Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Topsham's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.
Last reviewed
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Yes. According to a Topsham Codes Office handout (we could not review the zoning ordinance text itself), an ADU is allowed as long as it meets the standards in Section 225-54 of the Zoning Ordinance. Under the 2021 building code, a unit with its own complete living facilities inside a single-family house generally makes the building a two-family dwelling, so expect to meet two-family construction standards.Allowed
Backyard Chickens Yes, for your own household. A Topsham Codes Office handout (not the ordinance text itself) says keeping animals for personal household use is an accessory use that the zoning ordinance doesn't otherwise regulate. Keeping more than your household needs, or selling eggs or birds, may need approval as an Animal Husbandry or Agriculture use.Allowed
Burn Permits & Backyard Fires According to Topsham Fire & Rescue's burn-permit web page (not an ordinance), you need a free permit for any outside burning in Topsham, either online or in person at the fire station. You can burn only brush, leaves and clean wood, and there's no burning on Class 3, 4 or 5 fire-danger days or during a burn ban.Allowed with a permit
Home-Based Businesses Yes. Topsham allows home occupations that meet the standards in Zoning §225-45, as summarized in a 2015 Codes Office handout (we could not review the current ordinance text). A standard home occupation must be run by residents, kept inside the home or an accessory building, and stay under 20 vehicle trips a day. A larger 'major' home occupation can have up to 2 non-resident workers on site.Allowed
We couldn't download Topsham's ordinance text for the other 6 topics yet, so we don't cover them rather than guess.