Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance Town of Sanbornton, New Hampshire ZONING ORDINANCE 2021 Edition Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance ZONING ORDINANCE TOWN OF SANBORNTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE 2021 EDITION* * The “2021 Edition” of the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Sanbornton NH supersedes all previous editions of the Zoning Ordinance document, no matter in what medium such previous editions were provided. * The “2021 Edition” of the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Sanbornton NH remains in effect until such time as it is amended, at which time the “2021 Edition” will be replaced with an up-dated edition of the Zoning Ordinance document which will include all subsequent amendments and will be identified by the year in which such amendment took effect. This Zoning Ordinance is subject to typographical and formatting corrections. Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE 1 PREAMBLE………………………………………………………………………………………. 1.1 ARTICLE 2 DISTRICTS……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2.1 ARTICLE 3 DEFINITIONS………………………………………………………………………………... 3.1-3.7 ARTICLE 4 GENERAL PROVISIONS………………………………………………………………...... 4.1-4.47 ARTICLE 5 GENERAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT……………………………………………………. 5.1 ARTICLE 6 GENERAL RESIDENCE DISTRICT…………………………………………………………... 6.1 ARTICLE 7FOREST CONSERVATION DISTRICT…………………………………………………….…. 7.1 ARTICLE 8 RECREATIONAL DISTRICT……………………………………………………………… 8.1-8.2 ARTICLE 9 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION DISTRICT………………………………………...………. 9.1 ARTICLE 10 COMMERCIAL DISTRICT………………………………………………...………….. 10.1-10.2 ARTICLE 11 HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT………………………….………………..….…… 11.1 ARTICLE 12 AQUIFER CONSERVATION DISTRICT……………….…………………………….. 12.1-12.2 ARTICLE 13 FLOODPLAIN CONSERVATION DISTRICT………………….……………………. 13.1-13.8 ARTICLE 14 SHOREFRONT DISTRICT……………………………………………………………. 14.1-14.2 ARTICLE 15 WETLANDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT…………………………………………. 15.1-15.5 ARTICLE 16 STEEP SLOPE CONSERVATION DISTRICT………………………………………. 16.1-16.2 ARTICLE 17 NON-CONFORMING USES, BUILDINGS AND LOTS……………………………..…… 17.1 ARTICLE 18 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT………………………………………………………….... 18.1-18.4 ARTICLE 19 AMENDMENTS…………………………………………………………………………...….. 19.1 ARTICLE 20 ENFORCEMENT…………………………………………………………………………...… 20.1 ARTICLE 21 PENALTY………………………………………………………………………………...…… 21.1 ARTICLE 22 SAVING CLAUSE………………………………………………………………………..…... 22.1 ARTICLE 23 WHEN EFFECTIVE………………………………………………………………….....…… 23.1 Appendix A: Dates when Town Meeting amended Zoning Ordinance…………………………...……...…. A.1 Appendix B: Zoning Ordinance Amendment History……………………………………………….….. B.1-B.8 Appendix C: Conversion Code for converting Roman Numeral Sections to Arabic Numerals……….…... C.1 Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance ARTICLE 1 PREAMBLE In pursuance of authority conferred by Chapter 31, Sections 60-89, New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, 1955, and for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, moral prosperity, convenience or general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development of the inhabitants of the incorporated Town of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, by securing safety from fire, panic and other dangers, providing adequate areas between buildings and various rights-of-way, by preserving the rural charm now attached to our Town, the promotion of good civic design and arrangements, wise and efficient expenditure of public funds, and the adequate provision of public utilities and other public requirements, and by other means, now therefore the following ordinance is hereby enacted by the voters of the Town of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, in official Town Meeting convened. Article 1 Preamble Page 1.1 Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance ARTICLE 2 DISTRICTS For the purpose of this ordinance, the Town of Sanbornton is divided into districts as shown on the official zoning district map of the Town of Sanbornton entitled Zoning Map, Sanbornton, NH, 2015 filed with the Town Clerk and with corrections as adopted by legal vote of the Town and including the following: (1) General Agricultural District; (2) General Residence District; (3) Forest Conservation District; (4) Recreational District; (5) Historical Preservation District; (6) Commercial District. Minimum Lot Requirements FRONTAGE. SETBACKS LOT AREA ZONE in feet front rear side in Acres General Agriculture 220 30 10 10 3 General Residential 200 30 10 10 2 Forest Conservation 600 35 35 35 6 Recreational 175 30 10 10 1 1/2 Historic Preservation: Village Historic 175 1 1/2 Rural Historic 220 3 Commercial 125 30 10 10 1/2 Article 2 Districts Page 2.1 Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance ARTICLE 3 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Ordinance, certain terms are defined as provided in this section. 