Frequently Asked Questions

Permits are not required for

1. Tents used for recreational camping
2. Tents less than 350 square feet in total area

In many cases, larger tents, such as those rented for weddings and similar functions, do require a building permit and are inspected for safety by the Building Official and or the Fire Marshal. In some cases, the tent rental companies will take out the permit.

If you aren't sure if a permit may be required in a specific situation please contact the Building Department to verify if it will be necessary.

We encourage anyone who is interested in a specific property to come into the office to review their property's file. We may not know exactly what you are looking for and may miss something that you are interested in or would like a copy of. All records in the Building Department are public records and are available for anyone to view. The staff can make copies of any records at a nominal cost. Large files or maps may take extra time to copy so plan accordingly.

If you have specific information or questions about your property you may wish to call 860-844-5318 ahead to make an appointment to speak to the appropriate staff member.

The Building Department generally has a file on most homes built in Granby. These files may include plot plans or surveys of the property, building permits and records of inspections, and correspondence related to the property. In some cases the files may also contain well and septic information and copies of building plans. The Building Department was established in the early 1960s. Records on homes built prior to that date generally are not available. Well and septic information on homes built since 1976 is available from the Farmington Valley Health District.

Please be advised that the Building Department is not required to keep most building plans and periodically will dispose of the plans as permitted by state law.

Building permits are required for most significant construction or renovation projects around the home. They are not required for things that would be considered ordinary repairs or maintenance. For example, replacing the roof on the house would require a building permit, while replacing a small area of damaged or defective shingles may not. Having proper permits in place and inspections of the work performed provides assurance in the future that work was done in a safe and legal manner. This also provides a valuable record of the building's history for future owners.

If you have questions regarding a specific project you may be planning contact the Building Department early in the planning process to find out if you need a permit.

You will need to provide an adequate description of the project proposed and some type of drawing or construction plan. Plans may be drawn by a homeowner or contract or/and do not have to be prepared by an architect or design professional in most cases. In general, the more complex the project is, the more detailed the plans will need to be. You will need to provide an estimated cost for the project. If a contractor will be performing the work a copy of the appropriate license will need to be included. If a contractor will have any employees on the property they will need to provide an insurance certificate showing evidence of Worker's Compensation insurance. In most cases, if the information provided by an applicant is complete, a building permit will be issued within a few days at most. The Building Official is allowed up to 30 days under State Statute to review and either approve or deny a building permit.

It is the legal responsibility of the property owner to obtain the required building permits for his property or to designate a contractor to act on his behalf to obtain them. Some contractors may specify this in a contract with the property owner, but it does not relieve the owner of this requirement. If you have any questions about whether the proper permits have been obtained for a specific project please feel free to contact the Building Department.

Work to be performed under a building permit must be started within 180 days of the permit's issuance. If work to be performed is suspended or abandoned for more than 180 days the permit becomes null and void. The permit holder may request in writing for extensions of time, and the Building Official may grant extensions of up to 180 days each.

The Connecticut State Building Code is made up of a number of volumes covering many types of construction. It is available for viewing at the Building Department, located at:
Granby Town Hall
15 N Granby Road
Granby, CT 06035

If you would like to review the Code please call ahead to set up an appointment with the Building Official. This will save you time and help you find the information you are looking for more easily. Several volumes of the Code are also available in the Reference section of the Granby Public Library. Information on how to obtain copies of the Building Code is also available from the Office of the State Building Inspector. The State Building Inspector is part of the Department of Administrative Services, Division of Construction Services. The Building Department also has several helpful handouts pertaining to common construction projects.

Permits are not required for fences, however, there are several rules that apply to the location of fences.

Fences constructed within 10 feet of the property lines must have the finished side ("good side") facing the property line. Fences over 10 feet in height must meet all front side and rear yard setbacks for the zone that they are in.

The Building Department strongly encourages residents and contractors to obtain a copy of their plot plan or survey to determine where boundary lines are prior to installation. In many cases, this will be available from the Building Department. It is also helpful, but not a requirement, to set the fence back away from the property line to allow for future maintenance. Installers should also contact Call Before You Dig by calling 800-922-4455 to determine if there are any underground utilities present in the area where the fence is proposed.

