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.  

It depends on many factors.  Please review Basement Construction Guide for assistance.  Basement requirements also vary per Stamford’s Zoning Regulation and Chapter 146 of Stamford Municipal Ordinance enforced by the Health Department. 

A non-conforming use is defined as, “The use of a building or of land that does not conform to the regulations as to use for the district in which it is situated.”  Stamford Zoning Regulation states that, “The total structural repairs and alterations that may be made in a structure which is nonconforming in use only shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of its replacement value at the time of application for the first structural change, unless changed to a conforming use.”  Please consult the Zoning Department for further assistance.

Please send us an email at BuildingDept@StamfordCT.Gov.

Please click on following links for additional information:  

Swimming Pool Guidance Document

Swimming Pool Entry/Exit Requirements

Swimming Pool and Spa Velocity Limits

Please review Work Exempt to confirm that the proposed work requires a building permit. If a building permit is not required, you may still need approvals from other city departments.

Please review Chapter 155 of the Municipal Ordinance, section 155-9.  

Please contact David Nelson at DNelson@StamfordCT.Gov or send an email to BuildingDept@StamfordCT.Gov.

To report a Zoning Violation please use FixIt Stamford (see above) – this will allow you to track the progress and status of your complaint.

For all other questions related to Zoning Enforcement, there are three ways to contact us:

1. By email: ZoningEnforcement@stamfordct.gov
2. By phone: (203) 977 4711
3. In person: By appointment only

Please note: the Zoning Enforcement Office only accepts appointments, please call 203-977-4711.

• You should contact Zoning Enforcement. With the help of tax cards, certificates of occupancy, permits, etc., Zoning Enforcement can determine if a use or building was legal at one point. If you have copies of these documents you can speed up the verification process.

Please visit the FixIt Stamford Website, click Housing Concerns and select “Zoning Enforcement” from the drop-down menu.

You may pay the fee for a Zoning Violation in person by visiting Cashiering and Permitting, Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT 06901 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:15 pm, Monday - Friday.

You can pay by cash or check.

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.

Yes. Once a Zoning Violation is fixed, schedule a follow-up inspection with Zoning Enforcement as soon as possible by email (StamfordLandUse@StamfordCT.gov). Fines will only stop accruing if a Zoning Enforcement Officer has determined that a violation is fully remedied.

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.

Yes. You may appeal a Citation within 10 days of receipt of the date of the Citation by mail only. Complete the appeals section on the Citations form, sign, date and send to:

Stamford Government Center
ATTN: Zoning Enforcement Officer
888 Washington Boulevard, 7th floor
Stamford, CT 06901

Retain a copy of the Citations Form for your records.

Once your request for appeal is submitted, a hearing with the Citation Hearings Officer will be scheduled between 15 to 30 days after receipt of this appeal. Hearings are held at the Stamford Government Center (888 Washington Boulevard).