FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning and Zoning office
1. Are roosters allowed in Meriden?
No, roosters are NOT allowed in Meriden
2. My neighbor has a rooster that wakes up the neighborhood early every morning. What can be
done to help us?
Please call the Zoning Enforcement Officer in the Planning Office with the address and
she will send a letter to the owner of the property informing them of Meriden’s zoning
rule prohibiting roosters.
3. Are chickens allowed in Meriden?
Chickens are allowed in Meriden with a Zoning Permit, obtained in the Planning Office,
as long as the use is permitted in the particular zone.
4. Do I need a building permit for a shed?
You will need a Building Permit for a shed that is 200 sq. ft. or larger. You will need a
Zoning Permit If the shed is 100-200 sq. ft. You do not need any permit if the shed is
under 100 sq. ft.
5. How close to my property line can I put a shed?
Sheds need to be held away from the rear and side property lines at least 5 feet.
6. I think my neighbor is building a fence/shed without a building permit. What should I do?
You can call the Building Department with the address to determine whether a permit
has been issued. If no permit has been pulled, the site will be inspected and a stop work
order issued until a valid permit is obtained.
7. Can I put my fence right on my property line or do I have to hold it back?
You can put your fence right on your property line, however the Zoning office
recommends holding it back about 6 inches for maintenance.
8. Is there a correct side of the fence to put facing toward a neighbor?
There are no rules about which side of the fence should be facing your neighbor,
however it is a polite social norm to put the “good side” facing out.
9. How tall can my fence be?
Generally speaking, your fence can be six feet tall in the back and side yard and four feet
tall in the front yard. Since there are specific setbacks, and corner lots are treated as if
they have two front yards, it is best to call the Planning & Zoning office for guidance on
fence placement. Any fence higher than six feet tall requires a variance from the ZBA
and a survey.
10. Do I need a permit to put up a line of shrubbery as a “green fence”?
You do not need a permit to plant a line of shrubbery as a fence. However, we do
recommend that you hold the shrubs back so they don’t obstruct views from driveways.
11. My neighbor has a tree that is overhanging my yard/house/car. Can the City tell them to cut it?
A tree that is overhanging your property is a civil matter between you and your
neighbor. The City cannot help you with this matter.
12. I need to know where the boundaries of my property are located. Will the City send out a
surveyor?
The City does not survey properties for homeowners. An approximate location of your
boundaries is located on the City’s GIS website at https://gis.meridenct.gov/meriden/
You can also check with the City Clerk to see if a survey was filed with your deed. A list
of private surveyors is available in the Planning Office.
13. Do I need a permit to put up a sign for a business/church?
Yes, you will need to fill out a Building Permit for a sign, including dimensions of the sign
and a rendering.
14. I would like to start a “Cottage Business” out of my house. Do I need permission to do that?
Yes, you will need to apply for a Variance with the ZBA for a home occupation.
15. Can the City tell me whether a certain lot is buildable or not?
The Planning office can tell you what is allowed by right per zoning district and the
setbacks for building a structure, but it is up to an architect or engineer to determine
whether a lot is “buildable” or not.
16. My neighbors are noisy, what can the City do to help me?
Noise is not regulated by Zoning, so all noise complaints should be directed to the Police
Department.
17. My family wants to put a pool in our back yard. Do we need a permit?
Yes, you need to get a permit from the Building Department. They have a packet of
information about requirements for pools within the packet, including setbacks,
electrical, and fencing.
18. My neighbor is parking his large tractor trailer on the street in front of his house and is hindering
the flow of traffic and site lines. Can the City help with this?
The Zoning Enforcement Officer can send a letter to the resident letting him know that
the parking of commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods is not allowed. The best
thing to do would be to call the Police Department so that they can come out and issue a
warning or a ticket.
19. Someone on my street is repairing vehicles out of their garage and it’s a nuisance. Is this allowed?
Repairing vehicles without a State of CT Certificate of Location Approval, obtained
through the Zoning Board of Appeals, is not allowed. If you can call the Zoning
Enforcement Officer with the address of the property, she can send a letter out requesting
them to cease the activity.
20. My neighbor’s drainpipe is draining into my back yard and is creating a swamp. Can the City help
with this?
Unfortunately, this is a private matter between neighbors. If, for instance, the drainage
pipe was determined to be on City property, then the Engineering Department would be
able to help with this issue.
21. Why did the City decide to put (name a certain business) on (name a certain street)?
The City and the Planning Department do not determine where certain businesses are
located. After a business chooses a location that fits their needs and is for sale, the
business will submit applications and site plans to the appropriate planning and zoning
boards and commissions for approval. These commissions are coordinated through the
Planning Office.
22. I have a tree in front of my house and I don’t know if it’s on my property or the City’s property. I
would like to have it cut down. Who should I call?
The Parks Department is in charge of trees. Chris Bourdon is the Tree Warden and he will
take a look at the tree in question and let you know if the tree is on City property or if it
needs to be taken down. A tree will not be taken down simply because a homeowner no
longer wants it; the tree must be dying, damaged, causing danger, or some other
extenuating circumstance in order for it to be cut down.
23. How many feet away from the street does my property start? –OR- How much land from the
street does the City own?
The Planning Department does not have this information. However, the Engineering
Department might have information on location of Right of Way lines. You can look at the GIS
map to see an approximate location of your boundaries however the GIS is not entirely
accurate. A survey by a licensed surveyor is required to show exactly where your property
lines are located.