Recreational vehicles, campers, boat trailers, and similar vehicles may be stored in the rear yard and at least 10 feet from all property lines. They must be owned or leased by the owner of the property that they are stored upon. A maximum of two such vehicles are allowed on a residential lot.

A maximum of two commercial vehicles may be parked or stored on a residential lot, provided that each does not have a capacity of more than 1.5 tons and is owned or leased by the owner of the property. They may be stored in a garage, barn, or in the rear yard at least 10 feet from all property lines.

The Town of Granby does have an ordinance relating to the parking or storage of unregistered or inoperable vehicles. This ordinance is administered by the Police Department.

Call the Police Department at 860-844-5335 for more information.

The Town of Granby has an Ordinance To Define, Prohibit, and Abate Nuisance. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect property values and to promote public health, safety and welfare. If you have a complaint or concern about a specific property please contact the Building Official.

Officially designated wetlands and flood zones are searchable on the town's Geographic Information System mapping (GIS). This can be found on the town website on the home page or through the Assessor's Office page.

If you have trouble finding your property or understanding the information from this mapping system please contact the Building Department to assist you.

Since 1976 well and septic systems have been regulated and inspected by the Farmington Valley Health District. They will have information on the location and construction of these systems. They can be researched under the Document Search feature of the Farmington Valley Health District website.

For systems installed prior to 1976, the Building Department may have information. The earliest records in the Building Department's files generally date to about 1960. Contact the Building Department to see if they have these records.

Granby has public water supply available in limited areas near Route 10. The Salmon Brook Water District covers the center of town and can be reached at 860-653-3327. The Aquarion Water Company covers some of the southern portion of town near Route 10 and can be reached at 860-651-8906.

These are private water companies and are not connected with the Town of Granby in any way.

Public sewers are available in a limited area from the center of Granby and continuing south on Route 10 to Simsbury. Several side streets also have limited availability.

Contact the Building Department and we can verify the availability through our Geographic Information System (GIS).

If you plan to construct or repair a driveway on a town street you are required to have a driveway permit. If you were doing the work on a state highway you would obtain this permit from the State Department of Transportation. The state office that covers Granby can be reached at 860-688-6266. Driveway permits for town roads are obtained from the Building Department, and are reviewed and approved by the Public Works Department.

The purpose of the driveway permit is to make sure that the town's road right-of-way and pavement are properly protected and finished. Generally, the town's right-of-way extends about 10 feet from the edge of the paved road. (In some cases it may be more or less than 10 feet) If you are repaving the portion of the driveway only on private property and not affecting the town right-of-way you would not require a permit. If you are doing driveway work on a private street or right-of-way you do not need a permit.

If you have any questions regarding this please contact the Building Department well before you plan to start your project.

Right-of-ways and easements on properties are granted for a number of reasons, but in general, allow some entity other than the property owner to access or maintain something on the owner's property.

• In some cases, these may include drainage pipes, other types of utilities, or simply the right to access or cross the property. These rights-of-way are typically recorded in the Town Clerk's office in the deed to the property. This will detail the owner's obligation to the holder of the right-of-way or easement.
• In most cases, it isn’t a prudent idea to block or obstruct the right-of-way in any manner. The holder of the right-of-way may require immediate or emergency access to the area which cannot be blocked.
• In most cases, right-of-ways and easements are typically shown on maps or surveys of the property.

The Granby Zoning Regulations have a very extensive section that deals with animals and other agricultural uses. It can be found at Section 8.15 of the Zoning Regulations (PDF) which can be found by clicking here. Residents are encouraged to read the entire section as it relates to barns and other structures for animals as well as the actual amount of space needed to have animals.

If you have any questions regarding animals please contact the Building Department.

Home occupations are regulated by Section 8.8 of the Zoning Regulations (PDF).

A building permit is required for all sheds and accessory structures. In addition to the normal requirements of the Building Code, we are concerned with the location of the shed in relation to zoning setbacks, the location of wells or septic systems, and other utilities. In general, the location of the shed is based on the size proposed.

