Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 2:00pm

Though this is now my second year on the job, I am still learning. Many of the same issues that came up last year are still a concern. The first concern regards obtaining permits for commercial logging as required by the town's Timber Harvesting Law. The landowner should obtain the permit instead of the logger or forest manager. The second concern is inflatable pools which need a permit as defined below. The third concern deals with final inspections. You should call this office for a final inspection prior to releasing the contractor from their obligation. Lawyers are requesting permits in house closings for decks and sheds. The forth concern is unlicensed vehicles. The Town code allows only one unlicenced vehicle per property.

The town is currently writing a property maintenance law, and there will be a public hearing before it is adopted. Please watch the newspaper for a date of the public hearing.

I have been working on house numbering. This is required by state law and most importantly helps emergency personnel find you when you need help. BE SAFE _ CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS!


WHEN DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?

If you are thinking of building, remodeling, replacing, converting or installing anything on your property, a simple telephone call or an e-mail inquiry to this office will offset any potential problems in the future. To keep this simple, here is a list of the most common things a property owner would need to know about when a permit is necessary. If you are unsure, always check with your code enforcement office before you begin the project.

Examples of projects that require a permit:

Decks, porches and entryways: All need building permits, even when completely tearing down an old one to replace with a new one.

Swimming Pools - both in ground and above ground deeper than 24" (including inflatable pools) need a permit. Also fencing may be required, along with proper electrical inspection.

Garages and pole style buildings - Attached and unattached need building permits. Some may require fire walls and fire rated doors.

Sheds - Small, medium or large, some municipaliteies have size stipulations. Currently the Town of Bristol requires a permit for all sheds.

All single family homes.

All commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings.

Additions to almost any existing structures or building will require a permit.

Structural changes - All need a building permit, this would include replacement of all or sections of a foundation, repitch a roof, new roof trusses or rafters, load bearing walls, headers, columns, piers, floor joists, any reconstruction, whether new or existing.

Roofs are a tricky area. New trusses, rafters, porch roofs, carports etc. need a permit.

Siding - Use of vinyl siding, wooden clapboard, T-111, normally do not require a building permit. However, check with this office to be sure.

Plumbing, Heating and Electrical - all require a permit or some type of inspection.

Change of Use - If a building use is changed from one type to another (single family to two family), a change of use will most generally require a site plan approval by the planning board.

Alterations/Modifications - This too is a tricky area, so contacting this office would assist in preventing any problems that may occur after the project is started.

Timber Harvesting

Septic Tank Installation - new and replacement