2016 Zoning Board of Appeals Application

Petition Applications (PDF)  and Instructions for Filing a Petition  and Submittal Checklist
 
The meetings are conducted on the 3rd Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted below. Applications are due in the Town Clerk office one hour before closing.

Please make sure to plan your projects with enough time for waiting out any subsequent appeal periods once a variance or special permit is granted.

Board Decision

The Zoning Board usually makes their decision the night of the hearing. There is nothing that prevents the board from continuing the hearing and voting at a later time. Once the decision is made by vote of the board, the written decision is filed in the Town Clerks’ Office. There is then a 20 day appeal period after the decision is filed.

Appeal

If no one appeals the decision (in court) it must be filed with the property deed at the Salem Registry of Deeds. It does not become a legal instrument until it is filed and must be filed within 1 year.

Any person aggrieved by the Board’s final decision, including the Petitioner, the owner, or any owner of land abutting the land subject to this decision, may file an appeal in the Superior Court or the Land Court within 20 days of the date stamped in by the Town Clerk. See Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A, Section 17.

Before the Project Starts

No building permit or use/occupancy certificate can be issued (if required) until the special permit or variance is recorded at the registry.

Bylaws

The Ipswich Zoning Bylaw (PDF) is available on this website and may be purchased with the zoning map at the Town Clerks’ office.

Meeting Dates & Filing Deadlines

Meeting Date	Deadline to File With Town Clerk
January 19, 2017	December 20, 2016
February 16, 2017	January 24, 2017
March 16, 2017	February 21, 2017
April 20, 2017	March 21, 2017
May 18, 2017	April 25, 2017
June 16, 2017	May 23, 2017
July 20, 2017	June 20, 2017
August 17, 2017	July 25, 2017
September 21, 2017	August 22,2017
October 19, 2017	September 26, 2017
November 17, 2017	October 24, 2017
December	No Meeting
January 18, 2018	December 19, 2017

Note: Dates are subject to change.

*Indicates a change from the usual 3rd Thursday of the month.