The Building Department has a detailed handout (PDF) that explains the requirements and setbacks for various-sized outbuildings. Usually, a plot plan or sketch showing the proposed location of the structure will be required as part of the permit application.

Our advice would be to make an appointment to meet with the Director of Community Development or Building Official to look at what you are proposing. It is helpful to be able to look at maps and our Geographic Information System (GIS) to see if what is proposed is feasible. The lots proposed or as reconfigured must meet the minimum size requirements as described in Section 5 of the Zoning Regulations (PDF).

Generally speaking, the State Statutes require a Certificate of Occupancy for any building or portion of a building constructed or substantially altered after 1970.

Prior to the adoption of the State Building Code in 1970, the requirements were somewhat haphazard. Few buildings in Granby have Certificates of Occupancy prior to the late 1950s.

In modern times we issue Certificates of Occupancy for any new building, additions, substantial renovations, or a change of use from one type of occupancy to a different type as defined by the Building Code.

Accessory apartments are allowed by Special Permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The regulations and requirements for accessory apartments are located in Section 8.5 of the Zoning Regulations (PDF).

If you have questions regarding this please contact the Building Department for more information.

There are no town or state laws that prohibit selling a house that has a working underground fuel tank.

Many of the issues dealing with underground tanks are driven by the marketplace and mortgage industry. It is getting progressively more difficult to obtain a mortgage for homes with underground tanks due to the possibility of leaking and environmental damage. Most people today tend to remove the underground tank prior to the sale of the home.

The Building Department does require a permit to remove underground tanks and to replace them with new tanks. This will provide independent documentation in the future that the tank or tanks were removed. The Building Department does not keep soil reports or other documentation of contamination.

Lead paint was commonly used in many older homes. It can present a serious health risk if not handled properly during remodeling or renovation.

Information is available from the Farmington Valley Health District, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

New construction standards require smoke detectors on each floor of the home (including the basement), inside each bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in the hallway. Large houses or areas with bedrooms remote from each other may require additional detectors to provide proper protection. All homes with fuel-burning heating systems, wood/coal/pellet stoves, and attached garages should have at least one carbon monoxide detector.

Many people choose to install combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. More important than location is to make sure that all detectors in the home are functional. Experts today recommend replacing all detectors over ten years old due to decreased sensitivity and reliability.

If you have specific questions relating to smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, contact the Building Department which has a helpful handout (PDF) and is available to answer any questions.

The town does not regulate firepits, fireplaces, and similar structures for cookouts, etc. Residents are encouraged to keep the firepit a safe distance from the house or other structures. State laws state that the firepit may not cause a nuisance to neighboring properties.

Yes, a building permit is required to create any finished space in the home. You will be required to provide a simple floor plan showing the proposed finished and unfinished areas of the basement. It is helpful to show the location of the heating system, fuel tank, windows, and doors.

Generally, the Building Official will make a pre-inspection of the basement before the construction begins. In most cases, this will only take a few minutes, and in many cases will help identify potential problems or issues that may come up later in the project.

If you have any questions as you plan your project please contact the Building Department.

It costs $16 for each $1,000 of value. For instance, a new garage costing $10,000 would have a building permit fee of $160.

The Town's Building Official will ensure that all construction complies with the current building standards. It is the obligation of the property owner to call the Town of Granby Building Department at 860-844-5318 to schedule the inspection.

It is a violation of the building code to occupy a building that does not have a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). This document certifies that a building is fit to be occupied and that it meets the minimum requirements of the building code and the zoning regulations.

You need a CO when you are moving into a new, or renovated building.

The Building Department will conduct an inspection to determine compliance with the building code and all other applicable regulations. If the building meets the minimum requirements of the code, you will be issued a CO. The Building Department may, under special circumstances, grant a CO if weather conditions prohibit the completion of all the site work if a cash bond is posted to guarantee that the work will be done.

Yes, the homeowner can do all the work, providing the work complies with the building code. However, a licensed professional is required to undertake such activities as plumbing, heating, and electrical work on all structures other than the work that the homeowner does on his/her individual residence.

