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

Town of Burke’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development, including building development, inside Burke town, except development exempted by §205.

  • The requirement does not apply to activities exempted under §205 of the bylaw.
  • The proposed development must comply with applicable bylaw sections and obtain Development Review Board approvals required before the zoning permit is issued.

  “may be commenced without a permit issued by the Administrative Officer.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Projects where a site inspection is made a condition of Burke subdivision approval.

  • One or more site inspections may be required as a condition of subdivision approval.
  • The inspection addresses whether infrastructure conforms to subdivision-approval conditions, specifications, and other applicable municipal regulations.

  “One or more site inspections may be required as a condition of subdivision approval, to ensure that the installation of infrastructure conforms to the conditions and specification of subdivision approval and other applicable municipal regulations.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Burke, Vermont.

  “there is hereby established a zoning bylaw for the Town of Burke”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Burke town, subject to the official zoning map maintained by the Town Clerk.

  • The official zoning map in the Burke Town Clerk's office is final authority for the current zoning status of properties.

  “The zoning map officially titled “Town of Burke Zoning Map,” is hereby adopted as part of this bylaw. The Town of Burke Zoning Map shows a division of the town into the following districts: Village Mixed Use “VMU” Village Residential “VR” Agricultural Residential I “AR I” Agricultural Residential II “AR II” Resort “R” Conservation & Scenic Overlay“CSO” Flood Hazard Overlay “FHO””

• Camping on your landLimited

  Accessory campsites in designated Burke zoning districts.

  • Accessory campsites must be on lots greater than five acres.
  • They are subject to conditional-use review under §§806 and 807.

  minimum lot size: > 5 acres (Accessory campsites in designated districts.)

  “Accessory campsites may be permitted in designated districts on lots greater than 5 acres in size and subject to conditional use review in accordance with 806 and 807 and the following provisions”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Placement of manufactured homes in Burke flood hazard areas.

  • The prohibition applies in all hazard areas.

  “Prohibited Development. The following forms of development are prohibited in all hazard areas: A. New residential development (including the placement of manufactured homes”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems inside Burke town.

  • Town zoning compliance does not establish compliance with state regulations.

  “on-lot sewage systems and outdoor furnaces, regulated by the Agency of Natural Resources;”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Accepted agricultural practices, including construction of farm structures, inside Burke town.

  • Farm structures require notice to the Burke Town Clerk of intent.
  • The person must abide by setbacks approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

  “No zoning permits shall be required for the following activities: (1) Accepted agricultural practices, including the construction of farm structures, as those practices are defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, in accordance with 24 V.S.A. §4413(d).”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways inside Burke town for purposes of Burke zoning permits.

  • The stated exemption applies only to driveways outside regulated flood hazard areas.

  “No zoning permits shall be required for the following activities: [...] (8) Driveways located outside of regulated flood hazard areas;”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Burke zoning-permit and other relevant development-review applications.

  • Fees are set by the Burke Selectboard.
  • All required application fees for relevant development-review processes must accompany the application.

  “All required application fees for all relevant development review processes, as set by the Town of Burke Selectboard, shall be submitted with the application as well.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder projects inside Burke town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land inside Burke town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Burke town.
• Lot coverage — Residential development inside Burke town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Burke 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.