Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 124 - Zoning
Section 8-3c. - Special permits, exceptions and exemptions. Hearings. Filing requirements. Expiration and extensions.

(a) If an application for a special permit or special exception involves an activity regulated pursuant to sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, the applicant shall submit an application to the agency responsible for administration of the inland wetlands regulations no later than the day the application is filed for a special permit or special exception.

(b) The zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission of any municipality shall hold a public hearing on an application or request for a special permit or special exception, as provided in section 8-2, and on an application for a special exemption under section 8-2g. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. The commission shall not render a decision on the application until the inland wetlands agency has submitted a report with its final decision to such commission. In making its decision the zoning commission shall give due consideration to the report of the inland wetlands agency. Such commission shall decide upon such application or request within the period of time permitted under section 8-7d. Whenever a commission grants or denies a special permit or special exception, it shall state upon its records the reason for its decision. Notice of the decision of the commission shall be published in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the municipality and addressed by certified mail to the person who requested or applied for a special permit or special exception, by its secretary or clerk, under his signature in any written, printed, typewritten or stamped form, within fifteen days after such decision has been rendered. In any case in which such notice is not published within such fifteen-day period, the person who requested or applied for such special permit or special exception may provide for the publication of such notice within ten days thereafter. Such permit or exception shall become effective upon the filing of a copy thereof (1) in the office of the town, city or borough clerk, as the case may be, but, in the case of a district, in the offices of both the district clerk and the town clerk of the town in which such district is located, and (2) in the land records of the town in which the affected premises are located, in accordance with the provisions of section 8-3d.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any special permit or special exception approval made under this section prior to July 1, 2011, that has not expired prior to July 12, 2021, and that specified a deadline by which all work in connection with such approval is required to be completed, shall expire not less than nineteen years after the date of such approval and the commission may grant one or more extensions of time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such special permit or special exception.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any special permit or special exception approval made under this section on or after July 1, 2011, but prior to June 10, 2021, that did not expire prior to March 10, 2020, and that specified a deadline by which all work in connection with such approval is required to be completed, shall expire not less than nineteen years after the date of such approval and the commission may grant one or more extensions of time to complete all or part of the work in connection with such special permit or special exception.
(1971, P.A. 862, S. 14; P.A. 77-450, S. 2; 77-509, S. 3; P.A. 87-215, S. 3, 7; 87-533, S. 8, 14; P.A. 88-338, S. 2, 5; P.A. 89-356, S. 12; P.A. 90-230, S. 12, 101; P.A. 03-177, S. 3; P.A. 21-34, S. 7; 21-163, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 77-450 deleted requirement that public hearing be held within 65 days and replaced requirement that decision be rendered within 65 days with requirement for rendering decision within time period under Sec. 8-7d; P.A. 77-509 changed effective date from time fixed by commission to time when filed in clerk's office and in land records; P.A. 87-215 authorized zoning commission to provide by regulation for additional notice by mail to adjacent landowners; P.A. 87-533 added Subsec. (a) regarding applications involving activity regulated pursuant to Secs. 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, designated prior provisions as Subsec. (b) and added provision to require that the commission's decision be rendered after the inland wetlands agency has made its report and that the commission consider such report; P.A. 88-338 added applications for special exemption under Sec. 8-2g to Subsec. (b); P.A. 89-356 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the person who requested or applied for a special permit or special exception to provide for the publication of the notice of the decision of the commission when such notice is not timely published; P.A. 90-230 made a technical correction in Subsec. (b) by substituting reference to “permit” for reference to “variance”; P.A. 03-177 amended Subsec. (b) to replace provisions re notice of time and place for public hearing and optional notice by mail to adjacent landowners with provision requiring that the public hearing be held in accordance with Sec. 8-7d, effective October 1, 2003, and applicable to applications filed on or after that date; P.A. 21-34 added new Subsec. (c) re expiration of special permits or special exception approvals made on or after July 1, 2011, but prior to June 10, 2021, effective June 10, 2021; P.A. 21-163 amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (2) and add Subdiv. (1) re special permit and special exception approvals made prior to July 1, 2011, effective July 12, 2021, and applicable to approvals made prior to July 1, 2011.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 8 - Zoning, Planning, Housing and Economic and Community Development

Chapter 124 - Zoning

Section 8-1. - Zoning commissions.

Section 8-1a. - “Municipality” and “town” to include district; “selectmen” to include district officers. Definitions.

Section 8-1aa. - Ridgeline protection: Definitions.

Section 8-1b. - Alternate members of zoning commission or combined planning and zoning commission.

Section 8-1bb. - Temporary health care structures. Municipal permit required. Municipal opt-out.

Section 8-1c. - Fees for municipal land use applications.

