Coastal development in Bristol County (Fall River, New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Westport, Swansea) requires Conservation Commission review under WPA and MA CZM consistency review. Strict limits near wetlands and flood zones.
Bristol County's coastline includes New Bedford (working waterfront, Acushnet River), Fairhaven (Buzzards Bay), Dartmouth (Apponagansett/Padanaram), Westport (Westport River, Horseneck Beach), Swansea (Mount Hope Bay), and the Taunton River estuary reaching Fall River. Coastal projects require Conservation Commission review under MGL c. 131 §40 (Wetlands Protection Act) for work within 100 ft of wetlands, 200 ft of perennial streams, or Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage. MA Coastal Zone Management (CZM) performs federal consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Chapter 91 (MGL c. 91) governs tidelands and waterways with DEP licensing. FEMA V-zone and Coastal A Zone (CAZ) construction requires piling/column foundations under 780 CMR Appendix G and ASCE 24 (BFE+1 ft minimum). Seawalls and shoreline armoring face strict review.
Unpermitted work in WPA resource area: enforcement order, restoration requirement, fines $25,000+ under MGL c. 131 §40. Ch. 91 violations: MassDEP action. FEMA floodplain violations: insurability loss.
Taunton, MA
Taunton adopted a comprehensive noise ordinance (Chapter 315) on November 2, 2021, prohibiting preventable and unnecessary noise. Noise that annoys or distur...
Taunton, MA
Taunton restricts construction, demolition, alteration, and repair of buildings to 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM under Chapter 315. Work outside these hours requires a ...
Taunton, MA
Taunton's noise ordinance Chapter 315 prohibits keeping any animal or bird that causes frequent or long-continued sounds plainly audible within a noise-sensi...
Taunton, MA
Taunton enforces street parking regulations under its traffic ordinances. Parking lot landscaping is required for lots of 10+ spaces under the zoning code. T...
Taunton, MA
Taunton regulates commercial vehicle parking through traffic and zoning ordinances. Commercial vehicles must comply with general parking rules and zoning dis...
Taunton, MA
Taunton's zoning ordinance Chapter 440 regulates off-street parking and driveways. Rear yard parking areas must be at least 5 feet from adjoining property li...
See how Taunton's coastal development rules stack up against other locations.
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