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

Town of Shelburne’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Any building project, including purchase of a pre-built structure, inside Shelburne town limits.

  • A complete Building Permit Application must be submitted.
  • Projects on private roads have a slightly different process.
  • An after-the-fact permit incurs a $150 penalty fee.

  after-the-fact permit penalty: 150 USD (In addition to the permit process after the project has begun.)

  “If you are planning any kind of building project, including purchasing a pre-built structure, you must obtain a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work receiving a Shelburne building permit.

  • Frame and mechanical inspection is required after specified framing and rough-system work and before interior finishes.
  • A final inspection is required after permitted work is complete and before occupancy.
  • Additional reinspection or inspection visits cost $25 each.

  additional inspection visit: per 25 USD (Additional visit needed to reinspect deficiencies or make additional inspections.)

  “Final Inspection: After permitted work is complete and prior to occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Shelburne town limits.

  • The ordinance governs land use and structures within the Town of Shelburne.

  “This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Shelburne, New Hampshire”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Shelburne town limits.

  • The ordinance identifies Forest, River Valley, Route 2, and Industrial districts and describes their boundaries by text and the district reference map.

  “In conformance with our Master Plan, with the purposes expressed in the preamble and with special concern for the preservation of our unique environmental assets, it seems desirable to divide the town of Shelburne into four districts in the following areas:”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  New development in the Forest District, River Valley District, Route 2 District, and Industrial District inside Shelburne town limits.

  • All development requires at least one acre except the Forest District requires 15 acres.
  • New residences and new lots generally require 200 feet of public or private right-of-way frontage; a back lot served by a combined driveway is excepted.

  minimum lot size: 15 acres (Forest District.) · minimum lot size: 1 acre (All other districts.) · minimum frontage: >= 200 feet (Not applicable to an approved back lot served by a combined driveway.)

  “all development shall be located on a minimum of a one (1) acre lot except within the forest district where the minimum lot size is fifteen (15) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  New construction and relocated buildings inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Road/right-of-way setback is 25 feet.
  • Other lot-line setback is 25 feet, except 15 feet on lots under two acres.
  • Temporary roadside stands selling home produce may be 15 feet from the nearest right-of-way edge.

  right-of-way setback: >= 25 feet · other lot-line setback: >= 25 feet (15 feet for lots less than two acres.)

  “on all new construction or relocated buildings, the minimum depth of setback from the nearest existing edge of all public or private rights-of-way shall be 25 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Greater height may be approved as a special exception by the Board of Adjustment.
  • Telecommunications facilities covered by Appendix B are excepted.

  maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (May exceed by special exception; telecommunications facilities are excepted under Appendix B.)

  “Structures, including any changes or additions to existing structures, may not be greater than thirty-five feet (35) in height unless approved as a special exception by the Board of Adjustment excepting telecommunications facilities as covered in Appendix B.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Trailer or manufactured-housing occupancy inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Trailers or manufactured housing may be at licensed campgrounds.
  • Year-round residence is more than six months in a 12-month period and triggers the manufactured-housing-park prohibition.
  • They may not be used as permanent residences on leased land.

  year-round residence threshold: > 6 months in a twelve-month period (Trailer or manufactured housing at licensed campgrounds.)

  “trailers or manufactured housing shall not be used as permanent residences on leased land. trailers or manufactured housing are allowed at licensed campgrounds, but if the length of occupancy is such to indicate year-round residence, they come under the prohibition pertaining to manufactured housing parks (year-round is greater than six months in a twelvemonth period).”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Individual manufactured homes inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Must comply with all restrictions applicable to dwelling units.
  • No more than one manufactured home per six dwellings.
  • Manufactured housing may not be used as a permanent residence on leased land.

  manufactured-home density: per 1 manufactured home per 6 dwellings

  “an individual manufactured home may be used by a homeowner as their place of residence subject to all the restrictions of this ordinance that pertain to dwelling units.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in zoning districts that permit single-family dwellings inside Shelburne town limits.

  • One ADU per single-family dwelling.
  • Owner must have primary residence and legal domicile in either the ADU or principal dwelling.
  • Maximum 1,000 square feet and two bedrooms unless special exception.
  • Adequate water supply and sewage disposal must comply with RSA-A 485:38 and NH DES regulations.
  • Detached ADUs require a special exception.

  maximum ADU area: <= 1000 square feet (May exceed by special exception.) · maximum ADU bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms (May exceed by special exception.)

  “an attached accessory dwelling unit (adu) shall be permitted in all zoning districts that permit single-family dwellings”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems serving proposed construction inside Shelburne town limits.

  • The town must approve septic designs before submission to NH DES.
  • NH DES approval of septic-system plans and specifications is required before construction.
  • Local requirements remain applicable.

  “The Number of a State Septic Approval for Construction of a system designed for the use that is being proposed. The town needs to approve septic designs before submission to NH DES for approval.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Applies to Planning Board review and approval or disapproval of subdivisions and minor lot-line adjustments or boundary agreements.
  • Does not apply to voluntary mergers as defined by RSA 674:39-a.

  “No subdivision of land within the Town of Shelburne shall occur except in compliance with these regulations.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways on state and town roads inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Town-road driveway permits are issued through the Shelburne Highway Department.
  • State-road driveway permits are handled through state District 1.

  “Driveway permits are required on State and Town roads. For Town Driveway permits contact the Shelburne Highway Department at 603-466-2957.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed development in special flood hazard areas inside Shelburne town limits.

  • All proposed development in a special flood hazard area requires a building permit.
  • Code Enforcement Officer reviews applications for new construction and substantial improvements.
  • Water and sewer systems proposed in such areas must minimize infiltration, discharge, impairment, and contamination risks.

  “All proposed development in any special flood hazard areas shall require a building permit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Shelburne town limits.

  • Completed applications may be submitted by email, postal mail, or in person.
  • Private-road projects have a different process.
  • Applicant should contact the Code Enforcement Officer before starting if uncertain whether a permit is needed.

  “Completed applications can be submitted via email to the Town Administrator (email at right), via postal mail, or dropped off in person.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Shelburne town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Shelburne town limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Shelburne town limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Shelburne town limits.
• Septic inspection — Septic-system inspections inside Shelburne 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 Shelburne 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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