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

Town of Sandwich’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Alteration, construction, erection, reconstruction, septic or well changes or construction, repairs, and renovations inside Sandwich town.

  • Permit is obtained through the Selectmen's Office.
  • Minor projects and property maintenance may be exempt from the Permit by Notification process.

  “any alteration, construction, reconstruction or renovation of any structure, septic or well requires a building permit through the Selectmen’s Office.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work requiring a Sandwich building permit.

  • The town states there are few exceptions.
  • This is a municipal site visit, not a state-building-code inspection.

  “At least one site visit is conducted for all building permits, with few exceptions.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Additions, replacements, or improvements to septic systems inside Sandwich town.

  • Both NHDES Water Supply and Pollution Control Division and the town require permits regardless of cost.

  “Sandwich requires local approval prior to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) approval.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, improvement, or alteration of a septic system or its components inside Sandwich town.

  • Town local approval precedes NHDES approval.
  • Town building permit issues after the town receives NHDES Approval for Construction.
  • Replacement-in-kind and certain grandfathered systems have stated NHDES exceptions.

  septic permit fee: 100 USD (Inspection required; no additional fee for an amended plan for new septic.)

  “SEPTIC SYSTEM: Building Permit required. Sandwich requires local approval prior to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) approval.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New septic-system permit applications inside Sandwich town.

  • The proposed site is inspected after septic components and well are marked and staked.
  • Inspection requirement is stated with the $100 fee.

  septic permit fee: 100 USD (No additional fee for Amended Plan for new septic; inspection required.)

  “Fee: $100 (Inspection required). No additional fee for Amended Plan for new septic.”

• Well permitRequired

  New or replacement wells inside Sandwich town.

  • Well location must be marked and staked before inspection.
  • Protective well radii may be reduced from 75 feet to 50 feet with an NHDES-W-03-108 Setback Reduction Form.

  well permit fee: 50 USD (Inspection required.)

  “WELL: Building Permit required for new or replacement wells. The well location must be clearly marked and staked prior to inspection.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or modified driveways from property lines into property inside Sandwich town.

  • Applies to a new or modified driveway off a town, state, or private road and conversion of a former logging road.
  • A driveway permit cannot issue without road-access approval.
  • A Planning Board Steep Slopes Application may be required.

  driveway permit fee: 50 USD (Inspection required.)

  “Building Permit required for the construction of a driveway starting from the property line into the property.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Sandwich town.

  • Structure erection/expansion/relocation/rebuild fee is $50 plus $0.05 per square foot of new footprint, with inspection required.
  • Other listed categories have separate fees.

  structure permit base fee: 50 USD (Plus $0.05 per square foot of new footprint; inspection required.) · new footprint fee: per 0.05 USD per square foot (In addition to $50 base fee.)

  “Fee: $50 plus .05 per square foot of new footprint (inspection required)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Sandwich town.

  • A complete application and applicable fee are required.
  • The site must be marked and staked.
  • All applicable permits and approvals must be obtained before town permit issuance.

  normal application decision timing: <= 2 weeks (Inspection and approval, denial, or request for additional information normally occur within two weeks after receipt of a complete application and applicable fee.)

  “an inspection and approval/denial or request for additional information will normally take place within two weeks.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Sandwich town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Sandwich town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Sandwich town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Sandwich town.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Sandwich 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.