Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Orleans, Vermont

Village of Orleans’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Orleans village, which is covered by the Town of Barton's joint zoning bylaw (Town of Barton, Barton Village and Orleans Village)

  • Bylaw adopted by the Barton town selectboard, August 21, 2018
  • Orleans village has its own zoning map within the joint bylaw; official maps are held by the town clerk

  “a zoning bylaw for the town of barton, and the incorporated villages of barton and orleans, which is set forth in the text and maps that constitutes this bylaw.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Districts mapped in the joint bylaw covering Orleans village

  • Which district each Orleans village parcel falls in is on the zoning map (not read here)

  districts: resource, low density, medium density, high density, mixed use, industrial (plus shoreland overlay)

  “the zoning maps show a division of the town and villages into the following districts: resource district (rd) low density (ld) medium density (md) high density (hd) mixed use (mu) industrial (i)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  High density district (primarily the incorporated village areas, including Orleans village)

  • Existing small lots of at least 1/8 acre or 40 ft width/depth may be developed (Sec 302)
  • Which Orleans parcels are in this district depends on the zoning map

  lot area: >= 0.162 acres (7,000 sf) · lot width: >= 70 feet · lot depth: >= 80 feet

  “minimum area and dimensional requirements: lot area, acres: 0.162 (7,000 sf) lot width, feet: 70 lot depth, feet: 80”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Mixed use district (located within both villages, including Orleans village)

    “minimum area and dimensional requirements: lot area, acres: 0.162 lot width, feet: 50 lot depth, feet: 80”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Mixed use district (incl. Orleans village)

  • Front yard standard does not apply if the lot is an existing small lot or the building is within an infill of existing building setback lines

  front yard: >= 40 feet (existing small lot or infill) · side yard: >= 5 feet · rear yard: >= 5 feet

  “front yard, feet: 40 side yard, feet: 5 rear yard, feet: 5 max. building height, ft: 35 ** unless the lot is an existing small lot or the building is within an "infill" of existing building setback lines.”

• Building heightSpecified

  High density district (incl. Orleans village)

  • Sec 314 height regulations not opened for exceptions

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “front yard, feet: 45 side yard, feet: 5 rear yard, feet: 5 max. building height, ft: 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Mixed use district (incl. Orleans village)

    “front yard, feet: 40 side yard, feet: 5 rear yard, feet: 5 max. building height, ft: 35”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV, travel trailer, camper or motor home used as a residence inside Orleans village under the joint bylaw

  • Must conform to the requirements of the district where located
  • Allowed in an approved travel trailer park or on one's own private property
  • High-density district permitted-use list not opened; seasonal RV use is a permitted use in the resource district

  “it shall be unlawful for a travel trailer, recreational vehicle (rv), pickup, camper, or motor home to be utilized as a residence unless in conformance with the requirements of the district in which it is located, such as in an approved travel trailer park, or on one's own private property.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units in all districts, including those covering Orleans village, under the joint bylaw

  • Not permitted in any designated flood hazard area or river corridor
  • Must be an efficiency or one-bedroom unit within or appurtenant to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling
  • Property must have sufficient wastewater capacity
  • Unit may not exceed 65 percent of the habitable floor area of the single-family dwelling
  • Setback, coverage and parking requirements must be met
  • Conditional use approval needed if a new accessory structure, increased height or floor area of the dwelling, or larger parking areas are involved

  max ADU share of habitable floor area: <= 65 percent

  “an accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use in the resource, low, medium, high, mixed use, industrial, and shoreland zoning districts.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Land development inside Orleans village under the joint bylaw

  • Access by permanent easement or right-of-way (at least 20 ft wide) possible with DRB approval
  • Sec 310: one/two-family driveways at least 50 ft from a street intersection; non-residential 75 ft; DRB acknowledges this may be impossible in dense village areas

  “no land development may be permitted which does not have adequate means of access, either frontage on a maintained public road (class 1, 2, 3) or, with the approval of the development review board granted in accordance with section 324 of the bylaw, access by means of a permanent easement or right of way to such a public road or public waters.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in areas of special flood hazard in the Town of Barton, which the bylaw text refers to as the town (Orleans village is a joint-bylaw party)

  • Sec 327.02 requires a conditional use permit (heading seen; details not opened)
  • Based on current NFIP maps

  “these regulations shall apply for development in all areas in the town of barton identified as areas of special flood hazard on the current national flood insurance program maps which are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be part of these regulations.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning and subdivision permit fees administered by the Barton zoning office for land including Orleans village

  • Recording and certificate of compliance fees included
  • Change of use $130; DRB hearing $165; signs $130; commercial $280 + $.10 per sq ft; subdivision $115 + $50 per lot
  • Applicant bears DRB professional-services costs

  residential structure fee: $130 + $0.05 per sq ft USD (excludes uncovered 4 ft x 4 ft entrance platform with steps)

  “residential structures: new residential structures, additions, $1 3 0 + $.05 per sq. ft.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for land including Orleans village

  • Zoning administrator available Wednesday 10am-12pm at the town office, 34 Main St., Barton
  • Sec 602 and Sec 324 procedures not opened

  “permits may be obtained at the town clerk's office or downloaded below.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Orleans village (zoning permits are separate)
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Orleans village
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Orleans village
• Inspections — Building inspection inside Orleans village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Orleans 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.