Permit Applications

• Click here for Hearing Sign-
  1. Post sign facing public way along street BEFORE applying for permit
  2. Fill in date, time and place of hearing as soon as you know it.
  3. Send in picture of sign with date, time, and place.

• Central Business Architecture (PDF, 602kb)
• Elm Street Historic District (PDF, 840kb)
• Wetlands (PDF, 36kb) Conservation Commission
• Permit Application Fees (7/2008) (PDF, 61kb)

• Planning and Zoning Applications FOR: Special permits, site plan approval, findings, appeals, comprehensive permits, variances, subdivisions and ANRs.
  Except for ANRs and subdivisions, obtain Zoning Permit from Building BEFORE APPLYING
  
• PRACTICE Planning and Zoning Application This application is for PRACTICE ONLY and may NOT be used for submitting a permit,. If you want to see the second page of the application, complete each line of the first page, with any entry, even jibberish
• Create Log OnLine Permit Account NOT required. This is designed for repeat users who want to complete a portion of an application and save it before submitting (your file is saved when you complete a page) or want to revisit their filing.
  
• View all Applications Filed Electronically
• RSS Feeds of Applications Filed Electronically

1. ALL application packages must be collated into separate clipped packages WITH:
---Zoning Permit from the Building Dept (except for subdivisions and ANRs)
---Locus plan showing the site, adjacent properties and property lines in a broader context, preferably on an orthophoto
---Elevations showing what buildings will look like
---All plans folded

2. EXCEPT for Approval Not Required Plans, deliver TWO application packages (NO reduced scale plans) to the Department of Public Works, 125 Locust Street, Northampton, MA 01060 BEFORE filing with the City Clerk.

3. MAKE THE FOLLOWING FULL SIZE COPIES of all parts of the application (application, plans, and all attachments).
---Zoning Board application- 10 copies
---Planning Board application- 15 copies
---Joint Zoning Board and Planning Board application- 20 copies
---Subdivision application- 16 copies
---Approval Not Required application and plans- 6 copies, plus Mylar and electronic copy

4. Except for ANRs, include:
---Two sets of postage-stamped envelopes to the owner and the applicant
---Two separate sets of postage-stamped (NOT metered) envelopes to all of the abutters within 300' of the property and the planning boards in the abutting towns. Use "Planning Dept., 210 Main Street, Room 11, Northampton, MA 01060" as return address.
---Printed list of all abutters with number of abutters at top of list.

5. For ANRs, the plans must include:
---Statement "Planning Board Endorsement is NOT a determination that lots shown are buildable lots"
---All Assessors' Parcel IDs within the surveyed area
---All buildings by the property owner if within 100' of a newly created property boundary
---Horizontal control points, if required, in meters using Mass State Plane Coordinates NAD83

6. For ANRs and Subdivisions, include electronic copies of ALL surveys and plans as PDF or uncompressed TIFF AND as AutoCAD 2000 (dwg). ALL property lines must be closed polylines with an accuracy of 1:20,000
--ALL supporting information must be provided as a PDF or uncompressed TIFF
--Include a readme data dictionary for the dwg files and a table of contents of all documents

7. COMPREHENSIVE PERMITS, SITE PLAN MAJOR PROJECTS and SUBDIVISIONS MUST include (unless a waiver is granted):
---Building Elevations, Lighting, Stormwater and Traffic Plans.
---A CD of ALL documents in PDF format
---An electronic copy of a presentation (in PowerPoint PPT or a format acceptable to the Office of Planning and Development) outlining the project. This presentation shall be the basis of your presentation before the board.

8. Go to the City Clerk, City Hall, 210 Main Street, to have your application date stamped

9. File all copies, envelopes and fee with the Office of Planning and Development, City Hall

10. Within 10 days, staff will review the application to determine if it is sufficiently detailed that the board can act without additional information. Only then will staff schedule a Public Hearing and post legal ads and notice.
--Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Conservation Commission meet 2nd and 4th Thursdays (except summer and holidays).
--Historic Commission, Elm Street, and Central Business Architecture meet as needed.

11. The self-addressed stamped envelopes that you provided will be used to notify you and your abutters of the hearing date and, for some permits, decisions.

12. Applicant/representative must attend public hearing.

13. AFTER the permit is issued AND the appeal period, noted on your draft decision, pick-up original permit from the City Clerk and file with the Registry of Deeds/Land Court. Your permit is NOT valid until you record it (staff records Wetlands permits).

14. Bring proof that decision was recorded to Building Commissioner.

Allow two to three months for the permit time once your application is complete. Application deadline is one month prior to the board meeting, but sooner allows for more time for us to give you feedback if the application is not complete.