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

Town of Richmond’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development inside Richmond town, including residential development requiring a zoning permit.

  • The zoning regulations exempt development regulated by 24 V.S.A. § 4413 as described in section 5.1.2.

  “A Zoning Permit must be issued prior to the commencement of any land development, unless regulated by 24 VSA §4413 as described in section 5.1.2 of these regulations.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Property subject to a Richmond certificate-of-occupancy application.

  • The Administrative Officer may inspect and may consult other Town departments as needed to determine compliance before issuing or denying a complete certificate-of-occupancy application.

  “The Administrative Officer may inspect the subject property and consult with other Town departments as needed to determine compliance prior to the issuance or denial of a complete application for a certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richmond town, Chittenden County, Vermont.

  • Land development must comply with the town regulations and zoning-district requirements.

  “there are hereby established Zoning Regulations for the Town of Richmond which are set forth in the text and maps that constitute these regulations.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Richmond town.

  • Written provisions apply to districts shown on the official zoning district map.
  • For a parcel divided by a district boundary, development in each portion must meet the requirements of the district in which that portion lies.

  “The Town of Richmond is divided into the following Zoning Districts in accordance with the Official Zoning District Map:”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural, silvicultural, and horticultural uses inside Richmond town.

  • These uses are regulated under 24 V.S.A. § 4413 and section 5.1.2 of the Richmond regulations; the ordinary zoning-permit provision expressly states that exception.

  “Uses regulated by 24 VSA §4413, including agriculture and silviculture; and 30 VSA §248, public utilities –These uses shall be regulated as per section 5.1.2 of these regulations.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of a lot into two or more lots inside Richmond town.

  • Administratively created lots under section 2.6 and specified boundary-line adjustments use a zoning permit rather than subdivision approval.
  • Preliminary subdivision approval by the DRB is required before final-subdivision review.

  “The division of a lot into two or more lots shall require subdivision approval under the Town of Richmond Subdivision Regulations, except for the following which shall require a Zoning Permit issued by the Administrative Officer:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Richmond's Flood Hazard Overlay District.

  • If any portion of proposed development is within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the entire development is considered within that area.
  • Exempt activities under section 6.8.10 are excepted.
  • Conditional-use, nonconforming-structure/use, or variance approvals must precede the zoning permit where applicable.
  • Development subject to municipal jurisdiction must meet section 6.8.16 standards.

  “Except for exempt activities, per Section 6.8.10, a Zoning Permit is required from the Administrative Officer for all Development in all areas within the Flood Hazard Overlay District.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Richmond Planning and Zoning applications.

  • A pre-application meeting with staff is required for applications before the Development Review Board.
  • The town directs applicants to permitting flowcharts and land-use ordinances for requirements and processes.

  “A pre-application meeting with staff is required for all applications before the Development Review Board (DRB), please call to set up an appointment. For more information on permitting, requirements, and permitting processes, refer to the Permitting Flowcharts, and the land use ordinances located on the Ordinances & Policies page.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Richmond

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Qualifying owner-built residential construction statewide, including Richmond town.

  • The owner must be the builder.
  • The construction must be used as the owner's dwelling.
  • The owner must direct details concerning noncompliant materials.
  • Before a binding purchase-and-sales agreement, the owner must make the specified written disclosure; the certificate must be recorded and sent to the Department of Public Service within 30 days following sale.

  “Residential construction by an owner, if all of the following apply:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Residential construction statewide, including inside Richmond town.

  • Applies to new residential construction and additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs to an existing residential building.
  • The statute contains exemptions, including specified low-energy-use buildings or additions, federally regulated manufactured homes, unheated or uncooled buildings, and qualifying owner construction.

  “Residential construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Service in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots proposed for land development in Richmond's Agricultural/Residential (A/R) District.

  • The requirement is a condition for issuance of a zoning permit.
  • An adjoining-land purchase may not create a seller's lot below the district minimum.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre

  “Lot Area - No lot shall be less than one (1) acre.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots proposed for land development in Richmond's Agricultural/Residential (A/R) District.

  • Applies to ground covered by any structure or impervious material.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “Lot Coverage - The total amount of ground on a lot that can be covered by any structure or impervious material shall not exceed 30%.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures in Richmond's Agricultural/Residential (A/R) District.

  • Section 6.6, Taller Structures, provides an exception.

  maximum structure height: <= 35 feet (except as provided in Section 6.6, Taller Structures)

  “The height of any structure shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet, except as provided in Section 6.6, Taller Structures, of these Zoning Regulations.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwellings in Richmond's Agricultural/Residential (A/R) District.

  • A zoning permit issued by the Administrative Officer is required.
  • Site Plan Review and DRB approval may be required.
  • Accessory dwellings are subject to section 5.9.

  “The following uses shall be allowed in the A/R District after issuance of a Zoning Permit by the Administrative Officer. Site Plan Review and approval by the DRB pursuant to section 5.5 may be required. a) Accessory dwelling as provided in Section 5.9.”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Richmond town.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Richmond town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Richmond town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Richmond town.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Richmond 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.