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

Town of Arlington’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development, including construction, reconstruction, structural alteration, installation, relocation, or enlargement of a building or structure inside Arlington town.

  • The zoning-permit requirement is subject to the specific exemptions in Bylaw Section 1.2.
  • A zoning permit must be issued by the Land Use Administrator.

  “All land development in the Town of Arlington shall require a zoning permit issued in accordance with this Bylaw unless specifically exempted pursuant to Section 1.2.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Projects regulated by Arlington's Land Use and Development Bylaw.

  • Inspection occurs during construction when required as a condition of approval or when necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations.

  “The Land Use Administrator shall inspect projects during construction when required as a condition of approval or as necessary to ensure compliance with these regulations.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • Land development is subject to the Arlington Land Use and Development Bylaw unless specifically exempted under Section 1.2.

  “This regulatory tool constitutes the town’s zoning, sign, and subdivision regulations and shall be known and cited as the Arlington Land Use and Development Bylaws, and hereinafter referred to as the Bylaw.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • The Official Zoning Map identifies district boundaries and is available in paper and digital form at Town Offices and on the town website.
  • The Special Flood Hazard Area is an overlay district.

  zoning districts: Village Residential; Commercial Residential; Commercial Residential Rural; Commercial Industrial; Rural; Forest and Recreation; Planned Industrial

  “For the purposes of this Bylaw, the Town of Arlington is divided into the following zoning districts: Village Residential (VR) Commercial Residential (CR) Commercial Residential Rural (CRR) Commercial Industrial (CI) Rural (R) Forest and Recreation (FR) Planned Industrial (PI)”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Campers and recreational vehicles on lots inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • Recreational use at a campground operated or licensed by Vermont is not prevented.
  • A camper may be occupied by a non-paying guest for no more than 30 days in any 12-month period.
  • Campers and recreational vehicles are prohibited in the floodway.

  non-paying guest camper occupancy: <= 30 days in any twelve-month period

  “A camper may be occupied on any lot by a non-paying guest of the occupant of such lot for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days in any twelve-month period.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • The home must be on a lot meeting all bylaw requirements applicable to a single-family dwelling in its district.
  • The home must be suitably anchored.
  • A larger replacement manufactured home requires a permit.
  • Temporary use for one year is available to a lot owner actively constructing a residence with a valid Land Use Administrator permit.

  temporary manufactured-home period: 1 year (Owner is actively constructing a permitted residence on the lot.)

  “a permit may be granted for the use of a manufactured home for a temporary period of one year by the owner of a lot provided that such owner is actively constructing a residence thereon for which a valid permit has been received from the land use administrator.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units subordinate to single- or two-family dwellings inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • The unit must meet applicable setback, coverage, wastewater, and parking requirements.
  • The unit may be in the primary dwelling or an existing or new accessory structure.

  “Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Section 4412(1)(E) and (F), an accessory dwelling unit, as defined in this bylaw, is permitted as a use subordinate to a single- or two-family dwelling, provided such accessory dwelling unit meets all applicable setback, coverage, wastewater, and parking requirements.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • All subdivisions must conform to Section 5.4.
  • Except stated boundary-line-adjustment or lot-merger allowances, a final Mylar plat must be approved by the Planning Commission and recorded in town land records before subdivision, sale or offer for sale of a subdivided lot, or construction.

  “All subdivision of land must conform to the standards of Section 5.4. Subdivisions shall include the division of a lot into two or more lots, boundary line adjustments, and Planned Unit Developments.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Development served by a new curb cut on a town road or state highway inside Arlington town.

  • The applicant must provide the Land Use Administrator an access permit or letter of intent from the Town or State, as applicable, before zoning-permit issuance.
  • All developed land must have access from a maintained public or private road.
  • A Class 4 road or other unimproved right-of-way cannot satisfy the bylaw's access requirement.

  “An applicant for development to be served by a new curb cut on a town road or state highway must provide the Land Use Administrator with a copy of an access permit or letter of intent from the town or state for the curb cut as applicable, before the Land Use Administrator may issue a zoning permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Applications under Arlington's Land Use and Development Bylaw.

  • The Selectboard authorizes the fee schedule.
  • Fees are due when filing an application, and an application is not complete until applicable fees are paid in full.

  “The Selectboard shall authorize a schedule of fees designed to cover the cost of processing applications and administering these regulations, including but not limited to the cost of posting and publishing notices, holding public hearings, recording documents, and conducting inspections. Fees shall be paid by the applicant at the time of filing an application.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • The applicant must submit a complete town form, applicable fees, compliance information, and a truth-and-accuracy certification.
  • The Land Use Administrator determines completeness within 15 days unless a longer period is agreed with the applicant.
  • No approval may issue unless the application conforms to relevant regulations.

  completeness determination: <= 15 days (Unless a longer period is agreed upon with the applicant.)

  “The applicant shall submit a complete application for a zoning permit to the Land Use Administrator on forms provided by the town, accompanied by all applicable application fees as established by the Selectboard. The applicant shall provide all information necessary to demonstrate compliance with these regulations and certify that all information provided is true and accurate.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Arlington

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

• Septic permitLimited

  New development and septic-system work inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • Well and septic installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement are locally exempt from a zoning permit, but a state permit may be required.
  • New development must have an approved system design or appropriate permit in place as a condition of approval.

  “All new development shall provide for adequate potable water supply and for wastewater disposal in accordance with all state laws and regulations and either have an approved system design or the appropriate permit in place as a condition of approval.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New development using on-site water supply or wastewater disposal inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • Adequate potable water supply and wastewater disposal must comply with all state laws and regulations.
  • An approved system design or appropriate permit must be in place as a condition of approval.

  “All new development shall provide for adequate potable water supply and for wastewater disposal in accordance with all state laws and regulations and either have an approved system design or the appropriate permit in place as a condition of approval.”

• Well permitLimited

  Well installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement inside Arlington town, Vermont.

  • A state permit may be required.

  “Well and septic system installation, maintenance, and repair or replacement. A state permit may be required.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Required agricultural practices, accepted silvicultural practices, and qualifying farm structures inside Arlington town.

  • The activity must qualify as a required agricultural practice or accepted silvicultural practice under the identified state agencies.
  • For an exempt farm structure, the landowner must submit a zoning-permit application demonstrating qualification but need not pay the application fee.
  • Farm structures must meet district setbacks unless there is a written Agency of Agriculture waiver; they are exempt from district bulk and height requirements.
  • A zoning permit is required before an exempt farm structure is used for another purpose.

  “In accordance with state statute, landowners do not need a zoning permit to conduct required agricultural practices or accepted silvicultural practices as defined by the State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture or Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, respectively.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development located in Arlington's Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

  • Except for the stated Section 4.3.9(6) exception, a Land Use Administrator permit is required for all SFHA development.
  • Required conditional-use, waiver, or variance approvals must be obtained before permit issuance.
  • All other necessary state and federal permits must be obtained before work begins.

  “Except as provided in 4.3.9(6), a permit is required from the Land Use Administrator for all development that is located within the SFHA. Development that requires conditional use, waiver, or variance approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) under this Bylaw must have such approvals prior to the issuance of a permit by the Land Use Administrator.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Arlington town, Vermont.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Arlington town, Vermont.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Arlington town, Vermont.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Arlington town, Vermont.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Arlington town, Vermont.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Arlington means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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