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

Town of Richmond’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  New construction, additions, and alterations inside Richmond town limits. The required approval is a zoning compliance certificate (ZCCA) issued by the Board of Selectmen, not a building permit.

  • The ZCCA is required for constructing or installing a new structure, including modular and mobile homes, sheds over 100 square feet, garages, docks, pools, wells, septic systems and new driveways, and for additions, major structural modifications, decks and patios, ADUs, demolition or relocation.
  • No work may begin until a certificate has been issued and posted.
  • The town does not issue heating, mechanical, electrical or plumbing certificates.

  “a zoning compliance certificate is required for any construction demolition, or relocations of structures and shall be reviewed and approved by the richmond board of selectmen.”

• InspectionsNot required

  Construction inside Richmond town limits; the town does not perform building inspections

  • The packet states the property and construction are subject to review by a compliance officer and/or zoning enforcement official, and the zoning compliance officer must be notified before pouring concrete foundations.

  “the town of richmond requires a zoning compliance certificate application (zcca) form and approved certificate for assessing purposes and does not require town building inspections or issue occupancy certificates.”

• Certificate of occupancyNot required

  Dwellings and other structures inside Richmond town limits

  • Absence applies to town-issued occupancy certificates only; state-issued energy code certification remains required for certain new homes per the ZCCA packet.

  “the town of richmond requires a zoning compliance certificate application (zcca) form and approved certificate for assessing purposes and does not require town building inspections or issue occupancy certificates.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Richmond town limits; the Town of Richmond zoning ordinance (March 2026 text) applies to all land not otherwise defined as another district.

  • The zoning map is on file with the town clerk and is stated to be the final authority on zoning status; the map itself was not opened.
  • Zoning compliance certificate from the Board of Selectmen is required before construction (see permit claims).

  “residential districts (article 4): all areas in the town of richmond not otherwise defined.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential District (Article 4), the default district covering all land in Richmond town not otherwise defined

  • Lot size is a minimum requirement that may be expanded based on specific circumstances and conditions.
  • Each lot must contain a square of at least 250 feet per side (Section 405.5).
  • Cluster subdivision (Article 3, Section 317) allows building lots of 1.5 acres within an open-space cluster, and 3/4 acre with a common septic system.

  minimum lot size: >= 3 acres (Cluster development under Section 317 allows smaller building lots within an open-space cluster)

  “405.4 lot size – three (3) acres. [rev- march 11, 1997] [rev- march 12, 2013]”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lakeside District (Article 5): land within 525 feet of the high-water mark of Cass Pond, Sandy Pond, or other impounded water bodies over 10 acres

    “502.3 minimum lot size of three acres is required for a single-family dwelling.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lakeside District (Article 5) buildings inside Richmond town limits

  • Septic systems and wells must be 37.5 feet from an abutter's property line and 50 feet from the edge of the public right-of-way.
  • Buildings must be 150 feet from the reference line.

  abutter property line setback: >= 25 feet (septic systems and wells: 37.5 feet) · public right-of-way setback: >= 50 feet (none stated) · reference line setback: >= 150 feet (none stated)

  “502.2 yard requirements- no building shall be located nearer than twenty-five (25) feet to an abutter’s property line and fifty feet (50) from the edge of the public right-a-way and one hundred fifty (150) feet from the reference line, except septic systems and wells which must be thirty-seven and one half (37.5) feet from an abutter’s property line and fifty feet (50) from the edge of the public right-a-way.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential District (Article 4) buildings inside Richmond town limits

    “405.2 front setback – fifty (50) feet from the edge of the public right-of-way.”

• Building heightSpecified

  All buildings and structures in Richmond town limits (general provision, not district-specific)

  • Height is measured from the highest point of the roof line to the average elevation of the finished grade halfway between the front and back of the building within 20 feet of the foundation.
  • Exempt from the height limit: chimneys, antennas, steeples, cell towers and wind turbines, which are subject to other regulations (Section 309.2).

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (chimneys, antennas, steeples, cell towers and wind turbines (Section 309.2)) · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories (chimneys, antennas, steeples, cell towers and wind turbines (Section 309.2))

  “309.1 no building or structure shall exceed 2 ½ stories or 35 feet in height.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles occupied outside a campground in Richmond town limits

  • Occupancy not to exceed three consecutive months in a calendar year, unless in a campground or RV camping park.
  • Selectmen may grant a written extension not to exceed three consecutive months.
  • Requires a certificate from the Selectmen and adequate provision for water and septic disposal.

  maximum consecutive occupancy: <= 3 months (unless located in a campground or recreational vehicle camping park, by certificate of the selectmen; Selectmen may extend not to exceed three additional consecutive months on written application)

  “recreational vehicles may be occupied on a temporary basis not to exceed three (3) consecutive months in a calendar year, unless it is located in a campground or recreational vehicle camping park, by certificate of the selectmen, provided there is adequate provision for water and septic disposal. upon written application, the selectmen may grant an extension not to exceed three (3) consecutive months.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping with recreational vehicles inside Richmond town limits. The ordinance does not address tent camping on private land.

  • Recreational vehicles on private land are limited to three consecutive months per calendar year unless in a campground.
  • Campgrounds and RV camping parks are allowed by certificate of the Selectmen, with adequate water and septic provision.
  • Tent camping rules were not located in the opened text.

