How do I get a zoning permit?
While there is a general process for the issuance of zoning permits, the type of permits you may need are dependent on a number factors, including the type of work to be done, the location of the property, permits, if any, that may have already been issued, and so on.
Generally, the process begins with a visit to the Inspectional Services Department, in Room 203, where you apply for a building permit to do the work. The building inspector will review the work to see if it is in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance. If it is, he will issue a permit; if not, he will provide you with a letter of denial indicating where the project fails to comply with the Ordinance, along with the zoning permit forms. Once you have completed the forms and attached all the material that goes with it, you file the application with the City Clerk, although we recommend that you check in with us first so that we can make sure the application is complete and to avoid delays in the filing. There are filing fees of $350 for each permit and $60 for publishing the legal notice in the paper. If major site plan review is required, an additional fee of $60 is required in order to publish the legal notice for that permit.
When we receive the forms, we schedule the case for the next Zoning Board of Appeals and/or Planning Board meeting. The Zoning Board generally meets the second Tuesday of the month and the Planning Board generally meets the fourth Tuesday of the month. All meetings begin at 6:00 PM and are held in Room 101 of City Hall. You and/or your representative are provided an opportunity to state your case before the boards and to answer questions from the board. All such meetings are open to the public and all abutters are notified of the meeting.
After the hearing is closed, the board will vote on the matter. The vote is written up in a decision document, which is filed with the City Clerk, and which may or may not have conditions attached. A 20 day appeal period is observed. At the end of the appeal period, you may obtain a certified copy of the decision and record it with the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.
For future reference, the process is online. We are always available to answer questions about the forms and the process.