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

Town of Weybridge’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land and building development inside Weybridge town.

  • The zoning permit may be issued only in conformance with the Zoning Regulations and other Town ordinances.
  • Required approvals from the Planning Commission, Zoning Board, Selectboard, and/or Health Officer must be granted before the Zoning Administrator issues a permit where applicable.

  “A zoning permit issued by the Zoning Administrator is required for any land or building development. Such permit may be issued only in conformance with these Zoning Regulations and other Town ordinances.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted land or structures inside Weybridge town before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

  • Inspection occurs within seven days after receipt of a certificate-of-occupancy application.
  • The inspection checks conformance with the permit and applicable Zoning Board and/or Planning Commission conditions.

  inspection timing: <= 7 days (After receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy application.)

  “Within seven (7) days of receipt of the application for a Certificate of Occupancy, the Zoning Administrator will inspect the premises to ensure that all work was completed in conformance with the permit, including all applicable conditions of the Zoning Board and/or Planning Commission.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use or occupancy of land or structures created, erected, changed, converted, altered, enlarged, or changed in use after the zoning regulations' effective date inside Weybridge town.

  • The certificate must state that the proposed use conforms to the regulations.
  • A completed signed Residential Building Energy Standard Certificate must be provided before receipt of the certificate.
  • The application must be submitted after permitted improvements are completed but before occupancy.

  “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any land or structure, or part thereof created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure after the effective date of these regulations until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Zoning Administrator.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Weybridge town, Addison County, Vermont.

  • The regulations were adopted by the Selectboard on January 3, 2017.

  “Town of Weybridge Zoning Regulations Adopted by Selectboard on January 3, 2017”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Weybridge town.

  • The official zoning map is the final authority as to current zoning status of land in the town.

  zoning districts: Neighborhood Commercial (NC), High Density Residential (HDR), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Planned Agricultural Residential (PAR), Conservation (CON), and Flood Hazard Area (FHA)

  “Weybridge is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: Neighborhood Commercial (NC), High Density Residential (HDR), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Planned Agricultural Residential (PAR), Conservation (CON), and Flood Hazard Area (FHA).”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Zoned development inside Weybridge town.

  • The regulations instead specify maximum housing density in each zoning district.

  “Consequently, these zoning regulations specify a maximum housing density in each zoning district, rather than a minimum lot size.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile/manufactured homes inside Weybridge town outside permitted mobile-home parks.

  • They must meet all requirements pertaining to single-family homes.
  • Permitted mobile-home parks are governed by Section 411.

  “Mobile homes shall be treated as, and meet all requirements pertaining to, single family homes, except within permitted mobile home parks in accordance with the provisions of Section 411.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  One accessory dwelling unit within or appurtenant to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling inside Weybridge town.

  • It is subject to the principal building's standards, including adequate water supply, septic system, and off-street parking, and may not increase noncompliance.
  • Floor area may not exceed 30 percent of existing single-family-residence habitable floor area or 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater.
  • An accessory dwelling structure over 1,500 square feet requires conditional-use review.

  maximum floor space: <= 30 percent (Or 1,500 square feet, whichever is greater.) · conditional-use threshold: > 1500 square feet (Accessory dwelling structures over this size may be approved subject to conditional-use review.)

  “One accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use within or appurtenant to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling. [...] Floor space shall not exceed 30 percent of the total habitable floor area of the existing floor area of the single-family residence or 1500 square feet, whichever is greater. [...] Accessory dwelling structures over 1500 square feet may be approved subject to conditional use review.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Accepted agricultural practices and best management practices, including farm structures, inside Weybridge town.

  • Prior to farm-structure construction, the farmer must notify the Zoning Administrator in writing and include a sketch showing proposed setbacks.
  • Local setbacks must be maintained unless the Commissioner approves other reasonable setbacks upon written petition.

  “No zoning permit shall be required for the following: [...] Accepted agricultural practices (AAPs) and best management practices (BMPs), including farm structures, as defined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Markets; [...] Prior to the construction of farm structures, the farmer must notify the Zoning Administrator in writing of the proposed construction activity.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Zoning-permit activities involving construction or modification of a driveway intersecting a public right-of-way inside Weybridge town.

