Looking for advice on talking with town clerk and zoning administrator about a build on acreage

Submitted by SexyEdMeese t3_121p36w in vermont

Managed to get some small land and my family and I have some specific plans for it. I'm looking for advice on how to approach the town about the appropriate permits. Basics such as whether to show up in person or do it over phone or email, or specifics such as official words or terms to use, would be helpful. Or even your own story or experience.

Here's the plans in case you're curious. By the way there is already a state wastewater permit AND a well, which is great.

  • Phase 1: build a composting toilet and live on the property in a tent or small camper, for as long as allowed. I believe this is meets the primitive camp definition (“No interior plumbing consisting of more than a sink with water, that are used no more than three consecutive weeks per year and no more than a total of 60 days per year)

  • Phase 2: renovate a barn on the property (currently not permitted as a single family) into a single family home, including, have septic installed and indoor plumbing. This will be a combination of using a GC for some, specific contractors for others, and doing a bunch ourselves (mostly interior and finishing)

  • Phase 3: live in new barn/house

Any advice you have on how to talk to zoning folks would be appreciated. I want to do this legally and right.

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JerryKook t1_jdmvpwh wrote

Just go talk to the zoning admin.

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SexyEdMeese OP t1_jdoji37 wrote

Yeah guess that's the right answer. I just get nervous when I need something from a civil authority.

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JerryKook t1_jdrduv8 wrote

As long as you aren't cocky or combative, you should be fine. Tell them what you want to do and ask if that would allowed.

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frisbeegopher t1_jdmrkaj wrote

The answer to this question is going to entirely depend on the town you’re located in. The zoning ordinance should be available to you (either online or by requesting a copy from the town). It should have instructions on what you need to do.

The state also has a permit navigator https://dec.vermont.gov/permitnavigator which can be helpful in determining any state level permissions you might need.

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DeliriousBlues t1_jdn4yot wrote

Go talk in person. You can better describe what you are doing and they can give you the appropriate guidance.

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andrews301xrd t1_jdn27ep wrote

The only thing that I would see as a concern is how you intend to manage waste until the septic system is installed? True composting toilets are fine and permitted when managed properly, but a pit style outhouse is probably not going to be ok unless it's a sealed vault style.

My neighbors did the same kind of thing (slowly built over 3 years while living on the property) were going to need to a special permit for their toilet and would need to bring the waste to the landfill because they couldn't safely dispose onsite; they ended up renting a porta-potty until they had their septic system in.

Obviously you don't want to contaminate your land and water source. Personally, I would prioritize septic installation above most all else, most people I know who have built or intensely rehabbed focused on that early on, well before contruction/rehab/plumbing.

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oldbeardedtech t1_jdnthtm wrote

Every town is different.

Some have no zoning, some require a permit to install a mailbox. You won't know until you go in and talk to someone. Or post the town and someone here may have experience

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skiitifyoucan t1_jdmrz8x wrote

It seems like it should be relatively straight forward. but you might have to ask them (the town) what you need to confirm. Some towns are pickier than others for sure. We needed a curb cut permit (there were specifics on like how big the culvert had to be and how wide the driveway had to be at the street), and a permit for the house. I think that was it. The WW permit you already have. The well is already there. Is the barn worth saving? When I think VT barn... I think pretty basic, maybe not great foundation, etc.

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ExpressionFamiliar98 t1_jdnvkyi wrote

Other considerations-

  1. Whether the town enforces International Building Code and inspects your work.
  2. Whether the town enforces International Fire Code - fire safety regulations.
  3. Driveway access and regulations.
  4. State regs are not handled through the town.

The zoning is the easy part. Complying with building and fire code (IF THEY ENFORCE) is where it gets pricey.

Be ready to learn.

Yelling at town employees will only slow your process.

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andersriseup t1_jdnvt99 wrote

Regardless of the town I wouldn’t tell anyone you are building an outhouse. Rent a port-a-john until you have a septic put in.

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thisoneisnotasbad t1_jdnhdxo wrote

My approach has been, get permit, do work. The town can fuck right off once the permit is issued.

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alemap1969 t1_jdp8te5 wrote

Most town clerks are easy yo talk to, just give a call. The zoning administrator would give you the info you need bit the clerk should get you started.

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df33702021 t1_jdveikf wrote

Going to depend on your town. I know our Development Review Board scoffed at burn/composting toilet and length of time as "primitive camp" for a neighbor who was doing basically the same thing except building an entire new structure. Their opinion was the person would likely always live in the primitive camp. The neighbor eventually gave up and sold out.

I would probably ask about phase two and see where that takes you before breaching the composting toilet/primitive camp. I would see about the renting a portolet option cause you can just say that is for the workers for construction.

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