For Zoning Permits issued as part of a Building Permit, work can only begin after the Building Department has issued a permit and all fees have been paid. For a standalone Zoning Permit, work can only begin after a Zoning Officer has issued a Zoning Permit and the fee has been paid.

A Zoning Permit issued as part of a Building Permit is valid as long as the Building Permit. A standalone Zoning Permit is valid for twelve (12) months and may be extended by an additional twelve (12) months.

• As part of the Building Permit, a Zoning Permit is required for:

  • Construction of a new residential or new commercial building;
  • Construction of new additions to an existing commercial/residential building;
  • Changes to the interior of residential and commercial buildings impacting or changing floor plans (not required for mechanical permits, such as plumbing, electrical or HVAC);
  • Expansion of height, footprint, floor area, volumetric content or use of an existing structure;
  • Temporary or permanent accessory structures (including but not limited to): signs, walls, fences, pools, certain playground equipment, garage structures, tents, mechanical equipment (e.g., air conditioning compressor units or generators), decks/patios constructed 8 inches or more above grade;
  • Increases or changes to the uses of a property;
  • Excavation and removal of more than 100 cubic yards of excavated materials or the disturbance of more than 10,000 sf of material.

Fees for Zoning Permits as part of the Building Permit are collected by the Building Department and the same payment options apply. 

The current Zoning Permit fee schedule can be found here.

A standalone Zoning Permit is required for:

• A shed under 200 square feet 
• Construction of a fence and/or wall less than 7feet high;
• Changing the use of a building or land with no change to the structure itself.

Stamford’s Zoning Regulations and Zoning Map are available on the Zoning Board page.