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

Town of Danville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development, including residential development, inside Danville town.

  • Activities exempt from permitting are excluded.
  • The proposed development must comply with applicable bylaw sections and obtain applicable Development Review Board approvals.

  “Except for activities exempt from permitting (below), no-one may commence land development as defined in 24 VSA §4303(10) without a permit from the Zoning Administrator.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Projects inside Danville town requiring a zoning Certificate of Occupancy.

  • Inspection occurs within 30 days of receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy application.
  • The inspection verifies conformance with the zoning permit, associated approvals, and applicable permit conditions.

  inspection deadline: <= 30 days (Measured from receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy application.)

  “Within 30 days of receipt of the application for a Certificate of Occupancy, the Zoning Administrator or their delegate shall inspect the premises to ensure that all work has been completed in conformance with the zoning permit and associated approvals, including all applicable permit conditions.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use of land or structures inside Danville town, except signs and subdivisions.

  • Signs and subdivisions do not require a Certificate of Occupancy.
  • The Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Zoning Administrator under 24 VSA §4449.

  “No use of any land or structure may commence until the Zoning Administrator has issued a Certificate of Occupancy in accordance with 24 VSA §4449. [...] Note that signs and subdivisions do not require a Certificate of Occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Danville town, Caledonia County, Vermont.

  • The bylaw took effect November 28, 2024.
  • The former bylaw last revised/readopted June 9, 2022, and previous versions are repealed.

  “there is hereby established a zoning bylaw for the Town of Danville which is set forth in the text and maps that constitutes this bylaw.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Danville town, subject to the official zoning map.

  • The official map determines current zoning status for a specific parcel.

  “The zoning map officially entitled "Town of Danville Zoning Map" is hereby adopted as part of this bylaw. [...] the official zoning map, which shall be located in the office of the Zoning Administrator, shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of the land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the Town.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots inside Danville town; the applicable minimum varies by zoning district.

  • The applicable dimensional value must be confirmed from the current district schedule and official zoning map held by the town.

  “514.3 Minimum Area and Dimensional Requirements Minimum Lot size: 1 acre [...] 515.3 Minimum Area and Dimensional Requirements Minimum Lot size: 1.5 acres”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development inside Danville town; the applicable setback varies by zoning district and overlay.

  • The applicable setback must be confirmed from the current district schedule and official zoning map held by the town.

  “Minimum Setback, Side: 5 feet, or the average of existing side setback distances on adjacent lots on either side, whichever is lesser. [...] Minimum Setback Side: 35 feet”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in Danville's Developed Shoreland Overlay District.

  • This is an overlay-district limit and does not establish a townwide building-height limit.

  maximum building and structure height: <= 25 feet (Developed Shoreland Overlay District.)

  “531.4 Area and Dimensional Requirements: Maximum height of buildings and structures: 25 feet”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Danville town.

  • A subdivision application must include a survey plat.
  • The plat must portray existing conditions of originating parcels and proposed development of derived parcels.
  • The survey plat must be prepared by a Vermont-licensed land surveyor.

  “Applications for subdivision of land shall be accompanied by a survey plat to portray existing conditions of originating parcel(s) and proposed development of derived parcel(s). The survey plat shall be prepared by a land surveyor licensed by the State of Vermont (VSA Title 26).”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Land-development applications inside Danville town.

  • The applicant must use forms provided by the Town of Danville.
  • The applicant is responsible for completing the application and materials required by the Zoning Administrator.
  • A zoning permit cannot issue until applicable bylaw compliance and Development Review Board approvals are in place.

  “Applicants shall file zoning permit applications with the Zoning Administrator on forms provided by the Town of Danville. Applicant shall be responsible for completing the zoning application and preparing materials in compliance with specific written instructions provided by the Zoning Administrator.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Danville town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Danville town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Danville town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Danville town.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Danville 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.