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

Town of Hardwick’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development and erection, substantial improvement, movement, or change in use of structures inside Hardwick town.

  • Development specifically exempted by Bylaws Section 7.2 is excepted.
  • Other municipal permits or approvals, including curb-cut or sewer-connection approval, may be required under separate ordinances.

  “No land development may commence, and no structure may be erected, substantially improved, moved, or changed in use, unless a zoning permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator, or the development is specifically exempted from the provisions of these bylaws under Section 7.2.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Hardwick, Vermont.

  • The town page identifies these as the zoning and subdivision regulations.
  • The bylaws were adopted March 19, 2026 and effective April 4, 2026.

  “Hardwick Unified Development Bylaws – adopted on March 19, 2026, Effective April 4, 2026 (also known as the zoning and subdivision regulations).”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land and waters inside the Town of Hardwick.

  • The official zoning map and overlays are the final authority on zoning status.
  • Flood Hazard Overlay and River Corridor Overlay districts are among the listed districts.

  “The Town of Hardwick is hereby divided into the following zoning districts as described in the accompanying tables (Tables 2.1 - 2.10) and shown on the official zoning map and associated overlays:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy on a lot with a single- or two-unit dwelling or on an undeveloped parcel inside Hardwick town.

  • The vehicle may not be within required district setbacks.
  • It may not be occupied for dwelling purposes more than 90 days in one year.
  • It may not connect to the residential water or wastewater system.
  • In a flood-hazard area, a vehicle parked over 180 days must be licensed and ready for highway use.

  maximum RV dwelling occupancy: <= 90 days per year · flood-hazard-area parking threshold: > 180 days (Vehicle must be licensed and ready for highway use.)

  “A recreational vehicle may be stored on the lot of a single or two unit dwelling and/or on an undeveloped parcel, provided that it is not located within required setbacks for the district in which it is located; is not occupied for dwelling purposes for more than 90 days within any one year period; and is not connected to the residential water or wastewater system.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campers or temporary shelters used as dwellings inside Hardwick town.

  • A temporary shelter must have a zoning permit.
  • It may be occupied no longer than one year while the owner constructs or rehabilitates a permanent dwelling.
  • A one-year extension requires Development Review Board approval.
  • No other structure may be occupied as a dwelling on the parcel during the temporary occupancy.

  temporary occupancy term: <= 1 year (One one-year extension may be approved by the Development Review Board.)

  “The Zoning Administrator may issue a zoning permit to allow a temporary shelter, including a mobile home, to be occupied for dwelling purposes for not greater than one year to allow a property owner to reside on a parcel while constructing or rehabilitating a permanent dwelling.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater or sewage generated by a camper inside Hardwick town.

  • Disposal must occur off-site.
  • Applicable state and federal regulations also apply.

  “Any wastewater or sewage generated by a camper shall be disposed of off-site in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Subdivisions inside Hardwick or East Hardwick designated municipal water-system service areas, and subdivisions inside the Hardwick municipal sewer-service area.

  • Water connection is governed by the applicable municipal water-system ordinance.
  • Sewer connection is governed by the municipal sewer ordinance.
  • The cited provision is specific to subdivisions, not all new homes townwide.

  “Subdivisions within the designated municipal water system service areas for Hardwick and East Hardwick shall be connected to such systems in accordance with municipal water system ordinances currently in effect; and the location of water lines shall be shown on the final subdivision plat.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

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

  • Written notification and a sketch plan showing setbacks from road rights-of-way, property lines, and surface waters must be provided to the Zoning Administrator before construction.
  • The exemption does not cover employee housing on a farm.
  • The town page states a $15 recording fee for the notification.

  agricultural-exemption notification filing fee: 15 USD (Recording fee.)

  “Per Section 7.2 B; accepted agricultural and best management practices, including farm structures, are exempted from the permit requirements. However, written notification including a sketch plan of the structure showing setback distances from road rights-of-way, property lines, and surface waters shall be made to the Zoning Administrator prior to any construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Major subdivisions inside Hardwick town.

  • The application requires one original and seven copies of the plan information and required fees.
  • The Development Review Board must hold a public hearing within 45 days after submission of a complete application.
  • The Board may approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove based on conformance with Sections 6.5 through 6.7.

  “The Development Review Board shall review all major subdivisions. Subdivision approval, rather than a zoning permit, shall be required for a major subdivision.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Most activities in the Flood Hazard Area inside Hardwick town.

  • Most activities require Vermont Floodplain Manager review and Development Review Board conditional-use review.
  • Examples are new structures, accessory structures over 500 square feet, substantial improvements, grading, excavation, and road improvements.

  accessory-structure threshold: > 500 square feet (Examples state that accessory structures over this size require the described reviews.)

  “Most activities in the Flood Hazard Area require a review from the Vermont Floodplain Manager and a Conditional Use review with the Development Review Board. Examples include new structures (even accessory structures over 500 square feet), substantial improvements to existing structures, grading, excavation, and road improvements.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications for land development inside Hardwick town.

  • Applications use town-provided forms and applicable Select Board-established application fees.
  • For permitted uses, the application must state existing and intended land and structure use and include a scale sketch plan.

  “Applications for zoning permits shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator on forms provided by the Town, along with any application fees as established by the Select Board.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Hardwick

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Hardwick's Central Business District.

  • The table states that its dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified for a particular use.

  minimum lot size: >= 5000 square feet

  “(D) Dimensional Standards (unless otherwise specified for a particular use): Minimum Lot Size 5,000 square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in Hardwick's Central Business District.

  • Front setback is measured starting 25 feet from the road centerline.
  • A zero-foot side setback requires a signed agreement with the neighboring property owner and firewalls.
  • Dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified for a particular use.

  minimum front setback: 0 feet (Starting 25 feet from the road centerline.) · minimum side setback: >= 5 feet · minimum rear setback: >= 15 feet

  “Minimum Setback/Front (Starting 25 feet from the road centerline) 0 feet Minimum Setback/Side 5 feet Minimum Setback/Side with signed agreement with neighboring property owner and provision of firewalls. 0 feet Minimum Setback/Rear 15 feet”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwellings in Hardwick's Central Business District.

  • The use remains subject to Bylaws Section 4.2 and applicable district and general standards.
  • Permitted uses are reviewed by the Zoning Administrator under Section 7.1.

  “(B) Permitted Uses: 1. Accessory Dwelling [see Section 4.2] 2. Accessory Structure/Use (to a permitted use)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Hardwick town.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Hardwick town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Hardwick town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Hardwick town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Hardwick 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.