Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Shoreham, Vermont
Town of Shoreham is a town in Addison County, Vermont. Town of Shoreham adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Shoreham’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Town of Shoreham come from the state health agency. 23 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 7, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Addison County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Shoreham
Town of Shoreham’s own rules
Building permitRequired
Land development and building construction inside Shoreham town.
Exceptions in UDR §§3.203 and 3.204 and statutory exemptions apply.
The 15-day appeal period must pass; development cannot commence while a properly filed appeal is pending.
“no land development, building construction, or change of use may commence”
Building code adoptedNot adopted
Residential building construction inside Shoreham town.
This finding concerns municipal residential construction codes; the town plan separately notes State commercial-building safety and energy standards.
“Shoreham does not have residential building codes that control how a building is constructed.”
InspectionsLimited
Permitted structures inside Shoreham town.
The applicant must notify the Zoning Administrator after the foundation or other foundation is laid out and marked.
The site visit is normally within seven days and may occur with or without the applicant present.
“The ZA will set a time to visit the site”
Certificate of occupancyNot required
Municipal certificates of occupancy for land and structures inside Shoreham town.
A certificate is issued if required by FEMA for an SFHA use or structure, a lender, a State permit or license, or another similar non-municipal requirement.
When one is issued, the ZA determines that the project conforms to issued permits, approvals, and conditions.
“does not require Certificates of Occupancy as of the effective date”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside Shoreham town, Vermont.
The town's Unified Development Regulations control development review and zoning permits.
“Town of Shoreham is divided into the following zoning districts:”
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Zoning districts inside Shoreham town.
The Official Zoning Map establishes district locations and boundaries.
The map is signed by the Selectboard, attested by the Town Clerk, and kept at the Town Office.
“Town of Shoreham is divided into the following zoning districts:”
Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)
An RV or camper parked by an owner or invited guest on private property inside Shoreham town.
Use is temporary and seasonal, limited to no more than 60 consecutive days between May 1 and November 30.
It cannot be used as a permanent accessory dwelling or living quarters.
A temporary-use permit may be sought for a different use.
maximum consecutive occupancy: <= 60 days (Between May 1 and November 30)
“used only as a temporary, seasonal shelter for not more than 60 consecutive days between May 1 and November 30, and is not used as a permanent, accessory dwelling or living quarters.”
Camping on your landLimited
Parcels containing three or more vacation or temporary-use campers or similar shelters inside Shoreham town.
The parcel requires a campground permit.
Applicable State campground water/wastewater requirements and UDR §4.306 apply.
temporary-use campers triggering campground permit: >= 3 campers (Any type or description)
“Any parcel containing three or more vacation/temporary-use campers”
Manufactured homesLimited
Manufactured homes inside Shoreham town.
Manufactured homes follow the district standards applicable to stick-built single-family homes.
In a mobile/manufactured-home park, the park's dimensional standards supersede district standards.
A zoning permit is required.
“Manufactured homes are treated the same as stick-built single-family homes”
Accessory dwellingsLimited
Accessory dwellings on owner-occupied properties inside Shoreham town.
The landowner must live in the primary dwelling or one accessory unit.
An ADU is by right wherever single-family homes are allowed and may only be associated with the primary dwelling.
Both types require State Water/Wastewater permit coverage or an amended permit, and rental registration if not for family use.
“An ADU is a by-right use wherever single-family homes are allowed”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
RVs, campers, and other temporary shelters inside Shoreham town.
Sewage must comply with applicable local, State, and Federal regulations.
An RV or camper may not be converted to a full-time dwelling or connected to residential or municipal water or sewer.
“Sewage shall be disposed of in accordance with all applicable”
Agricultural exemptionConditional
Agricultural uses inside Shoreham town.
The UDR identifies certain State agricultural uses as exempt from local permits.
Applications are required for many exemptions so the ZA can confirm the exemption and district compliance.
“certain State uses exempt from local permits”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivisions inside Shoreham town.
No subdivision permit issues until the State has issued or amended a Water/Wastewater Permit, or substantiated that one is not needed.
“No zoning or subdivision permit shall be issued”
Driveway accessRequired
Construction or modification of a driveway intersecting a Town or State public road inside Shoreham town.
The access permit comes from the Selectboard for a Town road or Vermont Department of Transportation as applicable for a State road.
The permit must be obtained before the ZA issues the zoning permit.
“No zoning permit shall be issued until an access permit”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development in Shoreham's Special Flood Hazard Area.
Exempt development under UDR §7.203(B) is excluded.
Projects requiring conditional-use approval or a variance must obtain it before the ZA issues the permit.
The 30-day State-law comment period must have elapsed before a permit is issued.
“a permit is required from the ZA for all development”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Zoning permit applicants inside Shoreham town.
A person seeking activity requiring a zoning permit must submit a completed application and required information to the ZA.
The ZA cannot issue a permit until a complete application is submitted.
“shall complete an application for a Zoning Permit”
Rules another office applies inside Town of Shoreham
Town of Shoreham does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.
Owner-builder exemptionConditional
Residential construction inside Shoreham town subject to Vermont RBES.
The owner must be the builder.
The construction must be used as the owner's dwelling.
The owner must direct the details of noncompliant materials and give prescribed written disclosure to a prospective buyer before a binding sale agreement.
“Residential construction by an owner, if all of the following apply:”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Low Density Residential District (LDR) inside Shoreham town.
The cited dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.
minimum lot area: 2 acres (Unless otherwise specified by use type)
The front setback is measured from the center of the access road or LDR boundary.
front setback: 65 ft (Measured from center of access road or LDR boundary) · side setback: 25 ft · rear setback: 25 ft
“Front: 65 ft [...] Sides: 25 ft. Rear: 25 ft.”
Lot coverageSpecified
Low Density Residential District (LDR) inside Shoreham town.
The cited standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.
maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent (Unless otherwise specified by use type)
“Lot Coverage, maximum: 20% Setbacks, minimums:”
Building heightSpecified
Agricultural District (AG) inside Shoreham town.
The stated maximum applies to non-agricultural buildings.
maximum building height: <= 35 ft (Non-agricultural)
“Building Height, maximum: 35 ft. (non-agricultural)”
Who permits septicState (with conditions)
Water and wastewater permitting connected to development inside Shoreham town.
Before the town issues a zoning or subdivision permit, the State must issue or amend a Water/Wastewater Permit, or substantiate that one is not needed.
“No zoning or subdivision permit shall be issued until the State has:”
Septic permitLimited
Development inside Shoreham town that requires a State Water/Wastewater Permit.
The town cannot issue a zoning or subdivision permit until the State issues or amends the permit, or substantiates that no permit is needed.
“issued or amended a Water/Wastewater Permit”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Shoreham or Addison County directly.
Septic inspection — Onsite wastewater systems serving land inside Shoreham town.
Mandatory utility hookup — New residential development inside Shoreham town.
Permit fees — Town land-use and construction-related permits inside Shoreham 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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Shoreham publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Addison County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Shoreham means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
