Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Yarmouth's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.
Last reviewed
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Yes. Accessory Dwelling Units are a permitted use in Yarmouth's residential districts (RR, LDR, MDR and others), and they can be inside, attached to, or detached from a single-family home. An ADU is approved under the town's separate Site Plan Review Ordinance (Chapter 702), which holds the detailed ADU standards we did not review.Allowed with board review
Backyard Chickens Yarmouth treats backyard hens as 'Farm Animals for Personal Use.' They're a permitted use in the Rural Residential and Low Density Residential districts, and in Medium Density Residential on lots of 2 acres or more. Smaller MDR lots need a special exception from the Board of Appeals, and the Resource Protection District needs a Planning Board permit. The zoning ordinance sets no flock-size limit, rooster rule, or coop setback.Depends on your zone
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO) Yarmouth's ordinances don't require a permit, registration, or license to rent your home short-term. The Rental Dwelling Ordinance defines a Short-Term Rental as a stay of less than 30 days, but its only remaining rule covers rent-increase notice for large long-term rental buildings. Units designated affordable under the zoning ordinance can't be used as short-term rentals.Allowed
Fences Yarmouth's Zoning Ordinance has no fence section, so it sets no fence height limit, no setback from property lines and no fence permit. That's because fences are excluded from the definition of 'Structure', so district setbacks don't apply to them. If your property is a designated historic landmark or in a historic district, a street-visible fence needs Historic Preservation review.Allowed
Sheds & Accessory Buildings Yes, you need a building permit. Yarmouth's zoning requires one for any building or structure, with no small-shed exemption. Sheds must meet your district's setbacks (side 20 ft and front/rear 40 ft in RR and LDR; side 10 ft and front/rear 15 ft in MDR). The Planning Director may let an uninhabited shed sit as close as 15 ft to the lot line in RR/LDR, or 10 ft in MDR.Allowed with a permit
Burn Permits & Backyard Fires Yes, but Yarmouth's Fire Ordinance makes it unlawful to burn anything on your own land without first getting a permit from the Fire Chief. The Chief can ban all outdoor burning during dry conditions, and you may only burn trees, limbs, leaves and other wood waste, never trash or other solid waste.Allowed with a permit
Home-Based Businesses Yes. A home occupation is allowed as an accessory use in any Yarmouth district that allows homes, as long as it meets 10 performance standards. You submit a written description of the business to the Planning Department. Limits include one non-resident employee, no more than 20% of the home's living space, no more than two customers at a time, and a sign of up to 2 sq ft.Allowed
Swimming Pools Yes, with a permit from the Planning Director. A private pool holding 5,000 gallons or more must meet your district's setbacks and be enclosed by a fence at least 4 ft high. An above-ground pool whose sides are at least 4 ft high doesn't need a separate fence.Allowed with a permit
Building Near the Water (Shoreland Zoning) Within 250 ft of tidal water, a river or a wetland (75 ft of a stream), Yarmouth's Shoreland Overlay District applies. New buildings must be set back at least 75 ft from the water (100 ft on the non-tidal Royal and Cousins Rivers and Pratt's Brook, 250 ft in Resource Protection), and non-vegetated surfaces are capped at 20% of the shoreland part of your lot. The Planning Department permits homes more than 75 ft from the water; work closer than that or in Resource Protection goes to the Planning Board.Allowed with board review
Docks, Piers & Floats Yes, with a town Shoreland Permit. A private dock in a residential area can have a pier up to 6 ft wide, a ramp up to 3.5 ft wide, and a float up to 320 sq ft. Docks within those limits are permitted by the Planning Department; larger or more complex projects go to the Planning Board. Moored floats also need approval from the Harbor Master, the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee, and the Army Corps of Engineers.Allowed with a permit