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

Town of Bakersfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development, including residential development, inside Bakersfield town limits.

  • The zoning permit is not required where a specific exemption in §1.7 applies.

  “No land development, as defined in Article 11 shall commence in the Town of Bakersfield without a zoning permit”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New principal structures, additions to principal structures, and accessory dwelling units issued a zoning permit inside Bakersfield town limits.

  • The structure and use must conform to the zoning permit and regulations.
  • A State wastewater and potable-water permit is required if applicable.
  • A visible 911 address and compliance with other relevant town ordinances or regulations are required.

  “shall receive a Certificate of Compliance from the Zoning Administrator before such structures may be occupied”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Bakersfield town limits.

  • The source is the State of Vermont's hosted copy of Bakersfield's adopted 2017 bylaw; current amendments should be confirmed with the Town.

  “there is hereby established a Zoning and Subdivision Bylaw for the town of Bakersfield, Vermont”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles used for living quarters inside Bakersfield town limits.

  • A vehicle used for living quarters and sited so as not to be readily movable is treated as a structure and dwelling unit and is subject to dwelling zoning regulations.

  “Any vehicle used for living quarters and sited so as not to be readily movable shall be deemed a structure and a dwelling unit.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  One accessory dwelling to a single-family residence inside Bakersfield town limits.

  • Habitable floor area may not exceed 40 percent of the primary residence's habitable area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is greater.
  • The property must satisfy wastewater and potable-water requirements, district setbacks, coverage, and parking requirements.
  • Either the primary or accessory dwelling must be owner occupied.
  • A zoning permit must state that the unit remains accessory and commonly owned.

  maximum accessory-dwelling habitable area: <= 40 percent of primary dwelling habitable area (or 1000 square feet, whichever is greater) · minimum alternate accessory-dwelling habitable area cap: 1000 square feet (whichever is greater)

  “One accessory dwelling to a single family dwelling may be allowed as a permitted use of property.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Bakersfield's Special Flood Hazard Area or River Corridor.

  • Conditional-use, nonconforming-use, or variance approval is required before the Zoning Administrator issues the permit where applicable.
  • All necessary state and federal permits must be received before work begins.
  • Certain listed development is prohibited in the hazard areas.

  “A zoning permit is required from the Zoning Administrator for all development in all areas defined in Section 10.11.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Applications under Bakersfield's zoning and subdivision bylaw.

  • The Selectboard may amend the fee schedule.
  • The schedule may require reasonable costs of independent technical review.
  • The schedule is posted in the Town Clerk's and Zoning Administrator's offices.

  “The Selectboard shall establish a schedule of application fees and amend the schedule as needed”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Bakersfield town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Bakersfield town limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Bakersfield town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling units inside Bakersfield town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Bakersfield town limits.

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.