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

Town of Belvidere’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  General land-use zoning inside Belvidere town, Vermont.

  • This does not negate Belvidere's separately described flood-hazard regulation or statewide permits.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  General municipal zoning districts inside Belvidere town.

  • The Town Plan's planning districts are not adopted detailed zoning regulations.
  • Flood-hazard regulation remains separately applicable in designated areas.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size under Belvidere's general zoning rules.

  • This finding does not displace applicable building, wastewater, or flood-hazard requirements.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning to manage [...] the size and dimensions of structures”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size under Belvidere's general zoning rules.

  • State wastewater permitting may apply before subdivision or new construction.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning to manage [...] the density or intensity of uses.”

• SetbacksNone

  Setbacks under Belvidere's general zoning rules.

  • This does not displace highway-right-of-way or flood-hazard limitations.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning to manage [...] setback and yard requirements”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage under Belvidere's general zoning rules.

  • This does not displace applicable flood-hazard or state environmental requirements.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning”

• Building heightNone

  Building height under Belvidere's general zoning rules.

  • This does not displace applicable flood-hazard or state environmental requirements.

  “Belvidere has not adopted but could adopt: ➢ Zoning to manage [...] the size and dimensions of structures”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New construction or substantial improvement in a flood-hazard area inside Belvidere town.

  • Belvidere's municipal plan reports that the Town adopted a stand-alone Flood Hazard Area Regulation Ordinance in 2000.
  • Before issuance, the application must be sent to ANR or its designee and either 30 days must pass or comments be delivered, except as provided by statute.

  “Where a flood hazard area bylaw or a hazard area bylaw but not a zoning bylaw applies, the flood hazard and other hazard area bylaw shall be administered in the same manner as are zoning bylaws, and a flood hazard area or hazard area permit shall be required for land development covered under the bylaw.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Belvidere

Town of Belvidere 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)

  Potable-water supplies and wastewater systems inside Belvidere town are regulated under Vermont's statewide program.

  • The statute identifies exceptions in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1974 and 1978.

  “establish a comprehensive program to regulate the construction, replacement, modification, and operation of potable water supplies and wastewater systems in the State”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, replacement, or modification of a wastewater system inside Belvidere town.

  • Except as provided in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978.
  • The permit is obtained from the Secretary.

  “a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: [...] (3) constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Alternative wastewater systems inside Belvidere town.

  • Alternative technologies remain subject to Vermont's potable-water and wastewater-system program and applicable permit exceptions.

  “Provisions allowing the use of a variety of alternative or innovative technologies, including intermittent sand filters, recirculating sand filters, waterless toilets, and greywater disposal systems, and constructed wetlands, that provide an adequate degree of protection of human health and the environment.”

• Well permitLimited

  Construction, replacement, or modification of a nonpublic potable-water supply inside Belvidere town.

  • Except as provided in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978.
  • The statute regulates potable water supplies; applicability to a particular well depends on the statutory definitions and exceptions.

  “a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: [...] (3) constructing, replacing, or modifying a potable water supply or wastewater system;”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Belvidere town.

  • Except as provided in 10 V.S.A. §§ 1973, 1974, and 1978.
  • A permit must be obtained from the Secretary before subdividing land.

  “a person shall obtain a permit from the Secretary before: (1) subdividing land;”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways, entrances, or approaches affecting a State or town highway right-of-way inside Belvidere town.

  • For State highways, the written permit is from the Agency.
  • For town highways, the written permit is from the municipal legislative body or its designee.
  • The statute applies only to work described as within or affecting a highway right-of-way or its drainage.

  “It shall be unlawful to develop, construct, regrade, or resurface any driveway, entrance, or approach [...] without a written permit from the Agency, in the case of State highways, or the legislative body or designee of a municipality, in the case of town highways.”

• Permit processPartial

  State potable-water and wastewater permit applications affecting land inside Belvidere town.

  • The application must use the Secretary's prescribed form and supporting documents and information required by rule.
  • This describes the statewide wastewater/potable-water process, not a general municipal building-permit process.

  “Application for a permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary. The application shall be supported by such documents and information that the Secretary, by rule, deems necessary”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General residential building construction inside Belvidere town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Belvidere town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Belvidere town.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Belvidere town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential certificates of occupancy inside Belvidere 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.