Permits Are Required Before any Work that Affects or May Affect Wetlands.
Anyone who intends to do any kind of work that affects wetlands, rivers, or streams in Lexington is required to file and obtain the permission of the Lexington Conservation Commission in advance.
There are two general procedures for obtaining the required permits. These two processes are:
- Request for Determination
- Notice of Intent/Abbreviated Notice of Intent.
A Request for Determination is used when:
- minor construction and/ or landscaping is proposed within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a river or stream.
- a formal approval of the wetland boundary is needed to provide information for the site planning and design of a project
- to show compliance with the By-Law Rule Section 5. Performance Standards (2) Increase in Runoff
A Notice of Intent or Abbreviated Notice of Intent is required in all other cases including but not limited to the following categories:
- Minor Project (Single family house addition, tennis court, swimming pool, utility pipe or pole placement for example)
- Single Family Dwelling Construction
- Subdivision road and utilities construction
- Multiple dwelling structures construction
- Commercial, industrial, and institutional projects
- Major (New construction or addition of more than 1,000 s.f. of floor area)
- Minor (Site work only or addition of less than 1,000 s.f. of floor area)
You should contact the Conservation Commission's Office informally by telephone (781)862-0500 extension 226 or in person for an information packet providing more complete information about the laws and procedures for filing and obtaining any needed permits. This process takes some time since it may involve notice to abutters and scheduled public hearings. It is important to allow sufficient time to apply for and get all required permits before doing ANY work that may affect wetlands. There are severe penalties, and you may be required to remove anything constructed without a permit and restore the wetland and its surroundings to its original condition.
Return to the Conservation Home Page.
Last updated 1/25/99