Environmental Rules in Haverhill, MA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Haverhill, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In the City of Haverhill, any construction, development or redevelopment disturbing one acre or more of land and discharging to the City's storm sewer system needs a stormwater management permit before work starts, under City Code § 219-4 and § 219-8. The Department of Public Works Director enforces the chapter, with fines up to $150 per day for repeat violations under § 219-19.
Haverhill Stormwater Management Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsHaverhill City Code §§ 219-4, 219-8, 219-19
This chapter shall apply to all construction, development and redevelopment activities involving land disturbance of one acre or more (including disturbances less than one acre if part of a larger common plan) and that discharge stormwater runoff to the City MS4, unless exempt pursuant to § 219-7 of this chapter. All activities under the jurisdiction of this chapter, as prescribed in this chapt...
Erosion Control
Anyone applying for a stormwater management permit in the City of Haverhill for a construction project disturbing an acre or more must submit an erosion and sedimentation control plan as part of the application package, under City Code § 219-8B. Design must also meet Massachusetts Stormwater Standards for sediment and erosion control under § 219-9.
Haverhill Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
Some RestrictionsHaverhill City Code §§ 219-8(B), 219-9(B)
Applications for an SMP shall include the materials as specified in this section. ... The SMP application package shall include: ... A completed application form with original signatures of all owners; ... A list of abutters; ... Payment of the application and review fees; ... Stormwater management plan; ... Erosion and sedimentation control plan; and ... Operation and maintenance plan. ... At ...
Flood Zones
In the City of Haverhill, the Floodplain Overlay District covers every Zone A and Zone AE area shown on the Essex County FIRM dated July 8, 2025. Section 9.1 of the Zoning Ordinance bans new construction, fill and other development in the regulatory floodway unless a professional engineer certifies no rise in flood levels.
Haverhill Floodplain Overlay District Rules
Significant RestrictionsHaverhill Zoning Ordinance § 9.1.1, § 9.1.4
§ 9.1.1. Overlay District. ... The Floodplain Overlay District is herein established as an overlay district. The District includes all special flood hazard areas within the City of Haverhill designated as Zones A and AE on the Essex County Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), dated July 8, 2025 issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the administration of the National Flood Ins...
Boat Dock Permits
Placing a seasonal dock or mooring on the Merrimack River shoreline in the City of Haverhill requires City Council authorization and Harbormaster approval under Haverhill City Code § 116-4, plus sign-off from the Haverhill Conservation Commission. Annual application fees run from $35 for a private mooring to $300 for public-property docking.
Haverhill Seasonal Dock and Mooring Permits
Some RestrictionsHaverhill City Code § 116-4
The City Council of the City of Haverhill hereby authorizes the placement of seasonal docks and moorings from the shoreline of the Merrimack River. The Harbormaster shall have final jurisdiction of the location of docks and moorings for reasons of safety and navigation. All applications for public and private dock locations shall require approval from the Haverhill Conservation Commission under...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the City of Haverhill, where FEMA has not mapped a base flood elevation for a Zone A parcel, the building department must gather its own federal, state or other elevation and floodway data before approving new construction. Section 9.1.5 of the Zoning Ordinance also forces large subdivisions to generate that data themselves.
Haverhill Base Flood Elevation Standard
Some RestrictionsHaverhill Zoning Ordinance § 9.1.2, § 9.1.5
§ 9.1.2. Applicability. ... In A Zones, in the absence of FEMA BFE data and floodway data, the building department will obtain, review and reasonably utilize base flood elevation and floodway data available from a Federal, State or other source as criteria for requiring new construction, substantial improvements, or other development in Zone A and as the basis for elevating residential structur...