USD · additions, sheds, decks application fee: 20 USD · driveway or access road permit application fee: 50 USD
“*application fee schedule (non-refundable): house or condo unit $250.00/unit garage $30.00 additions/sheds/decks $20.00”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Building and use permit applications to the Bartlett board of selectmen
Complete applications must be received by 1 pm the Friday before the selectmen meet.
Incomplete applications are returned; all information must be submitted at the time of application.
processing time: 3-7 days days
“applications will be processed between 3-7 days, please plan accordingly.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Bartlett or Carroll County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Bartlett town
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Bartlett town
Lot coverage — Percentage of lot that buildings may cover inside Bartlett town
Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV or trailer on private land inside Bartlett town
Camping on your land — Temporary tent or RV camping on private land inside Bartlett town
6 more unanswered
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Short-term rentals
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Bartlett publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Carroll County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Bartlett means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
