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When Do I Need a Permit and How Do I Apply?

Permits are issued from the Conservation Office for projects that are proposed within areas protected by the Dept. of Environmental Protection and/or the Hanover Conservation Commission.

These protected areas are called resource areas and have a protected buffer zone radiating outwards from their boundaries. Work may not be done in a resource area.  But work may be allowed within the protected buffer if it is conducted with a permit.  

Resource areas include flowing waters like rivers, streams, ponds, brooks, the banks on their sides, the land underneath, and an area of land that extends 100 ft. from the edge of a pond or stream that dries up during the year, or 200 ft. from a river that flows throughout the year.  They also include wet, moist dark soiled areas called wetlands, marshes, vernal pools, and flood zone.  

You will need a permit from the Conservation Commission if your project is in a location that is:

  1. less than 100 ft. from a protected wetland;
  2. less than 200 ft. from a flowing (perennial) stream/brook;
  3. less than 100 ft. from the natural edge of an intermittent stream, brook, or pond;
  4. within FEMA Flood Zone;  
  5. within 100 ft. from a vernal pool; or
  6. if your work will result in negative impacts to any of the above.

If work is proposed within the above areas and a permit is needed, you will need to contact a professional wetland specialist who will locate protected areas by placing colored tags on the boundary lines of each resource area.

You may also need to contact a professional engineering company for determining property lines and/or preparation of a plan for your project that shows the work location in relation to protected resource areas and other pertinent deatails

Applications are available at the Conservation Office. You may also view our online forms.

The following is a guideline for residential permit types:

MINOR ACTIVITIES PERMIT- $50.00 fee, public hearing not required, issued from Cons. Office by the Conservation Agent:

  • Must be at least 50 ft. from wetland with no alteration of ground/soils
  • May not be conducted within riverfront area
  • May not be conducted within the North River Corridor without a permit from NRC
  • Must be “minor” in nature- i.e., shed on blocks, small above ground pools on gravel base, lawn or landscape repairs
  • May be issued for safety concerns- falling trees, damaged/diseased trees

REQUEST for DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY- $100/$250 fee, public hearing required, abutter notification required:

  • Must be at least 50 ft. from wetland with all work- this includes the accessway to work, erosion control, grading
  • May be within riverfront area, but must be no closer than 150 ft. from mean annual high water line to the stream/river
  • May be conducted within North River Corridor, but must have prior approval from and submit permit from No. River Commission
  • Application due 2 weeks prior to desired Conservation meeting
  • Fee required, legal ad payment required
  • Permit issued within 21 days of receipt of application (may be longer due to COVID-19 issues)
  • Pre and post inspections required

NOTICE OF INTENT- Fees vary, public hearing required, abutter notification required:

  • Must be at least 25 ft. from wetland for alteration of soils, 35 ft. for any structure, including driveways, pool  & pool surrounds, walkways, sheds, or similar
  • May be within riverfront area, but must be no closer than 100 ft. from mean annual high water line to the stream/river
  • Application due 2 weeks prior to desired Conservation meeting
  • Fee required, legal ad payment required
  • Order of Conditions (OOC) issued within 21 days after the public hearing is closed (DEP has extended some deadlines to COVID-19 issue, but we try very hard to issue within the 21 day deadline)
  • OOC must be recorded at PC Registry of Deeds prior to the commencement of work
  • Pre-work, during work, and post-work  inspections required
  • when project complete, Certificate of Compliance (COC) required- must be approved at a Conservation meeting
  • COC must be recorded at PC Registry of Deeds
  • OOC and COC list perpetual conditions for site that run with the land and do not expire

For more information, please visit the Conservation Office.