Public water is provided by the Salmon Brook Water District and The Aquarion Water Company. In general, the Salmon Brook Water District serves the Granby Center area and the Aquarion Water Company serves the area of south Salmon Brook Street and Canton Road.

Public sewer is offered by the Town of Granby, Water Pollution Control. The Town provides the sewer lines only, which discharge into the Simsbury sewer treatment facility. Sewer is available around the Granby Center area and along Salmon Brook Street, south to Simsbury.

A "perc test" is used to determine the suitability of a lot for the installation of an on-site septic system. The term "perc test" has a specific meaning in the Connecticut Public Health Code. They are commonly referred to by real estate agents and lending institutions as soil testing. Soil Testing refers to these two different types of tests:

• Deep Test Pit - This type of test determines how deep into the ground the system can be placed. Test pits are dug with a backhoe to a minimum depth of seven feet where possible. Several test pits are usually dug on a given lot to determine its suitability for a septic system. Test pits are dug in the primary septic area, the area where the septic system is planned to be installed and in the reserve area. This testing reveals the best placement for a septic system.
• Perc Test - The purpose of this test is to determine the ability of the soil to handle sewage wastewater when the soil is saturated. The results of this test are used to determine the size of the leaching system needed to accommodate the home or business that is planned. To conduct this test a hole is dug by hand, usually with a post-hole digger or a hand shovel, to an average depth of 36 inches and a width of 10 inches depending upon the results of the Deep Test Pit. At least two perc tests are required, one in the primary area and one in the reserve area. Water is poured into the test pit. The rate the water percolates into the soil determines how large the leaching field must be.

The testing is typically done by a licensed professional engineer with the Farmington Valley Health District present. The results of the soil testing may reveal that an engineer-designed septic system is required. Also, the Office of Community Development may have on record in the lot's subdivision file, information that states that the septic system must be engineer designed. In either case, the owner or prospective buyer of a property will need to contact a professional engineer for the soil testing, which must be done in conjunction with the Farmington Valley Health District.

Yes. There are two senior housing complexes in town:

• Stony Hill Village
  259 Salmon Brook Street
  Granby, CT 06035
  Phone: 860-398-5425
  Email Stony Hill Village
• Salmon Brook Elderly Housing
  287 Salmon Brook Street
  Granby, CT 06035
  Phone: 860-653-7885
  • Applications are available in the Salmon Brook Housing Community Room

Individuals must be 62 and older and/or on disability to apply.

Applications are available at the Senior Center. However, completed applications must be dropped off at their respective housing facility. The town does not accept applications.

Unfortunately, we cannot take medical equipment at the Senior Center, so please do not drop off medical equipment at our office. Call us at 860-844-5350 and we will make arrangements for the medical loaner closet coordinator to request a volunteer reach out to you.

Yes. We have a volunteer-run program - Durable Medical Loaner Closet. Call the Senior Center at 860-844-5350 and speak with a member of staff. Your message is passed to the medical loaner closet coordinator. You will get a return phone call usually within 24 to 48 hours from one of the volunteers. Arrangements for picking up the equipment are made directly with that volunteer. The closet is located at Holcomb Farm.

Equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, and the like are available. Items not available would include crutches, braces, anything with fabric/cushion material, and the like.

Our address is:
15 N Granby Road
Granby, CT 06035.

We are located on the same municipal complex as the Granby Town Hall, Granby Public Library, and Police Department.

Offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm.

From all points from Granby center head Route 20 West. The municipal complex is located on the left side across from the cemetery.

The Granby Senior Center follows the Granby Public School closing and delayed opening decision. Tune into Channel 3. If the Granby Public Schools are closed for the day then the Granby Senior Center cancels all activities, events, and transportation. If the Granby Public Schools announce a delayed opening then the Granby Senior Center is open as usual.

Use proper judgment. If the roads, and/or weather are bad please do not attempt to venture out!

There is a $5 yearly fee for Granby residents and $10 for non-residents. All memberships are renewable in September. This nominal membership fee helps offset expenses allowing us to offer many free programs.

Van dues are $10 annually from September to August. Anyone who uses the senior vans must have paid van dues.

