Zoning Applications and Bylaws
Zoning Administrator:
Kyle Hanson
za@chelseavt.us
Office hours are by appointment only.
The responsibilities of the zoning administrator include:
- administering the Chelsea Zoning Bylaw and Flood Hazard Bylaw
- reviewing permit applications
- issuing permits as appropriate or referring them to the Development Review Board (DRB) for review
- providing staff assistance to the DRB
- assisting individuals who wish to develop property
- conducting field inspections
- investigating complaints and violations
- initiating enforcement action when necessary
- maintaining a record of permits issued by parcel number
Zoning Applications and Bylaws
The zoning permit application is used for all projects unless they are considered exempt by the Zoning Bylaw. This includes flood hazard permit applications. The DRB application, used for waivers, variances, appeals, conditional uses and change of use requests might also be required. Applications and fees are required prior to commencing a project.
Applications
Zoning Application Instructions
Zoning Application
Application to Developmental Review Board
Fees
Zoning Application – $55.00
Developmental Review Board Application – $50.00
Any application filed after work has commenced is subject to after the fact fees as follows:
Zoning – $160.00
DRB -$ 200.00
Zoning Bylaws
Chelsea first adopted an interim zoning bylaw on February 24, 1975. Provided below is the current zoning bylaw which was adopted on March 3, 2026. The Zoning Administrator is more than willing to answer questions and explain what various provisions mean and how the bylaw is administered.
Chelsea Zoning Bylaw – Adopted March 3, 2026
Chelsea Zoning Map – 2026
About one-half of the structures in Chelsea village are located within regulatory floodplain. Federal floodplain maps first became effective in Chelsea in 1980 and Chelsea adopted its first flood hazard bylaw at that time. Towns have come under greater pressure to enforce their flood hazard regulations since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and homeowners have seen their flood insurance rates jump since Congress adopted flood insurance reforms in 2012. Unfortunately, the floodplain maps are difficult to read and interpret, are in some places out-of-date or inaccurate, and often require additional survey or engineering work (at the landowners’ expense) to precisely determine whether a property is located within regulatory floodplain, and if it is, what the base flood elevation (BFE) would be. In addition to Chelsea village, there is regulatory floodplain along the First Branch White River and South Washington Brook, as well as portions of Crams Brook.
New structures constructed within regulatory floodplain must have their lowest floor elevated above base flood elevation (BFE), repairs or renovation to an existing structure that equal or exceed 50% or the market value of the property (a “substantial improvement”) could likewise trigger the requirement that the lowest floor be elevated above BFE.
Chelsea’s current Flood Hazard Bylaw was adopted on November 7, 2017 and is attached below:
Under the Chelsea Zoning Bylaw, no building or land development, construction, reconstruction, conversion, relocation or enlargement of any building or other structure may commence without a zoning permit. There are exceptions, however, which include:
- Maintenance – Normal maintenance, repair, upgrading, or remodeling of a building or structure that nether increases building footprint nor involves a change of use is exempt. However, maintenance that changes the outward appearance of a structure located within the Village Center Design Control District does require a permit, and maintenance within regulatory floodplain that constitutes “substantial improvement” requires a permit.
- Replacement – Replacement of an existing structure or building damaged by fire or other disaster is exempt, provided the new structure is not greater in any dimension and is within the original footprint, and that reconstruction begins within two years of the date of damage. However, replacement of a structure within the Village Center Design Control District that is not the same in appearance as the one damaged does require a permit, and replacement of a structure within regulatory floodplain requires a permit.
- Minor structures – Minor structures of less than 100 square feet in area that are not intended for human occupancy are exempt and do not require a zoning permit. However, minor structures must meet setbacks from roads, boundaries and streams.
- Farm structures – Farm structures are exempt by law, but you are required to notify the zoning administrator in writing prior to construction to confirm that the structure is exempt under Vermont’s Acceptable Agricultural Practice (AAP) rules and that it meets setbacks from roads, boundaries and streams. Submitting a zoning application (with no fee) is one way to notify the zoning administrator and receive a determination that your structure meets the requirements of an exempt farm structure. This determination can be recorded with the payment of a $10 recording fee. See a summary of Vermont’s Accepted Agricultural Practice Rules below:
State Permits:
To inquire about possible additional state permits please contact
Rick Oberkirch, EAO Community Assistance Specialist
(802) 282-6488
Rick.Oberkirch@vermont.gov