Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Wells River, Vermont

Village of Wells River’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land in the Wells River Commercial (WRC) and Wells River Residential (WRR) districts, i.e. the Wells River village area, which lie in the Town of Newbury. Zoning is adopted and administered by the Town of Newbury, not by the village.

  • The village's own zoning bylaws, if any, were not found.
  • The only copy found is hosted by the regional planning commission (TRORC), not the town's own site.

  “the following land use districts are established within the town of newbury: • wells river commercial (wrc) • wells river residential (wrr)”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Newbury zoning districts, including the two Wells River districts that cover Wells River village

  • The official zoning map was not reviewed.

  “the following land use districts are established within the town of newbury: • wells river commercial (wrc) • wells river residential (wrr)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Wells River Residential (WRR) district; Rural 1 (R1) is 1 acre

  • Table columns are in the order wrc wrr nv ham r1 r2 r5 cnr mxu ind sh; WRR is read as 0.5 acre, WRC as 0.25 acre and R1 as 1 acre.
  • A footnote marker applies to some values and its text was not captured.
  • Waivers are available under section 3.3.

  minimum lot area WRR: 0.5 acre · minimum lot area R1: 1 acre

  “wrc wrr nv ham r1 r2 r5 cnr mxu ind sh minimum lot area (ac) ǂ.25.5.5 1 1 2 5 10 2 2 2”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Wells River Residential (WRR) district; R1 is 65 ft front and 25 ft side/rear

  • Column order wrc wrr nv ham r1 r2 r5 cnr mxu ind sh; WRR front 25 ft, side/rear 10 ft.
  • A footnote marker applies to some values.
  • Waivers under section 3.3.

  front setback WRR: >= 25 ft · side/rear setback WRR: >= 10 ft · front setback R1: >= 65 ft · side/rear setback R1: >= 25 ft

  “minimum front setback (ft) ǂ 25 25 25 50 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 minimum side/rear setback (ft) ǂ 10 10 10 20 25 25 50 50 25 25 10”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Wells River Residential (WRR) and R1 districts: 40 ft

  • The shoreland district limit is 30 ft.

  maximum building height WRR: <= 40 ft (30 ft in shoreland district)

  “maximum building height (ft) 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 30”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in Newbury, including the Wells River districts

  • Subdivision permit conditions follow the unified bylaw's subdivision article.
  • Any lot created must meet the minimum lot size and dimensions unless waived.

  “any subdivided lot created under these regulations must contain the minimum lot size and dimensions unless waived.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Wells River

Village of Wells River 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

  Inside Wells River village; the state permit program covers the whole state

  • No village or county septic authority found.

  “building a new water supply or wastewater system: a permit is required for new construction.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction needing a wastewater system or water supply, inside Wells River village

  • Also needed to modify or replace a system, add a bedroom, change a building's use, or subdivide (unless lots stay undeveloped with a notice in the deed).
  • Not needed to replace a structure if it is connected within 4 years, built within 50 feet of the old one and has the same or fewer bedrooms.
  • A permit is needed for a campground with 3 or more campsites.
  • Starting construction means any physical work, such as excavation.

  “building a new water supply or wastewater system: a permit is required for new construction.”

• Well permitRequired

  New water supply for new construction inside Wells River village

  • Same exemptions as the wastewater permit.

  “building a new water supply or wastewater system: a permit is required for new construction.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Wells River or Orange County directly.

• Building permit — Wells River village
• Owner-builder exemption — Wells River village
• Building code adopted — Wells River village
• Inspections — Wells River village
• Certificate of occupancy — Wells River village

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.