Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of New Haven, Vermont

Town of New Haven’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development inside New Haven town.

  • Exemptions in Section 300 are excepted from the zoning-permit requirement.

  “No land development may commence without a zoning permit”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures requiring a Certificate of Occupancy inside New Haven town.

  • The Zoning Administrator inspects when footings are in place and again when the structure is completed and deemed ready for occupancy; listed Certificate of Compliance exceptions apply.

  inspection stages: footings and completion

  “In the case of a structure, the Zoning Administrator must inspect the site at the time the footings are in place and again when the structure is completed and deemed by the owner to be ready for occupancy before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land or structures created, erected, converted, altered, enlarged, or changed in use inside New Haven town.

  • Exceptions to Certificate of Compliance include cemeteries, dormers, uncovered porches and decks under 120 square feet, septic systems, accessibility features, fill movement, and home businesses and occupations in existing buildings.

  “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any land or structure, or part thereof, created, erected, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure, unless a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Zoning Administrator stating that the proposed use of the land or structure conforms to the provisions of these Regulations.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  A mobile home, trailer, camper, or other temporary structure used as a residence on a permitted construction site inside New Haven town.

  • Use must be necessary or incidental to permitted construction; it ends when the construction zoning permit expires; the structure must then be removed or converted to a permitted accessory structure.

  “A mobile home, trailer, camper, or other temporary structure may be located on a construction site and used as a residence where necessary or incidental to permitted construction on that property. Use of the temporary structure as a residence shall not continue beyond the expiration of the zoning permit for the construction occurring on the property.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in all New Haven zoning districts.

  • The property must have adequate wastewater capacity; the unit may not exceed 900 square feet or 30% of the primary dwelling's total habitable floor area, whichever is greater; applicable setback, lot-coverage, and parking conditions must be met.

  maximum unit size: <= 900 square feet (or 30% of the primary dwelling unit's total habitable floor area, whichever is greater)

  “Accessory Dwelling Units are a permitted use in all districts and must be in compliance with all of the following: 1. The property must have sufficient wastewater capacity to accommodate both the primary dwelling and the accessory dwelling unit. 2. The unit must not exceed 900 square feet or 30% of the total habitable floor area of the primary dwelling unit, whichever is greater.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Required agricultural or silvicultural practices, including farm structures, inside New Haven town.

  • No zoning permit is required, but the required agricultural or silvicultural setbacks apply and a Notice of Intent with a location sketch must be delivered to the Zoning Administrator before building construction.

  “No zoning permit is required for the following; however, minimum setback compliance is encouraged where possible. 1. Any required agricultural or silvicultural practice as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture and/or the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, including the erection of farm structures. However, in the erection of a farm structure, all setbacks as required by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or the Commissioner of Forests Parks and Recreation as applicable, will be followed. A Notice of Intent to build, including a sketch showing the proposed building in relation to all property lines, is required to be delivered to the Zoning Administrator prior to the construction of any buildings under this Section.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed subdivisions inside New Haven town.

  • Approval must be obtained before grading, clearing, construction or other improvements, sale or conveyance of a created lot, or seeking/receiving a structure permit in the subdivision.

  “Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed, the subdivider shall obtain approval of the subdivision pursuant to this Article prior to undertaking any of the following: (1) any grading, clearing, construction or other improvement; (2) sale or conveyance of any lot to be created by the subdivision; (3) applying for or receiving a permit for erection of a structure within the subdivision.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction, substantial improvements, and other development in New Haven's areas of special flood hazard.

  • Applies to lands identified as special flood-hazard areas on the most recent FEMA FIRM and amendments as of permit-application submission. Uses not meeting Section 822 requirements require Development Review Board conditional-use approval.

  “Permits are required for all proposed new construction, substantial improvements, and other developments within all lands to which these Regulations apply. All zoning permit applications shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator, on forms furnished by the Zoning Administrator who shall determine on application whether or not the proposed development is located within the area of special flood hazard by the procedures established in these Regulations.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside New Haven town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside New Haven town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside New Haven town.
• Lot coverage — Land inside New Haven town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside New Haven 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.