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

Town of Farmington’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures in Farmington town.

  • Except as provided in paragraphs b and c, buildings, components, and structures constructed in New Hampshire beginning March 12, 2003 must comply with the state building and fire codes.
  • The most recent Life Safety Code takes precedence as to means of egress.
  • The state fire code takes precedence in a conflict unless the State Building Code Review Board determines otherwise.

  “Except as provided in paragraphs b and c, all buildings, building components and Structures constructed in New Hampshire beginning March 12, 2003, shall comply with the state building code and state fire code.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Building-code compliance and zoning enforcement in Farmington town.

  • The ordinance authorizes inspections when necessary to assure local-building-code compliance and assist with zoning enforcement; it does not establish a universal inspection schedule in the cited passage.

  “The Code Enforcement Officer has the authority to interpret, administer and enforce all State and local codes; issue building permits as provided in RSA 676:11-13 and any certificates of occupancy; and to perform inspections as may be necessary to assure compliance with State and local building code and assist in addressing and enforcing any zoning ordinance violations.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use or occupancy of a building or structure erected, or subject to a change or expansion of use, in Farmington town.

  • The certificate must be issued by the building inspector before use or occupancy.

  “A certificate of occupancy must be issued by the building inspector prior to the use or occupancy of any building or Structure that is erected or undergoes a change or expansion of use.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Farmington town, Strafford County, New Hampshire.

  • The ordinance is adopted and amended by the Town's legislative body under the cited authority.

  “The purpose of the “Town of Farmington Zoning Ordinance”, (hereinafter, “Ordinance”) is to provide for the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants;”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Farmington town zoning districts.

  • The cited official ordinance publishes Agricultural Residential, Suburban Residential, Rural Residential, and Urban Residential district standards; other district schedules may also apply.

  “For the purposes of regulating the use of land and the location and construction of buildings and in accordance with RSA 674:20, the Town of Farmington shall be divided into the following districts:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured housing inside Farmington town.

  • It may be located on lawfully existing lots in manufactured-housing parks or on individual lots where conventional single-family homes are permitted.
  • It is prohibited in Open Space-Residential Cluster Development, and no more than one unit may be on a single lot.
  • A newly located unit more than five years old is prohibited.
  • Standards do not apply to units placed as dwellings before March 12, 2013 that remain in the same location.

  maximum age of newly located manufactured housing: <= 5 years (Units over five years old are not permitted)

  “Manufactured housing units may be located on lawfully existing lots in manufactured housing parks or on individual lots anywhere conventional single-family homes are permitted. Manufactured housing units are not permitted within Open Space-Residential Cluster Development. No more than one (1) manufactured housing unit may be on a single lot.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in Farmington zoning districts that permit single-family dwellings.

  • Only one ADU is permitted for each single-family dwelling.
  • An ADU is not allowed on property where more than one dwelling unit currently exists.

  ADUs per single-family dwelling: 1 ADU (Not allowed where more than one dwelling unit currently exists)

  “An accessory dwelling unit (“ADU”) is permitted by right in all zoning districts that permit single family dwellings, subject to the following provisions listed:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Rear-lot subdivision and other subdivision activity inside Farmington town.

  • Rear-lot subdivision is subject to review and approval under the Town Land Subdivision Regulations, as amended, plus the ordinance's listed conditions.
  • The cited rear-lot provision applies only in AR, SR, RR, and UR zones.

  “Rear lot subdivisions shall be subject to review and approval in accordance with the Land Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Farmington, as amended, as well as the following requirements listed below:”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways providing access to a public street in Farmington town.

  • The CEO refers applications to the Public Works Director for review.
  • If work has not started within 12 months after issue, the permit is null and void.
  • The Public Works Director approves only if the Section 3.03(A) and (B) requirements are met.

  permit commencement period: <= 12 months (Permit is null and void if work has not started)

  “No person may build or construct a driveway that provides an access to a public street without first obtaining a driveway permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. The CEO shall refer all applications to the Public Works Director for review.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy in Farmington town.

  • The Board of Selectmen may change the amount and/or number of fees from time to time.

  “The Board of Selectmen is authorized to establish fees to be charged for Building Permits, inspections, and Certificates of Occupancy. The Farmington Board of Selectmen, upon their own action or upon recommendation of the Planning Board, may change the amount and/or number of fees from time to time.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Farmington

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural Residential (AR) District inside Farmington town.

  • For non-residential buildings and structures, including agricultural buildings, the side and rear setback is one foot per foot of height, but not less than 15 feet.

  minimum front setback: 50 feet · minimum side and rear setback for principal residential buildings: 15 feet

  “Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Minimum Front Setback | 50 feet Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Minimum Side and Rear Setback | Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Principal Residential Buildings | 15 feet Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Accessory Buildings or Structures | 15 feet Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Non-residential buildings or Structures, including Agricultural buildings | One (1) foot for each foot of height, but not less than 15 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agricultural Residential (AR) District inside Farmington town.

  • Telecommunications towers are governed by Section 3.11.

  maximum residential-building height: 35 feet · maximum non-residential-building-and-structure height: 55 feet

  “Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Maximum Height | Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Residential Buildings | 35 feet Table 2.01(B) – Space and Bulk Standards – Agricultural Residential District Non-Residential Buildings | 55 feet”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Sewage and waste-disposal systems serving buildings inside Farmington town.

  • The State requirements are minimum requirements and do not modify or lessen local authorities' statutory powers.
  • Where a municipality requires prior local approval, the applicant must certify local compliance before applying to the department.

  “No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department. Nothing herein shall be construed to modify or lessen the powers conferred upon local authorities by other statutes; provided, however, that in all instances the requirements contained in this chapter shall be considered as minimum.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge, or construction of a sewage or waste-disposal system, inside Farmington town.

  • Prior Department approval of plans and specifications is required.
  • For replacement of a failed subsurface system, the applicant is exempt from the local-compliance certification described in RSA 485-A:32(II).

  “No person shall construct any building from which sewage or other wastes will discharge or construct a sewage or waste disposal system without prior approval of the plans and specifications of the sewage or waste disposal system by the department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work in Farmington town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum overall dwelling size inside Farmington town.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Farmington town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping other than the specific recreational-vehicle rules located in Farmington town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Farmington 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.