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

Town of Richford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development inside any Richford zoning district.

  • Exemptions in Zoning Bylaws Section 2.1(C) and (D) apply.
  • parameters are limited to zoning permits and approvals required by the bylaws; this evidence does not establish a separate statewide or municipal building-code permit program.

  “Before commencing land development or subdividing any land within any Richford zoning district (except for exemptions noted in Section 2.1(C) and (D)), all permits and approvals as required by these bylaws must be obtained.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land, buildings, and structures inside the Town of Richford, Vermont.

  • The bylaws divide the town into nine zoning districts.

  “These regulations shall be known as the Richford Zoning Bylaws.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Richford town limits.

  • The Official Zoning Map is identified by signatures of the Planning Commission Chair and Selectboard, attested by the Town Clerk, and located in the Town Clerk's office.
  • The Flood Hazard Overlay District adds flood-hazard requirements.

  “For the purposes of these bylaws, the Town of Richford is divided into the following zoning districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map, which shall be identified by the signature of the Chair of the Planning Commission and the Selectboard, attested by the Town Clerk, and shall be located in the Town Clerk's office: Mixed Use District Commercial/Industrial District Village Residential District Rural Residential District Agricultural District Recreation/Conservation District Forest/Conservation District Education District Water Supply Protection District Flood Hazard Overlay District”

• Building heightSpecified

  Structures inside Richford town limits.

  • Agricultural structures are exempt.
  • Structures exceeding 35 feet require Development Review Board approval under Conditional Use review.

  maximum structure height without conditional-use approval: <= 35 feet (Agricultural structures exempt; greater height may be approved by the Development Review Board under Conditional Use.)

  “No structure (agricultural structures exempt) shall exceed 35 feet in height above the average ground level unless approved by the Development Review Board under Conditional Use”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Camping vehicles parked or used as living quarters on private property inside Richford town limits.

  • A camping vehicle used as living quarters and not readily movable is deemed a dwelling and subject to zoning and health regulations applicable to dwellings.
  • A parked camping vehicle may not be connected to utilities or used as living quarters except occasionally, such as a two-week family visit.

  example occasional visit duration: 2 weeks (Example given by the bylaw for a family visit; the rule uses the term 'occasional basis'.)

  “Any camping vehicles used for living quarters and sited so it is not readily movable shall be deemed a dwelling and shall be subject to all zoning and health regulations applicable to dwellings. B) Property owners may park their own camping vehicles, or those of a guest, on their property. Such parked camping vehicles shall not be connected to utilities or used as living quarters except on occasional basis, (e.g. 2-week family visit).”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary living-quarter use of a parked camping vehicle on private property inside Richford town limits.

  • A parked camping vehicle may not be connected to utilities.
  • Living-quarter use is allowed only on an occasional basis; the bylaw gives a two-week family visit as an example.

  example occasional visit duration: 2 weeks (Example given by the bylaw, not an expressly defined maximum duration.)

  “Property owners may park their own camping vehicles, or those of a guest, on their property. Such parked camping vehicles shall not be connected to utilities or used as living quarters except on occasional basis, (e.g. 2-week family visit).”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside any Richford zoning district.

  • Exemptions in Zoning Bylaws Section 2.1(C) and (D) apply.
  • Required permits and approvals must be obtained before commencing subdivision.

  “Before commencing land development or subdividing any land within any Richford zoning district (except for exemptions noted in Section 2.1(C) and (D)), all permits and approvals as required by these bylaws must be obtained.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning applications inside Richford town limits.

  • The Town page identifies the fee schedule as effective July 1, 2024.
  • The Selectboard may alter or amend the schedule by resolution.

  “Click to Download New Zoning Fee Schedule Effective 7/1/2024”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Richford zoning-permit applications.

  • An application is not received until complete application materials and fees are submitted.
  • The Zoning Administrator has 30 days after receipt of a complete application to issue, deny, or refer the application; failure to act may cause deemed approval.
  • Board approvals must be issued before the Zoning Administrator issues the zoning permit.

  Zoning Administrator action period: <= 30 days (Measured from receipt of a complete application including materials and fees.)

  “Application for a zoning permit shall be made by the landowner (or a duly authorized agent) and submitted to the Zoning Administrator. Zoning Permit Application Forms shall be available from the Zoning Administrator during office hours or at the Town Clerk's Office during business hours. The applicant shall provide all information requested on the form, including a plot plan showing land ownership and the location of existing and proposed development, and any other information the Zoning Administrator may require to determine compliance with the Richford Zoning Bylaws.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Richford

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

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction or substantial improvement in Richford's Flood Hazard Overlay District.

  • Before permit issuance, the application must be mailed or delivered to the State National Flood Plain Insurance Program Coordinator at Vermont ANR DEC River Management Section.
  • The permit cannot be granted until 30 days after mailing or the Agency delivers comments, whichever occurs first.

  state-comment waiting period: <= 30 days (Ends earlier if the Agency delivers comments.)

  “No permit for new construction or substantial improvement shall be granted until a copy of the application is mailed or delivered by the Zoning Administrator or by the Development Review Board, to the State National Flood Plain Insurance Program Coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, River Management Section and either thirty (30) days have elapsed following the mailing or the agency delivers comments on the application, which ever comes first.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Richford town limits.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Richford town limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Richford town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of residential construction inside Richford town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Richford 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.