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

Town of Fairfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  All Fairfield land development, including structures, signs, accessory structures, conversions, and changes of use, unless exempted by §3.1.

  • The required approval is a zoning permit administered by the Zoning Administrator.
  • Exemptions identified in §3.1 are not resolved by this claim.

  “Zoning Permit All land development as defined in Article 10, including signs, accessory structures, conversions and changes of use unless specifically exempted”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New principal structures, additions to principal structures, and accessory dwelling units in Fairfield that have received a zoning permit.

  • The certificate is required before the listed structures may be occupied for their intended use.
  • A structure requiring a State wastewater and potable-water permit also may not be occupied until the Zoning Administrator issues a certificate of occupancy.

  “Certificate of Occupancy All new principal structures, additions to principal structures, and accessory dwelling units that have been issued a zoning permit”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Camping or recreational vehicles used as living quarters inside Fairfield town that are sited so as not to be readily movable.

  • Such a vehicle is deemed both a structure and a dwelling unit and is subject to all applicable regulations.

  “Any camping or recreational vehicle used for living quarters and sited so as not to be readily movable shall be deemed a structure”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  All land subdivisions inside Fairfield town, including boundary-line adjustments.

  • Subdivision review is issued by the Planning Commission under Article 7.
  • Sketch-plan and final-plan review are required for all applications for subdivision review.

  “Subdivision Review All land subdivisions as defined in Article 10, including boundary line adjustments.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Applications under Fairfield's land-use regulations.

  • The Selectboard may amend the fee schedule.
  • The schedule may require reasonable independent technical-review costs.

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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Fairfield

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

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  Wastewater-generating structures and uses inside Fairfield town.

  • Fairfield directs applicants to obtain the permit from Vermont DEC under 10 V.S.A. Chapter 64 and the current State rules.
  • Applicants must contact the Agency of Natural Resources District Permit Specialist to determine whether a permit is required.

  “Wastewater and Potable Water Supply Permit from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)”

• Well permitRequired

  Structures and uses inside Fairfield town requiring access to potable water.

  • The required approval is the Vermont DEC Wastewater and Potable Water Supply Permit.
  • The applicant must contact the Agency of Natural Resources District Permit Specialist to determine whether a permit is required.

  “All structures and uses that generate wastewater or require access to potable water shall be required to obtain a Wastewater and Potable Water Supply Permit”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Fairfield town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Fairfield town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling floor-area minimums inside Fairfield town.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Fairfield town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Fairfield 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.