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

Town of Waitsfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Land development, including new residential development, inside Waitsfield town.

  • Exemptions are listed in Zoning Bylaws Section 6.02.
  • Flood Hazard and Fluvial Erosion Hazard overlay districts require permits for all separately defined development.

  “Unless specifically exempted from these regulations under Section 6.02, no land development as defined herein may commence without a zoning permit issued by the Administrative Officer.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted structures seeking a Waitsfield certificate of occupancy.

  • Inspection occurs after a complete certificate-of-occupancy application and associated fees are received.
  • Inspection is to confirm conformance with the zoning permit, associated approvals, and applicable permit conditions.

  “inspect the premises to ensure that all work has been completed in conformance with the zoning permit and associated approvals, including all applicable permit conditions;”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any permitted structure or part thereof constructed after the effective date of the Waitsfield Zoning Bylaws.

  • Application and fee must be submitted upon completion of permitted improvements but before occupancy or use.
  • Flood and Fluvial Erosion Hazard Overlay District applications must include the state project review sheet and required state and federal permits.

  “A certificate of occupancy issued by the Administrative Officer shall be required prior to the use or occupancy of any permitted structure or part thereof constructed after the effective date of this bylaw.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Waitsfield town.

  • Land development is subject to the Waitsfield Zoning Bylaws unless exempted under Section 6.02.

  “The Town of Waitsfield Planning & Zoning Department oversees short and long range planning efforts as well as issuance of Zoning Permits, Conditional Use Permits, and Subdivision Permits.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Waitsfield town.

  • Districts are described in Tables 2.01 through 2.11 and the official zoning map.

  “For the purposes of this bylaw, the Town of Waitsfield is divided into the following zoning districts as described in the accompanying tables (Tables 2.01 – 2.11) and the official zoning map:”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural-Residential District inside Waitsfield town.

  • Dimensional standards apply unless otherwise specified by use type.
  • River or stream setback is governed by Section 3.12.

  front-yard setback from road centerline: 75 feet · side-yard setback: 25 feet · rear-yard setback: 25 feet

  “Minimum Setbacks: Front Yard (from road centerline) 75 feet Side Yard 25 feet Rear Yard 25 feet River or Stream In accordance with section 3.12.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Primitive camps in the Agricultural-Residential District inside Waitsfield town.

  • The structure must be under 1,500 square feet, temporarily occupied or used, on its own lot, and have no interior plumbing other than no more than a sink with water.
  • Prior proof of the applicable state wastewater and potable-water-supply permit exemption is required, and the structure must comply with that exemption at all times.

  primitive-camp area: < 1500 square feet (Primitive-camp definition.)

  “PRIMITIVE CAMP: Structures, such as cabins, yurts, shelters, or tents, which are less than 1,500 square feet, are occupied and/or used on a temporary basis on their own individual lots, and which have no interior plumbing consisting of no more than a sink with water.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile or manufactured homes inside Waitsfield town.

  • A mobile home is treated as a single-family dwelling and must meet zoning requirements for that dwelling, except in an approved mobile-home park, a mobile-home sales establishment, or where allowed as a temporary structure.
  • Mobile-home parks are subject to state statute and local standards in designated districts.

  “A mobile home shall be considered a single-family dwelling, and must meet the zoning requirements for such dwelling, except when located in an approved mobile home park (see Section 4.09) or mobile home sales establishment, or allowed as a temporary structure (see Section 4.13).”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Waitsfield town in designated zoning districts.

  • A qualifying attached or detached unit accessory to a single-family dwelling may be a permitted use with a zoning permit.
  • The unit may not exceed 800 square feet or 30% of principal-dwelling gross floor area, whichever is greater, under Section 4.01(B).
  • Larger or specified accessory units are conditional uses under Section 4.01(C).

  floor area: <= 800 square feet (Or 30% of principal-dwelling gross floor area, whichever is greater.)

  “One attached or detached dwelling unit which is accessory to a single-family dwelling, does not exceed 800 square feet in floor area or 30% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater, and meets other applicable requirements under Subsection (D), may be allowed as a permitted use in designated zoning districts with a zoning permit issued by the Administrative Officer in accordance with Section 6.01.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Required Agricultural Practices and Best Management Practices, including qualifying farm structures, inside Waitsfield town.

  • Before construction, the farmer must give the administrative officer written notice and a sketch with specified setbacks.
  • The structure must comply with district setbacks unless the Agriculture Commissioner approves different setbacks on written petition.
  • A farm structure with a non-agricultural use becomes subject to Waitsfield zoning permit requirements.

  “Prior to the construction of farm structures, the farmer must notify the administrative officer in writing of the proposed construction activity.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Waitsfield town.

  • Subdivision of a parcel into two or more parcels requires subdivision approval under the Waitsfield Subdivision Regulations.
  • Where applicable, subdivision approval must precede a zoning permit for subsequent land development.
  • Subdivision may also be subject to PUD review.

  “The subdivision of land, including the division of a parcel into two or more parcels, does not require a zoning permit, but does require subdivision approval in accordance with the Waitsfield Subdivision Regulations.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway curb cuts and road access for development inside Waitsfield town.

  • Town-highway access requires Waitsfield Selectboard approval; Route 100 and Route 17 access requires Vermont Agency of Transportation approval.
  • Access permits must be obtained before a zoning permit.
  • Agricultural or forestry-only accesses are excepted from the one-curb-cut limit for pre-existing lots.

  “Access onto public highways is subject to the approval of the Waitsfield Selectboard or, in the case of state highways (Route 100 and Route 17), the approval of the Vermont Agency of Transportation.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in Waitsfield's Flood Hazard Area or Fluvial Erosion Hazard Area Overlay Districts.

  • All development within these overlays must be referred to the state as required under Section 5.02.
  • No zoning permit may issue until a state response is received or 30 days have elapsed after submission.
  • State compliance recommendations become zoning-permit conditions.

  state-response waiting period: >= 30 days (A permit may issue earlier upon state response.)

  “No zoning permit shall be issued until a response has been received from the state, or the expiration of 30 days following the submission of the application.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Waitsfield Planning and Zoning permit applications.

  • The town directs applicants to its fee schedule.
  • Other town-permit application fees are identified on the respective application forms.

  “Fees for all Planning & Zoning Permit Applications are outlined on the Fee Schedule found below.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Planning and zoning permits inside Waitsfield town.

  • Applications include zoning permits, subdivision approval, sign permits, curb cuts, and certificates of occupancy.
  • Applications may be obtained at the town office or downloaded from the permit-applications page.

  “Applications for a zoning permit, subdivision approval, sign permit, curb cut, certificate of occupancy, etc. can be obtained at the Waitsfield Town Office or downloaded from the permit applications page.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Waitsfield town.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Waitsfield town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Waitsfield town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Waitsfield town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Waitsfield 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Waitsfield means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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