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Phone:  603.357.1300 or 802.380.8990

E-mail:            spro@proandassociates.com

State & Local Permitting

Whether you are buying an existing house or purchasing an undeveloped lot, if you plan on making changes, chances are that you will need some type of permit. In addition to septic system permits, the following are some other types of permits that we may be able to help you obtain.   

Local Zoning Board or Planning Commission Approval

Every town in New Hampshire and most towns in Vermont have regulations pertaining to land development. These regulations may include requirements for setbacks, easements, buildings including height, footprint, and in some cases color and style, property frontage, area, flood hazard areas, driveway permits, wetlands, and others. Many of these issues may have been resolved when the property was originally subdivided, however changes or new construction may still require permit to be obtained. Thoughtful planning and a good presentation before the local zoning board or planning commission are the keys to a favorable outcome.     

A setback is the space required from one defined feature to another and every town has different requirements. Some townships, for instance, may require more than 100 feet of setback from the road; setbacks on the front and back perimeters are usually larger than those on the sides of your property.

An easement is rights that are given to a party, or parties, for public or private use of an area of your land. This may include overhead lines, access, or any maintenance agreements that run through your property.  

Building regulations may be regulated by the town or imposed by the former owner of the property. These may limit the type of house you can build, how tall it can be, how large the footprint can be, what materials can be used, and in some cases even the colors.

Most townships impose a minimum acreage on a building lot. Sometimes, the piece of land you are trying to buy is smaller than the minimum acreage but the parcel is “grandfathered”, sometimes it is not. If you are purchasing a larger parcel, do not assume that you can subdivide it later and sell off parcels, make sure you can subdivide in accordance with your intentions before you buy the land. Sometimes, even large parcels can only be divided once or twice by law, depending on deed restrictions, perc test restrictions, township restrictions, or possibly land preservation issues.

Even if you plan on changing the location of an existing driveway or creating a new one, you need approval from the state or town, and in some cases both before you can begin construction of a driveway. 

In most of these cases, a land use professional is not required to obtain these approvals. However, in many cases an unsuspecting property owner will attempt to present an application to local board without fully understanding the regulations or their intent causing their request to be denied, and in some cases, bringing to light other issues that could complicate your project.

Owner, Steve Pro who presents most of these cases for our clients, has fifteen years of experience presenting projects, from large commercial developments and to small residential expansions, to local environmental boards. As a member of the Chesterfield Planning Board, Steve Pro has an intimate knowledge of the process and will present your project in a manner that will increase the chances for a positive outcome.

Wetland Permitting

Many people believe that wetlands are simply standing water with cattails and ducks. Not so... a wetland is based on water, soils, and vegetation. Any two which meet the criteria for a wetland may require a wetland permit. In fact, many driveways which cross a roadside ditch to access a property require a wetland permit. Steve Pro Land Development Services, LLC will work with a Wetland Scientist to help obtain your permit.

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