Zoning

The Shaftsbury Zoning Bylaw specifies what permits and approvals must be secured before a person or business may begin development activities. The bylaw governs; this FAQ is only a summary of zoning laws. The full bylaw and its appendices can be found on this page. Or you can receive a copy and get answers to other zoning questions by contacting the zoning administrator at zoning@shaftsburyvt.gov. Activities generally requiring a permit include but are not limited to:

• New buildings
• Building additions, such as new rooms, decks and porches
• Accessory dwelling units
• Garages, sheds, and carports
• Greenhouses
• Pools
• Storage structures whether anchored, on a pad, or gravel-based
• Curb cuts for driveways
• Changes of use
• Major grading
• Signs
• Subdivisions
• Boundary line adjustments

• The normal maintenance and repair of existing structures and infrastructure which does not result in any change to the footprint of a structure, nor result in a change of use for a structure
• Minor grading
• Residential lawn and garden activities
• Agricultural structures when the land is enrolled in the Use Value Program or is a "farm" as defined by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture (Although such structures are exempt, an application must nonetheless be filed with the zoning office.)

A site plan is a bird's-eye, to scale view of a property. A site plan is required for all permitted activities. A survey conducted by a state-licensed surveyor is required for subdivisions and boundary line adjustments.

What must be shown on the site plan depends on the nature of the proposed activity or structure. At minimum, a site plan might include, to scale:

• The dimensions of the lot, including existing and proposed property boundaries;
• The location and footprint in feet of all existing and proposed structures;
• The location of existing and proposed curb cuts and driveways;
• Setbacks from the property boundaries for the zoning district;
• The location of existing and proposed water and wastewater systems.

It is the responsibility of the application to obtain accurate boundary line information for the application. The Town's tax maps (available on line at www.axisgis.com) are a good source of information. The site is searchable by name, address, and parcel number. The tax maps are not as reliable as a survey. The Town maintains copies of some, but far from all, surveys dating back to the 1970s.

The Shaftsbury zoning bylaw requires that certain site improvements and structures be located a minimum number of feet from the front, side and rear yard lines. The setback requirements vary according to zoning district. Setbacks are also required from streams.

State law requires a 15-day appeal period after the permit is approved before construction can commence, during which time an abutting landowner or other interested person as defined by the state can appeal the permit's issuance. A successful appeal could require a landowner to un-do any improvements made before the expiration of the appeal period.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation administers many State permit programs, including those related to water and wastewater, stormwater, rivers and streams, wetlands, floodplains, underground oil tanks, and more. The State's web-based Permit Navigator produces a downloadable/printable guide to help you through the permitting and planning processes and to help you learn about what may be required based on your unique situation. Or a permit specialist can help answer your questions. For more information, visit www.dec.vermont.gov or contact our regional Community Assistance Specialist, Rick Oberkirch, at 802-282-6488