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

Town of New Ipswich’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, and listed building-system work inside New Ipswich town.

  • Ordinary incidental repairs and listed exempt work do not require a building permit.
  • Permit work includes projects covered by the 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC.

  accessory-building permit threshold: > 200 square feet (Guide lists accessory buildings less than 200 square feet as exempt.)

  “shall first make application and obtain a permit prior to start of work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated by the Town of New Ipswich Building Code.

  • The adopted codes are amended by the State Building Code Review Board and supplemented by the town guide.

  International Building Code edition: 2021 · International Residential Code edition: 2021

  “together with this Guide, is hereby adopted and shall be known as the Town of New Ipswich Building Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside New Ipswich town.

  • Permit holder or representative must notify the Building Inspector before covering work.
  • A 24-hour notice is required for inspection.
  • Building Inspector may require additional inspections.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “PLEASE NOTE: 24-hour notice required for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New construction homes inside New Ipswich town.

  • All prior inspections must be approved with no outstanding fees or violations.
  • A bacteria water test and NHDES septic approval for operation are required.
  • The town's permit page says new construction homes require a blower-door test to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

  “Issuance of certificate of occupancy: Requires bacteria water test and 72-hour notice for new homes.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and buildings inside New Ipswich town.

  “occupancy of all land in the town of New Ipswich are hereby regulated and restricted by this ordinance.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling units inside New Ipswich town.

  • Efficiency or one-bedroom units have a lower minimum; manufactured housing has a separate minimum.

  single-family dwelling living area minimum: >= 600 square feet (Efficiency or one-bedroom units: 400 square feet; manufactured housing: 320 square feet.)

  “Every dwelling unit to be used by a single family shall have a minimum of 600 square feet of living area”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in Village Districts I and II and Rural District inside New Ipswich town.

  • Density-control table permits one single-family dwelling unit per lot in these districts.

  Village Districts I and II minimum lot size: >= 1 acre · Rural District minimum lot size: >= 2 acres

  “Single family dwelling 1 acre minimum lot size;”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in Village Districts I and II and Rural District inside New Ipswich town.

  • Docks, boat landings, boat houses, and saunas are exempt from the 50-foot wetland/surface-water setback.
  • Planning Board may waive the 20-foot driveway-edge setback for back lots.

  front setback from road right-of-way: >= 30 feet · side and rear setback: >= 20 feet · wetland and surface-water structure setback: >= 50 feet (Listed water-related structures are exempt.)

  “Minimum side and rear setbacks for structures in feet 20 20”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Village Districts I and II and Rural District inside New Ipswich town.

  • Listed antennas, silos, church towers, water structures, chimneys, wind devices, agricultural barns, and telecommunications facilities are exempt.
  • Other structures above 45 feet require a Board of Adjustment special exception.

  maximum building height above mean ground level: <= 45 feet (Specified structures are exempt; other structures above this height require a special exception.)

  “Any other structure proposed to be higher than 45 feet requires a special exception of the Board of Adjustment.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping areas in the Rural District inside New Ipswich town.

  • Camping areas may be allowed only by a Board of Adjustment special exception and must meet Article XIV, Section E.

  “SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS: The following uses may be allowed by special exceptions of the Board of Adjustment provided they meet the requirements of Article XIV, Section E. [...] Camping area”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes in the Rural District inside New Ipswich town.

  • Mobile homes are subject to Article XIII, Section C.

  “Mobile homes are allowed in the rural district and are subject to the same requirements as other dwellings.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Subsurface septic systems serving construction inside New Ipswich town.

  • The town guide identifies NHDES Subsurface System Bureau approval as required documentation when applicable.

  “Septic System design approved by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Subsurface System Bureau. (if applicable).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Residential cluster subdivisions inside New Ipswich town.

  • Cluster development requires at least 10 contiguous acres and must comply with the town subdivision regulations.
  • At least 55% of the tract must be set aside as open space.

  minimum cluster-development tract: >= 10 acres

  “Cluster development is a type of subdivision designed to enable a developer of land for residential purposes”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New single- and two-family homes, including mobile and modular homes, inside New Ipswich town.

  • Approval is by the Public Works Director or, as applicable, New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

  “Driveway Permit approved by the Public Works Director or the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building permits.

  • The Board of Selectmen may adjust a building-permit fee for work complexity.
  • No building permit should be less than $50.

  minimum building permit fee: >= 50 USD (Board of Selectmen may reduce or increase fee commensurate with work complexity.)

  “In no case should any building permit be less than $50.00.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside New Ipswich town.

  • A complete application includes the building-permit application, site and construction plans, and fee payment.
  • Except unusual cases, inspector action occurs within 30 days; nonresidential or residential applications over 10 units within 60 days.

  ordinary application decision target: <= 30 days (Except in unusual cases.) · larger/nonresidential application decision target: <= 60 days (Non-residential or residential applications encompassing more than 10 dwelling units.)

  “An application is considered complete once a building permit application is received with copy of plans (site and construction) and payment of fees.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside New Ipswich town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside New Ipswich town.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside New Ipswich town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside New Ipswich town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside New Ipswich 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.