Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Chatham, New Hampshire

Town of Chatham’s own rules

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots newly created in a Chatham subdivision.

  • This standard applies to lots in a subdivision, not necessarily to preexisting lots or all land in town.
  • Back-lot exception is referenced in Section XIII of the subdivision regulations.

  minimum lot area: >= 3 acres (No lot in any subdivision shall be created with less area.) · minimum road frontage: >= 300 feet (No lot in any subdivision shall be created with less road frontage.)

  “No lot in any subdivision shall be created with an area of less than 3 acres and with road frontage of less than 300 feet. Please refer to Section XIII, page 15, for the Back Lot Exception.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed subdivisions of land inside Chatham town.

  • Before construction, land clearing, or building development begins, and before filing a subdivision plat in the Carroll County Registry of Deeds, the subdivider or authorized agent must apply for and secure approval under the regulations.

  “Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed, before any construction, land clearing, or building development is begun, and before any subdivision plat may be filed in the Registry of Deeds in Carroll County, the sub divider or his/her authorized agent shall apply for and secure approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedure.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Applications for Chatham subdivision approval.

  • If an application is not approved, the County portion of the fee shall be refunded.
  • Recording fees are charged under the Carroll County Registry of Deeds current fee schedule.
  • The applicant is responsible for postage, mailing materials, and potentially professional-review and investigative-study costs.

  flat filing fee: 75 USD (Includes copy of recorded plan mailed back to the town.) · fee per lot created over one: per 25 USD · public notice fee: 35 USD (For public notice(s) in local paper.) · LCHIP fee: 25 USD (Payable to Carroll County Registry of Deeds.)

  “$75.00 Flat Filing Fee (includes copy of recorded plan mailed back to the town) + $25.00 per lot created over one $35.00 for Public notice(s) in local Paper $25.00 for L-Chip Fee made payable to Carroll County Registry of Deeds”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Chatham subdivision approval applications.

  • A completed application must be filed at least 15 days before a regular Planning Board meeting.
  • An incomplete application will not be formally accepted.
  • The Board is to act within 65 days after completed-application submission, subject to extensions or waiver under RSA 676:4-I(f).

  filing lead time before regular meeting: >= 15 days (Completed application filed with Chair or Vice Chair.) · board action period: <= 65 days (Subject to extension or waiver under RSA 676:4-I(f).)

  “A completed application shall be filed with the Chair or Vice Chair of the Planning Board at least 15 days before a regular meeting of the Board. [...] An incomplete application filed by the applicant will not be formally accepted by the Board, nor will notices of a public meeting be mailed, posted, or published as provided under Section IV,J. [...] The Board shall act to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the Completed Application and final plat within Sixty-five (65) days after submission of the completed application, subject to extension or waiver as provided in accordance with RSA676:4-I(f).”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Chatham

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site sewage or waste disposal systems serving buildings inside Chatham town.

  • The department's requirements are minimum requirements and do not lessen authority conferred on local authorities by other statutes.

  ““Department” means the department of environmental services. [...] No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A sewage or waste disposal system serving property inside Chatham town.

  • The system may not be covered or placed into operation without final inspection and approval by an authorized department agent.

  “As required by RSA 485-A:29, I, the constructed ISDS shall not be covered or placed in operation without final inspection and approval by the department or by an authorized agent of the department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Chatham town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Chatham town.
• Inspections — Residential building work inside Chatham town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Chatham town.
• Local zoning — Land inside Chatham town, Carroll County, New Hampshire.

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.