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

Town of Hartland’s own rules

• Septic permitRequired

  Building, replacing or altering an individual sewage disposal system on any lot size in Hartland town

  • A construction permit is issued by the town health officer or authorized agent only after the site plans meet the Vermont Health Regulations and Hartland's additional requirements, so construction proceeds only after the permit.
  • Any leach field being constructed in the town must have a construction permit regardless of lot size (section IV.3).
  • A permit becomes void if not used within two years after the date it is issued (section VIII, definitions).

  “any person who intends to build, replace or alter a sewage disposal system on any lot size shall submit an application for a construction permit to the health officer or his authorized agent”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Septic system occupancy approval in Hartland town, based on written confirmation of construction to plan

  • The check is made by the system designer or another qualified designer who inspects the construction, not by a town building inspector.
  • This is an occupancy permit under the septic ordinance; it is not a municipal certificate of occupancy.

  occupancy permit issuance after compliance: <= 3 days (if the system complies; otherwise no occupancy permit until deficiencies are remedied)

  “the designer of the sewage disposal system or another qualified designer who inspects the construction, shall in writing inform the town health officer or his authorized agent, that the system has or has not been constructed according to the design plan”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Alternative toilets (chemical, privy, composting, incineration) as sanitation in Hartland town

  • Approval is case by case by the local health officer or duly appointed agent.
  • Setback distances of a standard subsurface system and full replacement area for a subsurface disposal field still apply.
  • If the leach field is reduced because of a waterless toilet, the board must ensure later owners are aware of the limitation.

  “chemical toilets, privys, composting toilets and incineration toilets may be approved on a case by case basis by the local health officer”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways that attach to town roads in Hartland town

  • Applies to new driveways attaching to town roads; the sheet does not state a rule for other driveways.
  • The sheet states that any applicable state permits must be obtained before construction.

  “the town of hartland also requires a driveway permit for new driveways attaching to town roads.”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic construction permit process in Hartland town; the published process covers septic systems only

  • Permit granting authority is the town health officer or authorized agent; appeals go to the local board of health, and then to superior court.
  • No published building-permit, zoning-permit or fee process was located; the town information sheet directs residents to the town clerk for permit fee details.

  health officer site plan review deadline: <= 10 working days

  “the health officer or his authorized agent shall review the site plans within 10 working days and issue the construction permit if the septic system meets”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New dwellings and alterations inside Hartland town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits in Hartland town
• Inspections — Building inspection of new dwellings inside Hartland town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Hartland town
• Local zoning — Land inside Hartland town, Vermont

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 Hartland 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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