Gotta love the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
A friend of mine went into the town clerk's office to get a building permit to build a camp on the lake. The town clerk said, "We don't have any zoning, so you can build what you want."
"But I just need a building permit."
"You don't understand, since we don't have zoning, we don't have building permits." replied the town clerk.
"But how will you know when I have finished the camp so you can tax me on it?"
"I will know you are finished because I will see it from my party barge."
I was up there a couple of days ago. I fully understand why they call Vermont "the Green Mountain state".
Lots of small towns don't have zoning but still have codes. The problem with no codes are you do end up seeing houses instead of trees around the lake, and you end up swimming in other peoples sewage.
Building Permit in Vermont - sidetrack
> "But how will you know when I have finished the camp so you can tax me on it?"
>
> "I will know you are finished because I will see it from my party barge."
I really like that.
Sidetrack ,but that is the gist of a current controversy going on in the media here now.
It seems like the current assessor has been taxing certain properties at anywhere near there values.
The media is really putting the heat on her and there is an election coming next year, so you wonder.
Her defense in the media has been that the Parish's building and permits dept does not supply any info to her office.
Plus, she states it is the citizen's responsibility to make sure that they are paying 'their fair tax' by notifying the assessor.
Some of these situations that have been reported has been associated with some high profile local politicians and a high ranking Dep. Sheriff.
The sheriff's dept is in charge to collect taxes here which makes it a little ironic in that case.
I think that is is all of their fault or negligence and especially the the tax payer. They know what their taxes should be when it come to write the check, at least I do.
It is obvious that their is no communication between the departments. Everyone just ruling over their own little fiefdom.
Of course also, anyone can google map and bing a view of the property and see the improvements and it's use. We are supposed to have a GIS here also..
There are other nifty loop holes in the local system also that developers have been using.
So how does it work where you are?
Duane
A state approved septic system is required in Vermont.
Also (from my understanding of the rule change) after the end of the year, you will no longer be able to build within 50 feet of ponds and lakes in Vermont.