Three Steps to Acquiring Your Building Permit
After designing your dream post and beam barn, the next step is to contact your local town office to acquire a building permit. Not only is the building permit required by law, but it also ensures that your structure will be inspected and adheres to safety standards. These inspections during construction will preserve your property’s value and marketability.
Your local building department can guide you through the process of obtaining permits and inspections. It’s important to reach out to them early to inform them of your plans and to help identify any concerns or obstacles with your project.
1. Speak with the Building Inspector
Call your town hall to speak with the building inspector. If the inspector is unavailable, the secretary or clerk should be able to answer your initial questions. Mention that you will be applying for a building permit for an accessory structure on your property and ask what will be required. Typically, they will request:
- Two sets of scaled and engineered plans or digital copies
- A site plan showing:
- Existing structures
- Well
- Septic
- Repair Septic area
- Proposed location of your new accessory structure
A plot plan of your property should be on file at your town hall. Sometimes a simple hand drawn sketch applied to the plot plan will suffice, but always check with your building department. If not, they may allow using the assessor’s map and an approximate location of where the septic and well are. If needed, your local surveyor can assist in locating the new building on your plot plan.
2. Satisfy all Sanitarian, Wetlands and Zoning Requirements
Sanitarian, wetlands, and zoning requirements are often the first hurdles you’ll need to address. Make sure to consult these departments early in the process, as their regulations may influence your design and project timeline. If you need to apply for a variance from the zoning board of appeals, allow for at least one month, as the process can take time.
3. Submit your Completed Application
Submit your completed applications to the building department, along with plot plans and building plans. Be sure to ask how many sets of documents they require before submitting. The process could take at least one month if no hearings have to be scheduled (zoning or wetlands issues).
A typical list of inspections are as follows (these may differ from town to town and project to project) please check with the building inspector:
- Footings
- Backfilling (if applicable)
- Rough framing
- Rough electrical (if applicable)
- Rough plumbing (if applicable)
- Gas piping (if applicable)
- Insulation (if applicable)
- Final inspection for the Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.)
Important: It is the permit applicant’s responsibility to schedule inspections. A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is usually required to arrange an inspection.
Need Assistance with the Permit Process?
Here is a look at the different Town departments you will interact with during the permit process.
Building Department
The building official reviews the building plans for compliance with the latest building codes and performs the required inspections throughout construction. A Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.) assures you that your project complies with the structural and safety requirements of the building codes. In most towns, a homeowner can apply for a building permit for their property and complete any part of the project themselves. All hired contractors must have the appropriate state licenses, registrations, and insurance.
Health Department
The health department requires property owners to demonstrate that their property has a suitable septic system repair area before a building permit can be approved. Accessory structures must typically be located at least 10 feet from the existing septic tank and leaching fields. These regulations are intended to protect your septic system and prevent over-development, which could hinder future repairs or expansion. The sanitarian will review your plans to ensure they meet public health code standards.
Planning and Zoning Department
Zoning regulations govern property uses and building locations. Setbacks dictate how far structures must be from property lines. The zoning enforcement officer will use the zoning permit application to determine whether your project meets setback requirements and whether the proposed use of the structure complies with allowed uses for that zone.
If your building will house livestock, stricter regulations may apply, including increased setbacks. Be sure to review zoning regulations for any special setbacks or height restrictions. If compliance with zoning requirements presents a hardship (other than financial), you can apply for a variance from the zoning board of appeals. The planning and zoning administrative assistant may assist you with this application.
Please allow one to two months for the review process.
Inland Wetlands
Inland wetlands are vital for groundwater recharge, stormwater purification, wildlife habitat, and flood prevention. The inland wetlands and conservation commissions balance wetland preservation with property development plans. If your project involves activities near wetlands or watercourses, you must submit an application to the inland wetlands commission for review.
The commission also regulates activities within upland review areas (buffer zones), which can range from 50 to 100 feet. Allow one to two months for the commission to review and decide on your application.
Hiring a Professional Surveyor
In addition to plotting the new building on your property, your local professional surveyor may also assist in obtaining permits by attending any required meetings on your behalf. Locate your local surveyor online or seek recommendations from friends or family who have completed recent building projects.