1. Abutter shall mean any person whose property adjoins or is directly across the street or stream from the land under consideration by the Planning Board. (Ref: NH RSA 672.3) [May 2008] 2. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) means a residential living unit located on an owner-occupied lot which is secondary, subordinate and is within or attached to a single family dwelling, and that provides independent living facilities for one or more persons, including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel of land as the principal dwelling unit it accompanies. A detached accessory dwelling unit is also permitted (RSA 674:73). [March 2021] 3. Accessory Building means a building which is detached from the principal building on the same lot and which is subordinate and customarily incidental to the principal building on the same lot. [May 2009] 4. Accessory Structure means a structure which is subordinate and customarily incidental to the principal structure on the same lot. [May 2009] 5. Amusement Center means an area, enclosed, or unenclosed, supplying entertainment, which is conducted on a basis of paid admission. [March 1992] 6. Applicant shall mean the legal owner of record or an agent authorized in writing by the legal owner at the time of application to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment. [May 2008] 7. Boundary Line Adjustment shall mean the moving of a boundary line between two separate but adjoining parcels of land that changes the size and/or shape of each parcel but does not create a new lot or lots. All new land acquired by either parcel in this action shall be merged by deed with the parcel to which it was conveyed, thus not creating a new lot or lots.[March 2015] 8. Building means any roofed structure which is permanently attached to the ground including all integral parts thereof, intended for use and occupation as a habitation, or for the purpose of assembly, business, manufacture, storage, or shelter of persons, animals, or chattels. [May 2009] 9. Building Height shall mean the vertical distance of a building measured from the average elevation of the proposed finished grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the roof. [May 2008] 10. Cluster Development means an innovative residential subdivision of a parcel of land, as provided in RSA 674:21, where, instead of subdividing the entire parcel into house lots of conventional size, a similar number of single-family dwelling units may be clustered on lots of reduced dimensions. The remaining land in the cluster development which has not been built upon is permanently reserved for open space. [May 2007] 11. Commercial Docking Facility means a multi-slip docking facility in which slips are rented to boat owners or to persons renting boats for short or long-term use. [March 1987] 12. Common Area shall mean land set aside within a subdivision and owned and used in common by the owners of lots within the subdivision. [May 2008] Article 3 Definitions Page 3.1 Town of Sanbornton Zoning Ordinance 13. Community Docking Facility means a multi-slip docking facility in which slips are rented or assigned to: (a) persons other than the owners of the property to which the docks are attached or (b) to a lot owner's association in which each of the owners may be an undivided owner in common of the property to which the docks are attached. [March 1987] 14. Condominium Docking Facility means a multi-slip docking facility in which each boat slip is individually owned or assigned. [March 1987] 15. Dwelling means any building or used and occupied for human habitation. [May 2009] 16. Dwelling, Single-Family mean a dwelling occupied by one family. [May 2009] 17. Dwelling, Two-Family means a dwelling occupied by two families, living independently of each other in individual dwelling units. [May 2009] 18. Dwelling Unit means an independent housekeeping unit used for residential occupancy by one family and which unit is physically separated from any other residential space and which unit contains its own independent sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities. 19. Dwelling, Multiple Family means a dwelling occupied by three or more families, living independently of each other in individual dwelling units. 20. Elderly/Handicapped/Disabled Housing means the occupancy of units within the development shall be limited to family units in which the head of household or spouse is at least 55 years old, or is handicapped or disabled, as defined by the federal government.[March 1999] 21. Farm, Agriculture, and Farming [March 2002] (1) The word “farm” means any land, buildings, or structures on or in which agriculture and farming activities are carried out or conducted and shall include the residence or residences of owners, occupants, or employees located on such land. Structures shall include all farm outbuildings used in the care of livestock, and in the production