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

Town of Unity’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alterations, and repairs of structures and dwellings inside Unity town limits.

  • Ordinary nonstructural repairs are excepted.
  • A residence also requires a state septic approval number and approval for construction before the Town permit issues.
  • The permit becomes void if work does not commence within six months unless extended by the building official.

  “A permit shall be obtained before beginning construction, alterations or repairs, other than ordinary repairs.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction, alteration, repair, use, occupancy, and maintenance of single-family dwellings and accessory structures inside Unity town limits.

  • The published Town code states that ordinary repairs are excluded from the permit requirement.
  • parameters: none

  “The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards for the protection of life, limb, property, and health and for safety and welfare of the consumer, general public and the owners and occupants of the Town of Unity.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New residential construction, manufactured housing, and additions inside Unity town limits.

  • Inspections must be requested at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Fuel-tank and piping installations require Fire Department inspection before backfilling.
  • Final inspection covers applicable plumbing, heating, electrical, code, and miscellaneous items.

  “When construction begins the following code compliance inspections must be done by the building inspector, and must be requested at least 24 hours in advance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use or occupancy of buildings and structures inside Unity town limits.

  • The owner or applicant must request the certificate after final inspection.
  • For property with a septic system, State of New Hampshire DES Approval of Operation is required before a certificate may issue.

  certificate of occupancy fee: 35 USD

  “A building or structure shall not be used or occupied in whole or in part, until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Unity town limits.

  • Unity is a single zoning district; uses remain subject to provisions otherwise stated in the ordinance.

  “This ordinance is established pursuant to the authority conferred by Chapters 672 through 677, New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, and shall be known as the “Land Use Ordinance of the town of Unity, New Hampshire.””

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Unity town limits.

  • The Land Use Ordinance establishes a single district.

  number of districts: 1

  “2.1 single district: the town of unity shall constitute a single district for the purposes of this ordinance.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Any dwelling unit inside Unity town limits.

  • The published application identifies this as a Unity Building Code requirement.

  minimum dwelling-unit area: >= 750 square feet

  “Any dwelling unit must be a minimum of 750 square feet per Unity Building Code.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Unity's single land-use district.

  • Maximum residential density is one dwelling unit per three acres.
  • Lots also require 200 feet of contiguous frontage.

  minimum lot size: >= 3 acres · maximum residential density: <= 1 dwelling unit per 3 acres · minimum contiguous frontage: >= 200 feet

  “The minimum lot size shall be three (3) acres. The maximum residential density for any lot shall be one (1) dwelling unit per three (3) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and structures in Unity's single land-use district.

  • Fences, gates, and walls up to eight feet high, signs, lampposts, mailboxes, flagpoles, well coverings, docks, stairs, walkways, and uncovered patios are exempt.

  minimum property-line setback: >= 20 feet · minimum public-right-of-way setback: >= 20 feet

  “Buildings and structures shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from property lines, and twenty (20) feet from public rights-of-way.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  RV occupancy that would make the RV an occupant's primary residence or domicile inside Unity town limits.

  • The Selectboard may grant a permit under RSA 674:32 II during reconstruction of a permitted dwelling on the same lot.
  • The temporary living structure must contain adequate sanitation and potable water or be close to facilities customarily used on construction sites.

  “Occupancy of recreational vehicles as defined by RSA 216 I-viii which results in such a vehicle becoming an occupant’s primary residence or domicile (is prohibited) in the town of Unity, whether inside a campground or camping park or at any other location, unless the Board of Selectmen has granted the owner a permit, under the provision of State Regulation 674:32 II, to occupy the temporary living structure during the reconstruction of a permitted dwelling on the same lot, and the temporary living structure either contains adequate sanitation facilities and potable water, or is in close proximity to such facilities as is customarily employed on construction sites.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Unity town limits.

  • A Planning Board conditional-use permit is required.
  • Only one ADU per single-family residence is allowed.
  • The ADU must be attached to or within the primary-dwelling structure.
  • Water supply and sewage disposal must be adequate under RSA 485-A:38.
  • One unit must be owner occupied; units must remain in common ownership.
  • The ADU is limited to two bedrooms and may not exceed 750 square feet.
  • Two parking places per dwelling are required, and the permit must be recorded with the Sullivan County Register of Deeds.

  ADUs per single-family residence: <= 1 · ADU maximum area: <= 750 square feet

  “Pursuant to RSA 674:21 the Planning Board is hereby authorized to grant a Conditional Use Permit to allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) in accordance with the restrictions and requirements of Section 3.4 and 6.1.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Unity town limits.

  • The Unity Planning Board administers the regulations.
  • A minor subdivision is no more than two lots or sites within five years and requires no new roads, utilities, or municipal improvements.
  • A major subdivision is more than two lots or sites, or any subdivision requiring new roads, utilities, or other municipal improvements.

  “5.34 subdivision, minor: shall mean the subdivision of land into no more than two (2) lots or sites within a five year period, and requiring no new roads, utilities or other municipal improvements.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New building lots inside Unity town limits.

  • The application notes that a separate Road Release may be required.
  • For new buildings, manufactured housing, and additions, the driveway permit is reviewed by state and local road agents and the Planning Board as necessary.

  “driveway permit (separate document) is required for new building lots.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within the federally determined floodplain inside Unity town limits.

  • Floodplain development applications are reviewed by the Building Inspector or another person appointed by the Selectboard.
  • Appeals may be made to the Unity Zoning Board of Adjustment.

  “floodplain ordinance: the town adopted a floodplain ordinance in 2010. this ordinance controls development within the federally determined floodplain. the purpose is to protect those properties and surrounding properties from flood damage. the building inspector or any other person appointed by the selectboard reviews floodplain development applications. appeals can be made to the unity zoning board of adjustment.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New buildings, manufactured housing, and additions inside Unity town limits.

  • Submission requires approved septic design, driveway permit, a site or plot plan showing structures and setbacks, and complete building plans.
  • The application must be reviewed and the fee paid before issuance.
  • The Town asks applicants to allow ten days for plan review.

  stated plan-review allowance: 10 days (The published procedure says to allow ten days.)

  “After this criteria is met, submitted, reviewed, and the application fee is paid a building permit will be issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Unity

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems serving residences inside Unity town limits.

  • State septic approval and approval for construction are prerequisites to a Town residential building permit.
  • State DES Approval of Operation is a prerequisite to Town certificate-of-occupancy issuance for property with a septic system.

  “The applicant must also have a state septic approval number and approval for construction before any permit for a residence can be issued.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Residences using on-site septic systems inside Unity town limits.

  • The state septic approval number and approval for construction must be obtained before the Town can issue a residential building permit.

  “The applicant must also have a state septic approval number and approval for construction before any permit for a residence can be issued.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  On-site septic systems serving occupied buildings inside Unity town limits.

  • The published requirement is an Approval of Operation before Town certificate-of-occupancy issuance; the materials reviewed do not establish a routine inspection schedule.

  “If you have a septic system on your property, an Approval of Operation for that system must be received from the State of New Hampshire, Department of Environmental Services, before a Certificate of Occupancy may be issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Unity town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Unity town limits.
• Building height — Buildings and structures inside Unity town limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Unity town limits.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Unity 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 Unity 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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