The Senior Van provides rides to medical appointments in the local area. It is important to call at least two weeks in advance to schedule a ride. Contact Transportation Coordinator at 860-844-5350.

The facility which houses the Granby Senior Center is also home to the Granby Youth Services Department and Granby Social Services Department.

You must provide the registrar of the town where the vital event took place, a notarized affidavit affirming that the existing vital record is incorrect or incomplete and that the newly provided information is accurate. Along with the affidavit, you must submit documentation proving that the information to be entered onto the record is accurate.

Contact the Vital Records Office (Granby Town Clerk's office) in the town where the vital event occurred for further information to determine what type of documentation will be needed to support the requested amendment or correction.

Read more information on making a correction or amendment.

You may file for a divorce in the judicial district where you live or where your spouse lives. If your spouse resides out of state, file the case in the judicial district serving your town. In the Town of Granby, residents should file for divorce in the Hartford Judicial District (Family Division) located at 90 Washington Street in Hartford. They may be reached at 860-706-5100.

For more information please visit the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch website.

To obtain a copy of your Divorce Decree you must request it from the Superior Court where the divorce was granted. View the Directory of Superior Courts (PDF). Please call the appropriate court for fees and requirements.

Visit the Voter Registration Lookup page to see if you are a registered voter.

Not sure where to vote? Visit the Office of the Secretary of the State website for voting locations.

Plowing cul-de-sacs can be quite challenging. Most properties on cul-de-sacs have frontages that are fairly narrow and, consequently, snow must be pushed into a smaller space. This along with the large amount of snow that needs to be removed from a cul-de-sac result in a significant amount of snow being deposited on the lawns in the cul-de-sac.

It is unavoidable and unintentional. Plows are simply moving the snow that is in the street off to the side of the road. Like water, moving snow will follow the path of least resistance which, unfortunately, is your freshly shoveled driveway.

Town crews plow the streets curb to curb, or as close as possible. Whatever snow is left in front of mailboxes is the responsibility of the homeowner to remove.

No! It creates a hazard and you may be held liable in the case of an accident.

The Granby Police Department stays in close contact with the Department of Public Works during a storm. If there is a question as to whether a road has been cleared the Department of Public Works will be called and, if necessary, dispatch a plow truck to the location of the emergency.

To apply for a marriage license, you and your spouse-to-be must appear in person at the local vital records office of the town in which your marriage will occur. The marriage license is issued to ensure that you and your spouse-to-be are eligible to be married.

You will need to complete the Marriage License Application (PDF), provide identification, and make a sworn statement that the information that you provide is true. A blood test is no longer required to obtain a marriage license in Connecticut.

Following the ceremony, the marriage officiator will submit the license to the registrar of vital records of the town where the marriage took place. The license will be filed in the official marriage records of Connecticut. Once registered, the marriage license becomes a vital record and is referred to as a marriage certificate.

• Judges and retired judges, including federal judges and judges of other states;
• Family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees, and Justices of the Peace who are appointed in Connecticut; and
• Ordained or licensed members of the clergy, including persons who have been ordained through online ministries and who are given the authority to officiate marriages through such ministries.

If you decided to change your name after you are married, you will need to report the name change to:

• Social Security Administration
• Department of Motor Vehicles: Connecticut DMV
• Passport: U.S. Passport Services
• Financial Institutions
• Credit Card Companies
• Insurance Companies
• Employer
• Retirement Accounts
• Voter Registration
• Post Office
• Land Records
• Any other organization you may think of!

Patrons can request items by telephone (at 860-844-5275) or by placing holds directly through the online catalog.

Quarantine is the best method for disinfecting library materials. For your safety, items are packed by staff members wearing masks.

As always, items can be renewed by phone (860-844-5275), emailing the Library, or through our library catalog (as long as no one else is waiting for them).

When possible, please return all items you borrow from Granby to the branch where you borrowed them.

We're encouraging patrons to hold on to items if anyone in the home is sick - we won't charge fines for late materials. We love to share materials, but not germs!