  “recreational vehicles may be occupied on a temporary basis not to exceed three (3) consecutive months in a calendar year, unless it is located in a campground or recreational vehicle camping park, by certificate of the selectmen, provided there is adequate provision for water and septic disposal.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Individual manufactured homes on single lots inside Richmond town limits

  • Subject to all rules and regulations that apply to single-family homes.
  • Requires the zoning compliance certificate for new structures, including modular and mobile homes.

  “individual manufactured homes on single lots are permitted subject to all rules and regulations that apply to single family homes.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — Manufactured housing parks inside Richmond town limits

    “manufactured housing parks are not permitted in the town of richmond.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  One accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a single-family dwelling inside Richmond town limits

  • The ADU may be no larger than the primary dwelling or 1000 square feet, whichever is less, and not required to be less than 750 square feet.
  • Either the primary dwelling or the ADU must be occupied by the property owner.
  • Documentation that the sewage system is adequate and approved by NHDES for the increased use is required.
  • Requires a zoning compliance certificate.

  maximum ADU size: <= 1000 sq ft (no larger than the primary dwelling; ADU not required to be less than 750 sq ft)

  “there shall be one accessory dwelling unit permitted by right per single-family dwelling”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — A second accessory dwelling unit on a single-family lot inside Richmond town limits

    “403.7 a second adu per single family dwelling may be allowed by special exception subject to zoning board of adjustment (zba) approval, provided that the second adu meets all other current zoning and building regulations.”

• Well permitRequired

  Installing a well inside Richmond town limits: the town zoning compliance certificate covers wells

  • Wells are listed among the items requiring a zoning compliance certificate.
  • Wells must be at least 37.5 feet from an abutter's property line and 50 feet from the edge of the public right-of-way (Section 405.6.2), and 75 feet from any septic system.
  • State well-driller rules were not searched.

  “constructing or installing a new structure, including modular and mobile homes, sheds (over 100 square feet), barns, garages, car ports, docks, in-ground swimming pools, wells, septic systems, new driveways”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways to properties on a town road in Richmond town limits; state-road driveways need an NHDOT certificate

  • Certificate issued by the town road agent before construction.
  • Any driveway on a state road or highway needs a State of NH certificate before construction.
  • Driveways must be at least 25 feet from side and rear property lines (Section 306).

  “a driveway certificate must be issued by the town of richmond road agent prior to driveway construction for any property located on a town road.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development inside FEMA-mapped flood zones in Richmond town limits

  • A floodplain development certificate application is required in addition to the zoning compliance certificate.
  • Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles in special flood hazard areas are subject to additional standards in the ordinance's floodplain article.

  “an application for floodplain development certificate is required in addition to a zcca form for all development located in a flood zone pursuant to fema regulations.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning compliance certificate fees for construction in Richmond town limits

  • Fees are non-refundable once the certificate is approved.
  • The certificate expires one year from the date of issuance.
  • The fee schedule is printed on the packet dated 04.20.26; the packet states no effective date.

  new construction/home fee: 200 USD · addition 101 to 200 sq ft fee: 50 USD · addition 201 sq ft and up fee: 100 USD · swimming pools, demolition, renovation, driveway fee: 50 USD (in-ground structures, solar arrays and other structures not listed are also shown under this row)

  “new construction/home $200.00 addition 101 sq. ft-200 sq. ft. $50.00 addition 201 sq. ft. and up $100.00”

• Permit processPublished

  Zoning compliance certificate process for construction in Richmond town limits, handled by the Board of Selectmen at 105 Old Homestead Highway

  • Site must be staked out and nearest boundary lines marked before review.
  • State and town approvals must be presented with the application before consideration.
  • The zoning compliance officer must be notified before pouring concrete foundations.
  • No construction may start before approval or posting of the certificate.

  “all required federal, state and town approvals must be presented with the application before application will be considered to be put forward for approval by the board of selectmen.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Richmond

Town of Richmond 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)

  Sewage disposal systems inside Richmond town limits. The NH Department of Environmental Services (state) sets the approval rules; the town checks for the NHDES approval before issuing its zoning compliance certificate.

  • Section 304 requires all sewage disposal systems to be built to NHDES rules, with approval required where applicable as part of subdivision or site plan approval or before a zoning compliance certificate issues.
  • Section 504 requires dwellings, accessory buildings and underground sewage disposal systems to conform to RSA 483-B.

  “304 sanitary systems all sewage disposal systems shall be constructed in accordance with the applicable rules of the nh department of environmental services.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing a new septic system inside Richmond town limits: NHDES septic plans and construction certificate must be submitted with the town zoning compliance certificate application

  • Septic plans and the NHDES construction certificate must accompany the zoning compliance certificate application.
  • Section 304 approval is required where applicable as part of a subdivision or site plan approval, or before a zoning compliance certificate issues.
  • Wells and septic systems must be shown on the plot plan.

  “septic plans and construction certificate copy from the n.h. department of environmental services, subsurface systems bureau.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Richmond town limits
• Building code adopted — New residential construction inside Richmond town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Richmond town limits
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Richmond town limits
• Septic inspection — Septic systems inside Richmond 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Richmond 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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