Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Granville, Vermont

Town of Granville’s own rules

• Driveway accessRequired

  A private access road proposed to be constructed or improved where it intersects a Granville town highway.

  • Town design and construction standards in Part 5.3(l) apply.
  • The cited ordinance describes the Selectboard's policy as requiring the permit.
  • The schedule shown in the ordinance has a Selectboard-adjustable fee.

  minimum sight distance: >= 150 feet (Either direction on the town highway.)

  “it is the policy of the Selectboard to requirea driveway access permit whenever a property owner proposes to construct or improve a private access road which will intersect a town highway.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Driveway access permits for a private access road intersecting a Granville town highway.

  • The quoted schedule sets a $25 fee for the first two years after ordinance adoption and a $5 increase every two years unless otherwise noted by the Selectboard.
  • The currently applicable amount was not established by the opened ordinance.

  initial driveway access permit fee: 25 USD (For the first two years after adoption of the highway ordinance.) · scheduled fee increase: per 5 USD (Every two years thereafter unless otherwise noted by the Selectboard.)

  “A permit fee of $25 will be required for the first two years after adoption of this ordinance The fee will increase $5 every two years thereafter unless otherwise noted by the selectboard.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Granville

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

• Building permitLimited

  Development in Granville's regulated Special Flood Hazard Area.

  • Conditional-use, nonconforming-use, or variance approval is required before the Administrative Officer may issue a permit when applicable.
  • State and federal permits required for the project must be received before work begins.

  “A permit is required from the Administrative Officer for all development in all areas defined in Section IV.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Certificate-of-occupancy applications for land or structures in Granville's Special Flood Hazard Area.

  • Inspection follows receipt of a certificate-of-occupancy application.
  • The Administrative Officer inspects to ensure Project Review Sheet permits were acquired and work conforms to the zoning permit and associated approvals.

  administrative-officer action period: <= 14 days (If the certificate is not granted or denied within 14 days after application, it is deemed issued on the 15th day.)

  “Within 14 days of the receipt of the application for a certificate of occupancy, the AO shall inspect the premises”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A land use or structure created, erected, changed, converted, altered, enlarged, used, or occupied in Granville's Special Flood Hazard Area.

  • Does not apply to structures built in compliance with the bylaws at construction that have not been improved since adoption of the bylaw.
  • The Administrative Officer must state that the proposed use conforms to the bylaws.

  “it shall be unlawful to use or occupy, or permit the use or occupancy ofany land or struchre, or partthereof”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on sites within Granville's Special Flood Hazard Areas.

  • The vehicle must be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days and fully licensed and ready for highway use, or comply with the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes.

  consecutive on-site duration: < 180 days (Alternative compliance is permitted under the manufactured-home elevation and anchoring requirements.)

  “On the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days and be fully licensed and ready for highway use;”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in Granville's Special Flood Hazard Area.

  • New residential structures, including placement of manufactured homes, are prohibited in the Special Flood Hazard Area.
  • Replacement or substantially improved manufactured homes have stated elevation and anchoring standards.

  lowest-floor elevation above base flood elevation: >= 1 foot (For specified existing manufactured-home parks where elevation is not possible, reinforced piers or equivalent elements must be at least 48 inches above grade.)

  “New residential or non-residential structures (including the placement of manufactured homes and critical facilities);”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural activities in Granville's Special Flood Hazard Area.

  • Activities must be conducted in accordance with the Vermont Department of Agriculture's Accepted Agricultural Practices.
  • Before constructing farm structures, the farmer must notify the Administrative Officer in writing and include a sketch of the proposed structure and setbacks.

  “Agricultural activities conducted in accordance with the Vermont Departrnent of Agriculture's Accepted Agricultural Practices (AAP).”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  All development in areas defined by Section IV of Granville's Flood Hazard Ordinance.

  • Conditional-use, nonconforming-use, and variance approvals must precede issuance where applicable.
  • All necessary state and federal permits must be received before work begins.

  “A permit is required from the Administrative Officer for all development in all areas defined in Section IV.”

• Permit processPartial

  Flood-hazard development permit applications in Granville's regulated flood areas.

  • Applications require the named owner/contact information, a development description, a general location map, and where applicable a site plan.
  • A Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Project Review Sheet must identify required state and federal approvals; permits or letters that permits are not required must be submitted before work begins.
  • The appropriate fee determined by the Selectboard is required.

  “Applications for development shall include: a. The name and contact information for the owner of the property”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Granville town.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Granville town, Addison County, Vermont.
• Local zoning — Land inside Granville town, Addison County, Vermont.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Granville town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Granville 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.