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

Town of Effingham’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures constructed, erected, placed, or altered, and land uses commenced or continued within Effingham town.

  • The structure or use must be specifically or necessarily impliedly authorized by the zoning ordinance.
  • exception applies to lawful existing uses as stated in Article 2.

  “No structure shall be constructed, erected, placed, or altered and no land use commenced or continued within the Town of Effingham except as specifically or by necessary implication authorized by this Ordinance and having first secured a Building Permit from the Enforcement Officer.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Manufactured housing installed inside Effingham town.

  • Applies once manufactured housing is installed.
  • Inspection must be by a New Hampshire State certified inspector.

  “Once installed, all manufactured housing must pass inspection by a New Hampshire State certified inspector. (RSA-205-D)”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Effingham town limits.

  • Land uses and structures must be authorized by the ordinance and first secure a Building Permit from the Enforcement Officer.

  “This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Effingham, New Hampshire, 2000."”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Effingham town limits.

  • Districts are shown on the official zoning map.
  • The ordinance identifies Rural/Agricultural, Village Overlay, Historic, and Province Lake districts.

  “The Town of Effingham is hereby divided into the following districts as shown on the official zoning map:”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  All zoning districts except Open Space Conservation Subdivision in Effingham town.

  • Open Space Conservation Subdivision is excepted.

  minimum lot size: >= 2 acres (except Open Space Conservation Subdivision) · minimum frontage: >= 200 feet (except Open Space Conservation Subdivision)

  “A minimum lot size of 2 acres with minimum frontage of 200 feet are required in all districts except of Open Space Conservation Subdivision. [Adopted 2015]”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings inside Effingham town limits.

  • Silos, barns, church towers, and residential television and radio antennas are exempt.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (specified exempt structures)

  “The maximum height of any building shall be 35 feet, with determination being the vertical distance from the average finished grade surrounding the building to a point midway between the highest and lowest points of the highest roof.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private land inside Effingham town.

  • An RV cannot be a permanent dwelling or residence.
  • Seasonal use requires an RV Seasonal Use Permit.
  • One RV may be used for non-commercial recreation for up to 150 consecutive days between April 1 and October 31.
  • The RV must be mobile, legally registered, meet applicable setbacks, and have lawful sanitary disposal.

  seasonal-use duration: <= 150 consecutive days (between April 1 and October 31)

  “No Recreational Vehicle (“RV”) may be used as a permanent dwelling or residence in Effingham.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campsites in Effingham town.

  • Applies to campsite structures.
  • Tent, RV, or single-story cabin cannot be used as a permanent year-round residence.
  • No campsite may be used as a principal residence.

  minimum tent-site area: >= 600 square feet · minimum RV or camping-cabin campsite area: >= 1000 square feet (with or without connection to an approved sewage disposal system)

  “A Building Permit is required for any campsite structures. [Amended 2016 and 2018]”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Single-family manufactured housing on individual lots in the Rural/Agricultural District.

  • A Building Permit is required before placement.
  • The unit must be on a permanent foundation and meet applicable lot, frontage, and other controls.
  • Installation and inspection requirements apply.

  “In order to allow for a broad range of housing types within the Town, manufactured housing for single-family dwelling units is allowed as a permitted use on individual lots in the Rural/Agricultural District.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units on lots with a single-family dwelling inside Effingham town.

  • One attached/interior ADU or one detached ADU is allowed in all districts if septic, setbacks, water, and all other zoning requirements are met.
  • A Building Permit and completed ADU Checklist are required.
  • Either the ADU or principal dwelling must be owner occupied.

  maximum ADU gross floor area: <= 1200 square feet (open decks excluded)

  “One Attached/interior Accessory Dwelling Unit or one Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit allowed in all districts as long as septic, setbacks, water and all other zoning requirements are met. RSA 674:72, V and RSA 485-A:38”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  One qualifying accessory building on a lot inside Effingham town limits.

  • It cannot be in a front setback.
  • It must be at least 15 feet from the property line.
  • It cannot exceed 100 square feet or 14 feet in height.
  • It must be used for storage.

  minimum distance from property line: >= 15 feet · maximum area: <= 100 square feet · maximum height: <= 14 feet

  “One accessory building as defined in Section 302 may be located in a required side setback or rear setback provided the accessory building:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of all land within Effingham town boundaries.

  • A plat must be approved by the Planning Board and recorded or filed in the Registry of Deeds before transfer or sale.
  • Violations can result in a $1,000 penalty for each lot or parcel transferred or sold.

  transfer penalty: per 1000 USD (for each lot or parcel transferred or sold before required approval and recording or filing)

  “These regulations shall pertain to all land within the boundaries of the Town of Effingham.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed development in a designated special flood hazard area inside Effingham town.

  • Applies only in special flood hazard areas designated by FEMA flood maps incorporated into the ordinance.
  • Permit issuer is the Board of Selectmen or its Agent.

  “All proposed development in any special flood hazard area shall require a permit issued by the Board of Selectmen or its Agent.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permits inside Effingham town limits.

  • The official town zoning page links to Zoning Permit Fees; individual fee amounts were not extracted from the linked schedule.

  “Document quick links: Zoning Ordinance Residential Building Permit Effingham Permit Flow Chart Zoning Permit Fees”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and residential-building permit process inside Effingham town limits.

  • The official town zoning page links to a Residential Building Permit and Effingham Permit Flow Chart.

  “Document quick links: Zoning Ordinance Residential Building Permit Effingham Permit Flow Chart Zoning Permit Fees”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Effingham

Town of Effingham 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)

  New and replacement individual subsurface disposal systems, including those inside Effingham town.

  • Structures requiring a town Building Permit must also meet the Effingham Health Ordinance.

  “All new and replacement Individual Subsurface Disposal System (ISDS) construction must receive approval for operation from NH Department of Environmental Services.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New and replacement individual subsurface disposal systems inside Effingham town.

  • Approval for operation must be received from NH Department of Environmental Services.

  “All new and replacement Individual Subsurface Disposal System (ISDS) construction must receive approval for operation from NH Department of Environmental Services.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Effingham town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Effingham town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Effingham town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Effingham town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Effingham town limits.

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.