  • An access permit from the Road Commissioner is required before the zoning permit is issued.
  • The Selectboard may attach design, construction, landscaping, or location conditions and may set specific standards.

  “Any activity for which a zoning permit is required and which involves the construction or modification of a driveway intersecting with a public right-of-way shall obtain an access permit from the Road Commissioner prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Weybridge Special Flood Hazard and Fluvial Erosion Hazard areas identified in Section 500.

  • Conditional-use approval by the Zoning Board is required for development other than identified permitted uses.
  • Before issue, the application must be sent to Vermont DEC; a permit may issue only after DEC comments or 30 days after mailing, whichever is sooner.

  DEC comment waiting period: <= 30 days (Permit may issue earlier following DEC comments.)

  “A permit issued by the Zoning Administrator is required for all development in areas identified in Section 500 (SFH and FEH areas). Conditional use approval by the Zoning Board is required for all development other than for uses identified as permitted uses.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Published municipal zoning, certificate-of-occupancy/compliance, and subdivision applications inside Weybridge town.

  • The official Town forms page lists separate fees by application type.

  residential dwelling zoning fee: 150 USD · certificate of occupancy/compliance fee: 40 USD · subdivision major fee: 200 USD

  “Residential Dwelling | $150.00 [...] Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance | $40.00 [...] Subdivision Major | $200.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Land-development zoning permits inside Weybridge town.

  • Conditional uses require Zoning Board review and approval.
  • For permitted uses other than listed residential and child-care uses, Planning Commission site-plan approval may be required.
  • One- and two-family dwelling construction, additions, or alterations may be approved by the Zoning Administrator without Board or Commission review if all regulations are obeyed.

  “For all land developments, as defined in Section 102, an approved zoning permit is required. The procedures for approval depend upon the particular use proposed. For uses listed as “conditional” in Tables 206.1 –206.6, review and approval by the Zoning Board is required.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Weybridge

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  High Density Residential District (HDR) inside Weybridge town.

  • Dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.
  • Accessory-structure setbacks are separately stated.

  front yard setback: 25 feet · side yard setback: 15 feet · rear yard setback: 30 feet

  “High Density Residential District (HDR) [...] Minimum Front Yard Setback 25feet Minimum Side Yard Setback 15 feet [...] Minimum Rear Yard Setback 30 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  High Density Residential District (HDR) inside Weybridge town.

  • The stated dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “High Density Residential District (HDR) [...] Maximum Lot Coverage 30%”

• Building heightSpecified

  High Density Residential District (HDR) inside Weybridge town.

  • The stated dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.
  • Accessory structures may not exceed the primary house's height or 35 feet, whichever is less.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Accessory structures may not exceed the primary house height or 35 feet, whichever is less.)

  “Maximum Building Height 35 feet Accessory Structure Not to exceed the height of the primary house or 35 feet, whichever is less.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems inside Weybridge town under Vermont's statewide Wastewater Systems and Potable Water Supply Rules.

  • The Secretary issues or amends permits, subject to 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, operation, physical modification, or replacement of wastewater systems inside Weybridge town.

  • Exceptions are in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304.
  • A permit or permit amendment is required before the listed action.

  “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: [...] the construction of a new potable water supply or wastewater system; [...] the physical modification or replacement of an existing potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Substantially completed potable water supplies and wastewater systems inside Weybridge town when installation certification is required.

  • Before use and operation, a signed and dated installation certification must be submitted to the Secretary.
  • The installation certification need not be submitted when the authorizing permit or permit amendment does not contain a condition requiring it.

  “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: [...] were inspected; [...] were properly tested;”

• Well permitRequired

  New potable water supplies, including wells used as a potable water supply, inside Weybridge town.

  • Exceptions are in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304.
  • The requirement applies before construction or operation of a new potable water supply.

  “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: [...] the construction of a new potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of lots inside Weybridge town.

  • Exceptions are in §§ 1-302, 1-303, and 1-304.
  • A permit or permit amendment from the Secretary is required before subdivision.

  “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: (1) the subdivision of a lot or lots;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Weybridge town.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Weybridge town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Weybridge town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Weybridge town other than RV use.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Weybridge 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.