Research shows that overdue fines are not effective in encouraging the return of library materials. Instead, fines can quickly become a barrier to using the library. Our hope is that by going fine-free we will encourage prior users to come back to the library and attract new users to experience everything our library has to offer.

“Fine free” means that there will be no late charges on most materials (due to a limited supply and a time-sensitive nature, late charges will still be charged on Museum Passes, Rapid Reads, Express DVDs, and Technology Equipment) checked out at either branch of the Granby Public Library. We want to ensure that all citizens of our town have access to our resources in the most equitable way possible.

Overdue fines on Granby items were wiped clean for a fresh start beginning in July 2021. You are still expected to return all overdue items that are on your card or pay the replacement cost for the item(s).

You are still responsible for paying overdue fines to other libraries that charge them. All items borrowed from other libraries are subject to the policies of the lending library. If you check out or renew items while visiting another library, you could still be charged fines based on that library’s fine policy.

“No fines” does not mean “no responsibility”. If your item is overdue for more than 3 weeks, then the item will be assumed lost and you will be charged the full replacement cost of the item. Your card privileges may be suspended until you return the item or pay the replacement cost.

Every item checked out will still have a due date. Please remember that someone else may be waiting for an item, so bring it back on time.

You will still receive courtesy notices to remind you to return your materials so that others may enjoy them.

We regularly run reports to let us know what the most popular titles are so that we can purchase additional copies. Additionally, items with holds may not be renewed.

If items are not returned by their due date, they will be considered overdue. If items are overdue by 21 days, patrons will be charged for the replacement cost of the item plus a processing fee. Our fine-free policy applies only to overdue items. Fees for damaged or lost items will still be charged to cardholder accounts.

As long as you haven't already paid for it, please do! The point is for the Library to have a complete collection all of us can share. No overdue fees will be charged for the item as long as we get the item back and in good condition.

Fine revenue accounts for less than 0.5% of the library’s total budget, and due to increased digital usage, more built-in reminders, and more patron-friendly policies, that number was only going to go down.

Yes! Visit the End Library Fines website to see globally how many libraries have adopted fine-free policies.

Absolutely! Donations can be made at the circulation desks. You can also support the Library by donating to the Granby Library Association or becoming a member of the Friends of Granby Public Library or the Friends of Cossitt Library.

For those new to borrowing from our "eCollection," the items are checked out just like physical books, with one person borrowing it at a time, and with the ability to place a hold if you'd like to get in line for a particular title. Just like the physical books, we buy multiple copies of popular titles, give priority to Granby borrowers, take suggestions for future purchases, and have the ability to share the collections of all the libraries in our system. Unlike physical books, these automatically return at the end of your borrowing period and you'll never pay fines on digital materials.

You already have access using your Granby Library Card - just click on the links below and you can start borrowing immediately! If you’d like to download an App and use that to borrow items, enter your library card when prompted and you will be all set! Not working? Give us a call at 860-844-5275 and we’ll walk you through it.

Patrons can access titles through the free Libby, hoopla, and Palace Project Apps. Download one or more of these free Apps to begin:

• Google Play (Android devices)
• App Store (iPhone or iPad users)

There are 4 borrows allowed per month (by budget). If you check out 4 items within the first week of the month, then you’ve used your limit for that month. It will reset at the beginning of the next month.

Even if you check out an item and return it early, that still counts as a borrow towards the 4-item borrows limit. Bonus Borrows do not count against your 4 borrows.

No. Parents are encouraged to turn on the Kid-Safe browsing feature included in the Hoolpa App to help guide their children's borrowing decisions. Ultimately, it is a parent's responsibility to decide what their child can and can't borrow.

Yes! That is encouraged. Check out their comprehensive help page.

In addition, you can request help while playing a title - at the bottom of each title page on the Hoopla mobile app or within each content player on the hoopla website, there is a link or icon where you can report an issue or ask a question.

Using submit feedback is another way to get hoopla assistance. At the bottom of the hoopla website is a "submit feedback" link that can be used to start a support ticket. On your mobile device, this is found by pressing the help icons, (!) or (?) under "Settings".

Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten can participate in the program.

The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.

All of them (provided they have not yet started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!