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

Town of Greenland’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Newly constructed or substantially reconstructed residential units inside Greenland town limits.

  • A residential permit is not required for changes within an existing residential unit unless the residential use changes to a non-residential use.
  • Non-residential occupancy/use permits are also required for the listed new, reconstructed, changed-use, and changed-occupancy uses.

  “Residential Occupancy/Use Permits will be required for all newly constructed and substantially reconstructed residential units.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Greenland town limits.

  • The ordinance governs future buildings, structures, and uses in Greenland.

  “ARTICLE III: ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS AND USES”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Greenland town limits.

  • The ordinance identifies Residential, Commercial A, Commercial B, Commercial C, Industrial, Floodplain Management overlay, Aquifer Protection overlay, and RCIM overlay districts.

  “The following purposes are hereby established for each of the districts:”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and lot changes inside Greenland zoning districts.

  • The applicable dimensional table and explanatory notes govern unless another ordinance section modifies them.

  “front yard minimum (ft) rear yard minimum (ft) side yard minimum (ft)”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots and development in Greenland zoning districts.

  • The dimensional table applies unless modified by another ordinance section.
  • Aquifer Protection District rules may impose additional controls.

  “The table of dimensional requirements shall apply for all lots, uses of land, and developments within the various districts, unless modified by other sections of this ordinance.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Greenland zoning districts.

  • The dimensional table applies unless modified by another ordinance section.

  “The Table of Dimensional Requirements shall apply for all lots, uses of land, and developments within the various districts, unless modified by other sections of this ordinance.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  RV, trailer, or house-trailer occupancy on a lot in any Greenland zoning district.

  • The Board of Selectmen may grant a temporary-occupancy permit for good cause.
  • The permit is limited to three months at one time and one year in total, intended for an owner constructing or reconstructing that owner's house.

  temporary occupancy duration: <= 3 months at one time (not more than one year together)

  “save that the Board of Selectmen for good cause shown may grant a permit for temporary occupancy by the owner for not more than three months at one time, and not more than one year together.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Recreational camping areas inside Greenland town limits.

  • A Board of Adjustment special exception is required.
  • Required approvals may include specified state and Town officials.
  • The operation is seasonal, closed November 1 through April 15, and campers may not remain in a commercial campground more than 14 consecutive days in a calendar month.

  maximum consecutive campground stay: <= 14 days in any calendar month

  “Recreational camping areas shall be permitted on the grant of a Special Exception by the Board of Adjustment, which shall find that the proposed recreational camping park:”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units on approved building lots inside Greenland town limits.

  • One unit per lot; owner must occupy a dwelling unit; the ADU cannot have separate ownership.
  • Maximum 1,200 square feet of conditioned space and two bedrooms; on-site parking and structural, water, and sanitary compliance are required.
  • Evidence of adequate septic and potable water is required before construction; a certificate of occupancy is required before occupancy.

  maximum ADU conditioned space: <= 1200 square feet · maximum ADU bedrooms: <= 2 bedrooms

  “An accessory dwelling unit will be allowed on any approved building lot provided that:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed development in any special flood-hazard area inside Greenland town limits.

  • The permit application must include general information and a site plan.
  • Separate state and federal permits may apply under Article VIII.

  “All proposed development in any special flood hazard areas shall require a Flood Hazard Development Permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building, test-pit, and septic-review permits issued by Greenland.

  • All fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Residential, commercial, test-pit, septic-review, and impact-fee information is published.

  residential permit rate: per 7 USD per thousand (minimum charge $50; additional fees may apply) · commercial permit rate: per 10 USD per thousand (minimum charge $100; additional fees may apply)

  “residential: $7 per thousand, a minimum charge of $50 (additional fees may apply)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Greenland town limits.

  • The Town invoices the applicant; payment may be online, by mail, or in person, with cash in person.
  • Building applications must have plans or sketches and intended-use statements.

  “the completed permit can be emailed to [email protected], mailed or brought to the town office in person. you will be emailed an invoice that can be paid online, mailed or paid in person at the town office (cash must be paid in person).”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Greenland

Town of Greenland does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential R Zone inside Greenland town limits.

  • The table applies unless modified by another ordinance section.
  • The table states the required lot area includes 45,000 square feet of contiguous non-wetland soil.

  minimum lot area: >= 60000 square feet (45,000 square feet must be contiguous non-wetland soil)

  “r 60,000 with 45,000 contiguous nonwetland soil”

Still unanswered

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

• Well permit — Private wells inside Greenland town limits.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Greenland town limits where public water or sewer may be available.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land use inside Greenland town limits.
• Short-term rentals — Short-term rental of residential property inside Greenland 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 Greenland 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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