Building permits
No building in any zone shall be erected, reconstructed, rehabilitated, restored, or structurally altered without a building permit.
(1) Application. Every application for a building permit shall be made on forms provided by the building inspection division and shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed from time to time. Subject to the waiver described below, every application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a complete set of plans, construction drawings, and specifications, drawn to scale, including:
a. A survey made by a licensed surveyor showing the actual shape, dimensions, radii, angles, and area of the lot on which the building is proposed to be erected or of the lot on which it is situated, if an existing building;
b. The block and lot numbers as they appear on the official town tax map;
c. The exact size, height, and location on the lot of the proposed building or buildings or alterations of an existing building, and the location on the lot of any other existing buildings;
d. The location, nature, and dimensions of all yards, access driveways, off-street parking, plantings and screening, and distances between buildings;
e. The existing and intended use of all buildings, existing or proposed, the use of land, and the number of units of each proposed or existing use which the building is designed to accommodate;
f. Such topographic or other information with regard to the building lot or neighboring lots as may be necessary to determine that the proposed construction will conform to the provisions of this ordinance.
Each application for new construction must be submitted in the following manner:
Three copies of a site plan stamped by a registered land surveyor which contains the following information:
— Shape, dimensions, radii, angles and area of the lot.
— Assessor's plat and lot numbers.
— Size and location of the proposed building.
— Location and dimensions of access drives, parking areas, planting and screening, and distance between structures and distance between structures on the same lot.
— The use of the land, or the intended use of the structure, and the number of units.
— Topographic information including distance to wetlands and/or waterbodies within 200 feet; flood zone elevations of the site and lowest habitable floor; platted width of right-of-way; existing width and surface of traveled road on which the lot fronts; designation whether public or private or to be constructed; existing proposed easements; and all existing utilities within the right-of-way.
— Elevation datum to be mean sea level.
Where the application involves the construction of an accessory structure or the alteration, restoration, or rehabilitation of a single principal building, the building inspection division may waive such of the preceding requirements as it deems to be superfluous, unduly burdensome, or disproportionately costly. Where site plan review was required pursuant to section 18 of this ordinance, the application must include the complete approved site plan.
The application and all supporting documentation shall be made in triplicate. Upon the issuance of a building permit, the building inspection division shall return to the applicant one copy of all documents.
The building inspection division may waive any or all of the above requirements for an accessory structure, or alterations of a principal building.
Three copies of construction drawings, drawn to scale which include the following information:
— Foundation plan detailing size, thickness, beam pockets, openings, anchor bolt spacing; also column footing size, thickness and spacing.
— Floor plans with rooms labeled, dimensions, size of headers; size, spacing, and direction of floor joists, location of attic scuttle.
— Elevations of all exterior views.
— Cross section which shows footing and foundations, sills, column beams, joints, rafters, collar ties, insulation, stair dimensions, exterior vents. Size, spacing and type of material of lumber grading.
— Engineered truss drawings (if applicable).
(2) Special use permit uses. No building permit shall be issued for any proposed structure or use designated as a special use permit use in sections 4 and 12 or elsewhere in this ordinance, unless and until the zoning board of review has approved the site plan and granted the special use permit in accordance with the terms and provisions of sections 4, 12 and 18 of this ordinance. The building permit must reflect all terms and conditions imposed by the zoning board of review.
(3) Variances. No building permit shall be issued for any proposed structure or use requiring a variance unless and until the zoning board of review has approved the site plan and granted the variance in accordance with the terms and provisions of sections 11 and 18 of this ordinance. The building permit must reflect all terms and conditions imposed by the zoning board of review.
(4) Road frontage. No building permit shall be issued unless the lot upon which the proposed structure is to be constructed fronts on a street which has been improved to town road standards or for which improvement an adequate surety has been posted, and unless the actual access to the structure will be on such street.
(5) Exclusions. Nothing in this ordinance shall be deemed to require any change in the plans, construction, or designated use of any building for which a permit was duly issued and on which actual construction was lawfully begun prior to the adoption of this ordinance or amendment hereto, and provided that actual construction work has been diligently carried on and that the building will be completed within 18 months from the effective date of the ordinance or amendment. If construction is not completed within the prescribed period, or if the building operations are discontinued for a period of six months, any other construction shall be in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance.
Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 10.