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

Town of Hancock’s own rules

• Mandatory utility hookupNone

  New homes inside Hancock town; the Town does not provide municipal public water or wastewater disposal systems.

  • Individual on-site water supply and disposal facilities are identified as serving residences and non-residential uses.

  “All residences [...] are dependent on individual on-site water supply and disposal facilities.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction or substantial improvement to an existing structure in Hancock's designated floodplain.

  • The Town must find that the proposal meets or exceeds minimum development standards for flood hazard areas.

  “Conditional approval for new structures in the floodplain.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hancock

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

• Camping on your landLimited

  Periodic and temporary campgrounds inside Hancock town for purposes of the state wastewater permitting rules.

  • The campground must not be connected to a water service line, water service pipe, or sanitary sewer service line.
  • Camping is limited to no more than 12 nights per year.
  • There may be no discharge of wastewater to the ground surface.

  maximum camping nights: <= 12 nights per year (Only for the cited periodic and temporary campground permit exemption.)

  “The periodic and temporary creation of a campground provided: (A) The campground is not connected to a water service line, water service pipe, or sanitary sewer service line; (B) there are no more than 12 nights of camping per year; and (C) there is no discharge of wastewater to the ground surface.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Wastewater systems inside Hancock town are subject to Vermont Secretary-issued permits and rules.

  • The permit rule contains exemptions in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304.

  “Except as provided in this Section and in § 1-302, § 1-303, and § 1-304, no person shall take or cause to be taken any of the following actions without first obtaining a permit or permit amendment from the Secretary for the construction and operation of a potable water supply and wastewater system:”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction and operation of a wastewater system serving development inside Hancock town.

  • Exceptions are provided in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304 of the Vermont Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules.

  “Except as provided in this Section and in § 1-302, § 1-303, and § 1-304, no person shall take or cause to be taken any of the following actions without first obtaining a permit or permit amendment from the Secretary for the construction and operation of a potable water supply and wastewater system:”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Permitted wastewater systems inside Hancock town for which an installation certification is required.

  • The certification requirement applies after substantial completion and before use or operation.
  • A permit or permit amendment may not require installation certification under § 1-311(h).

  “Subsequent to the substantial completion of a potable water supply or wastewater system and prior to the use and operation of the wastewater system or potable water supply, a signed and dated installation certification from an installer, or a designer if required in Subsection (f), shall be submitted to the Secretary that states:”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Composting or incinerating toilets used in buildings or structures inside Hancock town.

  • The toilet must not yield a liquid for the cited disposal provision.
  • A composting or incinerating toilet does not exempt disposal of all other wastewater from compliance with technical standards.
  • On-lot disposal of toilet contents requires a Secretary-approved location in a permit.

  “The installation and use of composting or incinerating toilets does not create an exemption from any requirement of these Rules, including the requirement that all buildings or structures have wastewater systems that comply with the technical standards in this Subchapter and Subchapters 8 and 10, for the disposal of all other wastewater from the building or structure.”

• Well permitLimited

  Construction and operation of potable water supplies, including wells, inside Hancock town.

  • The statewide rule has exceptions in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304.

  “Except as provided in this Section and in § 1-302, § 1-303, and § 1-304, no person shall take or cause to be taken any of the following actions without first obtaining a permit or permit amendment from the Secretary for the construction and operation of a potable water supply and wastewater system:”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Hancock town, apart from separately applicable wastewater, floodplain, and access permits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Hancock town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Hancock town.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Hancock town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Hancock 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.