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

Town of Francestown’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the Town of Francestown, New Hampshire.

  “The Town shall be divided into the following districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land in Francestown town.

  • The Village District is geographically described in § 2.2.
  • The Rural District includes all remaining Town land.
  • Conservation is an overlay district.

  “Village District Rural District Conservation (overlay) District”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and enumerated structures in Francestown town, including Village and Rural Districts unless a cited exception applies.

  • Article 3.2, Article 5, Article 7, and listed exceptions can change the standard.
  • Existing principal-building alignment, nonconforming structures, ADA improvements, fire escapes, school-bus shelters, and certain temporary structures have stated exceptions.

  front setback from road centerline: >= 100 feet (Except as provided in §§ 3.2, 3.16, Article 5, Article 7, and listed exceptions) · side/rear setback from internal property line: >= 50 feet (Except as provided in Article 5, Article 7, and listed exceptions)

  “shall be set back 100 feet from the centerline of the road.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in Francestown town, including Village and Rural Districts.

  • The measurement is from the highest exterior grade at the foundation line to the highest point of the structure.
  • Domestic radio and television antennas up to four feet in diameter, silos and other farm outbuildings, church towers, water-storage structures, chimneys, solar or wind-operated devices, and wireless communication facilities are exceptions.

  maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (Listed § 3.6 exceptions)

  “The height of structures shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet to the highest point of the structure”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Attached accessory dwelling units in single-family dwellings inside Francestown town.

  • Only one residential structure and one attached or detached ADU are permitted per lot.
  • The ADU cannot exceed 1,000 square feet of finished living space.
  • An interior door is required between the principal dwelling and attached ADU.
  • Either the ADU or principal dwelling must be the owner's domicile.
  • The sewage design requires Town and State approval.
  • Rentals or sublets of fewer than 30 days are prohibited.
  • Adequate off-street parking and aesthetic continuity are required.

  maximum finished living space: <= 1000 square feet (Attached ADU)

  “An Accessory Dwelling Unit entirely contained within or attached to a single-family principle dwelling unit shall be allowed”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Sewage-disposal design for accessory dwelling units inside Francestown town.

  • The design must be approved by the Town Building Inspector and the State of New Hampshire Subsurface Systems Bureau or its successor agency.
  • For conversions, approvals must be filed with the Planning Board before interior or exterior alterations.

  “shall have been approved by the Town Building Inspector and by the State of NH Subsurface Systems Bureau or subsequent agency.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Community wastewater systems in Francestown open-space developments.

  • The system owner must maintain a service contract with a licensed septic-system contractor.
  • The contract must provide an annual report to the Town by a licensed septic-system inspector detailing system condition and repairs.
  • A copy of the service contract must be delivered to the Town for review.

  inspection report frequency: per 1 year (Community wastewater systems in open-space developments)

  “The service contract shall provide for an annual report to the Town by the licensed septic system inspector”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal systems inside Francestown town.

  • Systems must meet the New Hampshire Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission standards, the zoning ordinance where more stringent, and Town subdivision regulations.
  • Where the Town zoning ordinance or subdivision regulations impose higher standards, the more stringent regulation applies.

  “All sewage disposal systems shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the standards of the New Hampshire Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Customary agricultural and forestry uses otherwise evaluated under the zoning ordinance's obnoxious-use provision.

  • The exclusion applies only to the obnoxious-use provision; it does not establish an exemption from all Town, State, or federal requirements.

  “Customary agricultural and forestry uses are expressly excluded from these provisions.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed subdivisions of land inside Francestown town.

  • Approval must be secured before construction, land clearing, building development, building-permit issuance, or filing a plat with the Hillsborough County Registry of Deeds.
  • The regulation defines exemptions by reference to RSA 672:14 III-IV.

  “the subdivider or the subdivider’s authorized agent shall apply for, and secure, approval of the proposed subdivision.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development within the Francestown Flood Plain District.

  • The district covers the special flood hazard area identified in the cited Hillsborough County flood insurance study and maps, as amended.
  • Listed uses are prohibited, and no special exception may be granted if it would increase flood heights, create additional public-safety threats, or extraordinary public expense.

  “The Flood Plain District includes all area within the Special Flood Hazard area”

• Permit processPartial

  Subdivision approval applications inside Francestown town.

  • The published process covers proposed subdivisions and does not establish the process for every category of Town permit.

  “the subdivider or the subdivider’s authorized agent shall apply for, and secure, approval of the proposed subdivision.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Francestown town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Francestown town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Francestown town.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Francestown town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of residential construction inside Francestown 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.