Forms & Permit Applications
The Sturbridge Conservation Commission reviews and permits work occurring in or near wetlands, ponds, and rivers under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10) and the Sturbridge Wetland Bylaw. Compliance with both state and local regulations is required. Any activity proposed within 200 feet of wetland resource areas, 200 feet of perennial (year-round) streams, or within 500 feet where slopes exceed 8%, requires Conservation Commission review. If you are unsure which permit applies to your project, please contact the Conservation Department at (508) 347-2506 before filing.
Please review the Hearing Dates and Meeting Deadlines and application requirements prior to submitting an application. When filing these documents in accordance with the regulatory requirements, please send the emailed copy at the same time. It is recommended that applicants utilize the 21-day cycle help understand expectations. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or provided with a hearing date.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Review the LOCAL FILING FEES before submitting your application.
- Applicants may send abutter notifications by either Certified Mail or Certificates of Mailing or hand-deliver. These must be sent no less than 5 business days prior to the date of the hearing. Proof of mailing must be provided to the Conservation Department prior to opening of the public hearing. (RDA, NOI, and Amendment Requests only)
- The Conservation Department will submit any legal advertisements and will provide the applicant with an invoice to be paid to the TOWN OF STURBRIDGE. No permits will be issued until all fees have been paid.
- Any plan revisions must be submitted at least seven (7) days prior to the relative public hearing date in order to allow for review by the Commission and any interested party. Plans submitted less than seven (7) days from the scheduled public hearing may result as unacceptable by the Commission and/or delay in permitting the project.
| Applications | Description |
|---|---|
| This document bundles all forms necessary to submit your Notice of Intent, including NOI checklist, and both local and state instruction documents. | |
| WPA Request for Certificate of Compliance | A Request for Certificate of Compliance should be submitted to the Conservation Commission once ALL work is complete and all conditions listed in your Order of Conditions are met. This certificate, when recorded at the Registry of Deeds, releases the lien of your Order of Conditions. |
| Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) Packet | This document bundles all forms necessary to submit your Request for Determination of Applicability, including both local and state instruction documents. |
| Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation Packet | An Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) is a filing used to confirm the precise boundaries of wetlands or other resource areas on a property. It allows the Conservation Commission to verify a delineation before any project planning or permitting begins. |
Application under the Sturbridge Wetland Bylaw/Regulations | |
| Wetland Bylaw Letter Permit Application | A Sturbridge Wetland Bylaw Letter Permit is used for projects that are not regulated under the state Wetlands Protection Act but still fall under the local Wetland Bylaw. These activities occur outside the state 100-foot Buffer Zone or within the buffer when classified as minor activities under 310 CMR 10.02(1). This permit allows the Conservation Commission to review small-scale work to ensure it meets local environmental standards. |
| Request for Tree Removal
| Use this form to request permission to remove hazardous and/or threatening trees within 200-feet of wetlands. For all other tree removal requests, please consult our Agent to determine the most appropriate application type. Please review the SCC's Tree Removal Policy prior to applying. |
| SCC Notice of Intent Packet | A Local NOI is for larger or more impactful projects within jurisdictional areas under the Sturbridge Wetland Bylaw that still do not trigger a state NOI, but require a full permit review locally. This application is more detailed, includes engineered plans or technical documentation, and goes through a formal public hearing process similar to a state NOI. |
| SWB Request for Certificate of Compliance | A Request for Certificate of Compliance should be submitted to the Conservation Commission once ALL work is complete and all conditions listed in your Order of Conditions are met. This certificate, when recorded at the Registry of Deeds, releases the lien of your Order of Conditions. |
| Special Use Permit | The Town requires approval for any event being held on Town-owned parcels. These decisions are issued by the Conservation Commission, and on occasion, the Board of Selectmen. If the applicant is charging for the event, liability insurance may be required. *Additional approvals are required for events to be held at the following properties: Fiske Hill, Riverlands |