Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals consists of five regular and three associate members appointed by the Board of Selectmen.  The regular members serve for five year terms and associate serve for three year terms.  The Zoning Board of Appeals derives its jurisdiction from Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A, and as such acts as a quasi-judicial body deciding whether or not to vary from the Zoning By-Laws by issuing either Variances or Special Permits. The Board also decides all Appeals made by an aggrieved person trying to get enforcement action (or lack thereof) of the Inspector of Buildings who has refused to act on his/her request.

The Zoning Board of Appeals application process usually takes at six months from the date that the application is filed to when the decision is written and filed with the Town Clerk. The Board meets on the first Monday of each month unless it is a holiday when the Board meets on the following Monday. The Board hears 5 applications at a time and schedules them on a first come first serve basis. The hearings are held in the Art Gallery, Third Floor of the Homer Municipal Building (19 Moore Street) at 7:00 p.m., although it is recommended that the Town's Meeting Calendar on the Town's web site be checked to confirm the date and time. All meetings are open to the public.