Section 8-1cc. - (Note: This section is effective April 1, 2022.) Outdoor food and beverage service as accessory use.

Section 8-1d. - Hours for holding land use public hearings.

Section 8-1z. - Exclusion of conservation easement from open space percentage allocation required for land use application.

Section 8-2. - Regulations.

Section 8-2a. - Copies of zoning and subdivision regulations to be available.

Section 8-2b. - Use of maps of Soil Conservation Service as standard.

Section 8-2c. - Payment of a fee in lieu of parking requirements.

Section 8-2d. - Planned unit developments under former chapter 124a continue to be valid.

Section 8-2e. - Municipal agreements regarding development rights.

Section 8-2f. - Joint applications necessary for transfer of development rights.

Section 8-2g. - Special exemption from density limits for construction of affordable housing.

Section 8-2h. - Zoning applications filed prior to change in zoning regulations not required to comply with change. Applications for building permit or certificate of occupancy filed prior to adoption of zoning regulations not required to comply with...

Section 8-2i. - Inclusionary zoning.

Section 8-2j. - Village districts. Compatibility objectives with other uses in immediate neighborhood. Applications. Village district consultant.

Section 8-2k. - Zoning regulations re construction near lakes.

Section 8-2l. - Zoning regulations re structures or uses located in floodplain.

Section 8-2m. - Floating and overlay zones and flexible zoning districts.

Section 8-2n. - Zoning regulations re crematories.

Section 8-2o. - Zoning regulations re accessory apartments. Municipal opt-out; exception.

Section 8-2p. - Municipal opt-out re dwelling unit parking space limitations.

Section 8-3. - Establishment and changing of zoning regulations and districts. Enforcement of regulations. Certification of building permits and certificates of occupancy. Site plans. District for water-dependent uses.

Section 8-3a. - Findings of consistency of proposed regulations or boundaries with the plan of development. Referral of proposed regulations or boundaries to planning commission.

Section 8-3b. - Notice to regional council of governments of proposed zone or zone use change.

Section 8-3c. - Special permits, exceptions and exemptions. Hearings. Filing requirements. Expiration and extensions.

Section 8-3d. - Variances, special permits, special exceptions and special exemptions to be recorded.

Section 8-3e. - Regulation of community residences for persons with intellectual disability, child-care residential facilities, community residences for persons receiving mental health or addiction services and hospice facilities.

Section 8-3f. - Establishment of community residences for persons with intellectual disability and child-care residential facilities.

Section 8-3g. - Regulation of community residences for mentally ill adults and UCONN 2000 projects.

Section 8-3h. - Notice to adjoining municipalities.

Section 8-3i. - Notice to water company re projects within aquifer protection area or watershed of water company.

Section 8-3j. - Regulation of family child care homes.

Section 8-3k. - Expirations and extensions of site plan, subdivision, permit, special permit and special exception approvals.

Section 8-4. - Zoning commission may be designated as planning and zoning commission.

Section 8-4a. - Zoning or planning commission may be designated as planning and zoning commission.

Section 8-4b. - Change from combined commission to separate commissions.

Section 8-4c. - Training for members of planning, zoning or combined planning and zoning commissions and zoning boards of appeals. Training guidelines. Statement of compliance.

Section 8-5. - Zoning board of appeals. Alternate members.

Section 8-5a. - Designation of alternate members to act.

Section 8-5b. - Ordinance may provide for appointment of alternate members.

Section 8-6. - Powers and duties of board of appeals.

Section 8-6a. - Appeal to be heard before variance when both joined.

Section 8-7. - Appeals to board. Hearings. Effective date of exceptions or variances; filing requirements.

Section 8-7a. - Evidence at hearings and meetings to deliberate formal petitions, applications, requests or appeals to be taken by stenographer or recorded.

Section 8-7b. - Notice to contiguous municipalities of variance applications.

Section 8-7c. - Disclosure of beneficiaries of real property held in trust.

Section 8-7d. - Hearings and decisions. Time limits. Day of receipt. Notice to adjoining municipality. Public notice registry.

Section 8-7e. - Notice to adjoining municipalities of applications or requests.

Section 8-8. - Appeal from board to court. Mediation. Review by Appellate Court.

Section 8-8a. - Process for mediation.

Section 8-9. - Appeals from zoning commissions and planning and zoning commissions. Review by Appellate Court.

Section 8-10. - Appeals procedure to apply to all municipalities.

Section 8-11. - Disqualification of members of zoning authorities.

Section 8-11a. - Disqualification of board member as enforcement officer.

Section 8-12. - Procedure when regulations are violated.

Section 8-12a. - Establishment of municipal penalties for violations of regulations.

Section 8-13. - Controlling requirement in case of variation.

Section 8-13a. - Nonconforming buildings, structures and land uses.