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

Town of Groton’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Land development inside Groton town, including construction, conversion, relocation, enlargement, regulated excavation or filling, and changes or extensions of use.

  • The requirement is a Groton development/zoning permit requirement; the cited application states that incomplete applications will not be processed.
  • State permits may also be required.

  “A development permit Is required prior to ALL land development”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land development inside Groton town, Vermont.

  • A permit issued by the municipal administrative officer is required before land development may commence.

  “no land development may commence without a permit issued by the administrative officer”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Development, construction, regrading, or repair of a driveway, entrance, or approach to a Town of Groton highway.

  • The Selectboard issues the permit.
  • The completed application should be submitted approximately one month before the planned activity.
  • The property owner or agent must notify the Town at least three days before construction so the Town may inspect installation or construction.
  • The owner or agent must report completion within ten days; inspection and approval precede issuance of the access/right-of-way permit.

  recording fee: 30 USD · advance construction notice: >= 3 days · completion-notice deadline: <= 10 days

  “Permits, issued by the Selectboard, are required to develop, construct, regrade or repair any driveway, entrance or approach to a town highway.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Groton zoning/development permit applications.

  • An additional $75 fee is required if the permit needs to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

  zoning permit application fee: 75 USD · additional Zoning Board of Adjustment fee: 75 USD (If permit needs to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment)

  “Application Fee: $75.00 [...] an additional fee of $75 will be required.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Groton zoning/development permit applications.

  • An accurate scaled plot plan, or a survey map for subdivisions, must accompany the application.
  • The administrative officer issues a decision or refers a complete application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment within 30 days.
  • The permit becomes effective after a 15-day appeal period.

  complete application decision or referral period: <= 30 days (Incomplete applications will not be processed) · appeal period before permit effective: 15 days

  “A development permit Is required prior to ALL land development, including but not limited to the construction, conversion, relocation, or enlargement of any structure, any excavation or filling or site work incidental to development regulated under Groton's regulations, or any change or extension in the use of any structure or land. If the application is found to be complete, the Administrative Officer will issue a decision or refer the application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment within 30 days. Incomplete applications will not be processed. An ACCURATE plot plan, drawn to scale, or a survey map for subdivisions, must be submitted in conjunction with this application.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Groton

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

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Residential buildings in Groton town that are new homes or additions, alterations, or repairs to residential buildings three stories or less above grade.

  • This claim addresses Vermont's residential building-energy standard, not a comprehensive municipal building code.

  “The Vermont Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) - 30 V.S.A. § 51 affects all new homes”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, replacement, or modification of a potable-water supply or wastewater system inside Groton town.

  • Exceptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978 apply.
  • Application is made on the form prescribed by the Secretary and must contain documents and information required by rule.

  “constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  A substantially completed potable-water supply or wastewater system in Groton town for which a permit has been issued.

  • The permit is not valid until the Secretary receives the required installation statement.
  • The system must be installed according to the permitted design and conditions or compliant record drawings, inspected, properly tested, and pass performance tests.

  “No permit issued by the Secretary shall be valid for a substantially completed potable water supply and wastewater system until the Secretary receives a statement from an installer or a licensed designer certifying that, in the exercise of his or her reasonable professional judgment, the installation-related information submitted is true and correct and the potable water supply and wastewater system: (1) were installed in accordance with: (A) the permitted design and all permit conditions; or (B) record drawings and such record drawings are in compliance with the applicable rules, were filed with the Secretary, and are in accordance with all other permit conditions; (2) were inspected; (3) were properly tested; and (4) have successfully met those performance tests.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Primitive camps inside Groton town that have no interior plumbing consisting of more than a sink with water.

  • The exemption is limited to primitive camps used no more than three consecutive weeks per year and no more than 60 days per year.
  • The exemption does not apply to seasonal camps.

  maximum consecutive use: <= 3 weeks per year (Primitive camps only) · maximum total use: <= 60 days per year (Primitive camps only)

  “This exemption does not apply to seasonal camps.”

• Well permitRequired

  Construction, replacement, or modification of a potable-water supply inside Groton town.

  • Exceptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978 apply.

  “constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Groton town.

  • Exceptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978 apply.
  • Groton also publishes a subdivision permit application through its zoning-administrator page.

  “Except as provided in this section and sections 1974 and 1978 of this title, a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: (1) subdividing land; (2) creating or modifying a campground in a manner that affects a potable water supply or wastewater system or the requirements for providing potable water and wastewater disposal; (3) constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Groton town.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Groton town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Groton town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Groton town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Groton 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.