Wilton Answer Book – Property Issues

Must I display a house number?

Yes. All residential, non-residential, and commercial buildings must be numbered. For homes, numbers must be at least three inches tall and must be a color that contrasts with the are to which they are affixed. You must have numbers on both sides of your mailbox, or on a post, tree, or fence close to and on the same side of the street as your house. The numbers must mounted between three and five feet from the ground and be visible from the street in both directions. For shared driveways, you must put numbers at the end of the driveway, and then a number each time the driveway branches off. For mailboxes that are clustered side by side, a number should be put on the front of each mailbox and then on the outer side of the end mailboxes.

Are there any rules regarding door-to-door solicitors?

Wilton has a peddling and solicitation ordinance that requires anyone selling anything by foot or vehicle to register for a permit with the Wilton Police. Solicitors will then have to wear visible ID badges with their photo, permit number, and the symbol of the Town of Wilton. Solicitors may only knock on doors from 9 a.m. to dusk.

Is there a noise ordinance?

The short answer is no. The only exception may be a restriction imposed on hours during which construction may take place on large building projects.

Is there municipal garbage collection?

No. Numerous companies that provide garbage collection services in town are listed in the yellow pages.

Can I dispose of my garbage myself?

Yes. Admission to the Wilton Refuse Transfer Station on Mather Street requires a vehicle permit, which costs $35 and is good from July 1 to June 30. A permit for a second vehicle is $17.50.

To dump garbage you will also need to purchase tickets: one ticket ($4) per 32-gallon bag of garbage. For seniors 65 and older, the cost is $3 per ticket Vehicle stickers and tickets are sold at the town clerk’s office at town hall or by mail through the Town Clerk’s Office, 238 Danbury Road, Wilton, 06897. Call for details. They are not sold at the transfer station.

The transfer station is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 4, Saturday from 9 to noon. Bulky waste and demolition materials are accepted only on Wednesday and Saturday. For information, call the public works department at 563-0152.

What items do I recycle and where do I take them?

All recyclables may be brought to the refuse transfer station Monday to Friday from 8 to 4 and on Saturday from 9 until noon. There is no longer a Dumpster at Town Hall for recycling.

You may recycle newspapers (tied four ways with twine in a bundle no higher than eight inches), mixed paper and telephone books, corrugated cardboard (no cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, etc.), empty paint cans, as well as motor oil, clean clothes, shoes, and auto tires (one ticket per tire, no rims). You may commingle rinsed glass food and beverage containers, rinsed plastic containers (#1 and #2 only), rinsed metal food and beverage containers, and empty aerosol spray cans. All lids and caps must be removed and disposed of as refuse.

Leaves, brush and fill are not accepted. People are encouraged to compost their leaves and brush in their backyards.

Water-based paints can be air dried. You should chip any remaining paint into your garbage and dispose of the can in the scrap metal bin. Lead- and oil-based paint cans should be saved for hazardous waste day.

You may bring refrigerators, air conditioners and other units containing Freon for three tickets per unit. All doors must be removed from refrigerators. A carload of bulky waste will cost 10 tickets to drop off and you may only do so on Wednesday and Saturday.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) should be brought to a hazardous waste collection program. IKEA in New Haven has a collection bin for CFLs and you may often bring them to an electronics recycling collection program.

Where can I get rid of hazardous waste?

Wiltonians may participate in a number of hazardous waste collection days. Wilton holds a collection day the last Saturday of October but townspeople may participate in collection days in neighboring towns in spring and fall. People may drop off their household hazardous waste items for free; proof of residency is required.

Accepted items include materials/chemicals commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms, photo darkrooms, garages and backyards that pose a threat to health and the environment if stored or disposed of improperly. Items labeled as toxic, hazardous, flammable, corrosive or irritants by law may not be mixed in with trash or poured down the drain. For more information, call Pat Sesto, Wilton’s director of environmental affairs, at 563-0180. For the calendar of 2009 disposal dates, check the column “What’s New” on the town Web site, wiltonct.org.

I want to remove my inground oil tank. What do I need to do?

You don’t need any permits to remove a tank, but to install a new oil tank, either in your home or above ground, you will need a mechanical permit from the Building Department. Depending on where the new tank is placed you may need approvals from: the health department, environmental affairs, and zoning. You will need to contract with a private company to do the removal and installation. Once your new tank is installed, whether in your home or above ground, the building department must perform an installation inspection. The private company you hire must make a report to the state Department of Environmental Protection, and any oil leaks must be reported to the DEP and Wilton Fire Department.

Do I need a permit for a propane gas tank?

Yes, all tanks require a building permit and those being placed above ground require a zoning permit. If the tank is to be near a wetland, you will need a wetland permit.

What is a wetland?

Wetlands are diverse and not always visible to the eye. In Connecticut, they are defined by the chemical and physical characteristics of the first 18 to 24 inches of soil. According to the town’s zoning regulations a wetland is “any land area, including submerged land, which consists of any soil types generally designated as ‘poorly drained,’ ‘very poorly drained,’ ‘alluvial,’ and ‘flood plain’ by the National Cooperative Soils Survey ... of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”

May I landscape a wetland or fill in a pond?

Wet areas or seasonally wet areas may be planted with native shrubs, trees, grasses, and other plants to make them more attractive, but you must first apply to the Inland Wetlands Commission for permission. It is highly unlikely you would be allowed to fill in a wetland.

The same is true for a pond. Some ponds dry up or become unattractive at certain times of the year. The Inland Wetlands Commission has approved a permit to restore a wetland in place of a dying pond. Again, you will not be allowed to bring in truckloads of fill to create more lawn. Rather, the commission will expect you to restore the area to prepond conditions by reclaiming streams or wetlands and planting with native flora.

May I create a pond on my property?

If you wish to create a pond from water that flows through your property you should consider how it will be fed through all seasons and the maintenance required. In addition to approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission, you will need professional mapping and supporting documents.

Will the town remove my leaf or brush piles?

No, but you may call a private garbage company or landscaping service to remove leaves or brush. Under no conditions may you burn leaves.

One solution is to simply drag the leaves and brush to the back of your property and compost them. However, if you are piling them in a wetland, do not pile them in the same place year after year or they will be considered fill and that is not allowed.

May I burn brush?

Wilton is one of the few area towns that still allows open burning of brush. Permits are required. Call fire marshal (834-6249) for details. Leaf burning is prohibited.

May I remove trees from my property?

As long as you are more than 50 feet from a wetland or 100 feet from a watercourse, you may remove trees without a permit. Before bringing in the chainsaws, however, remember trees provide habitat for wild animals and help mitigate air pollution.

If you are looking to remove more than one or two trees from areas in or near a wetland or watercourse, you will need a permit from the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Who is responsible for removing snow from sidewalks?

Owners of private property that abuts town sidewalks must clear the sidewalks  of snow and ice within the first six hours after daylight after a storm. A map showing the properties in question may be viewed at Town Hall.

My mailbox was knocked down by a snowplow; to whom do I complain?

The Department of Public Works, which is responsible for plowing snow from town roads, handles the replacement of mailboxes knocked down during plowing. The department may be reached at 563-0152.

For what kind of work do I need a building permit?

You need a building permit before you make any structural changes to your house including adding a deck, pool, addition, or performing any type of renovation, including the kitchen. You can take a look at general land use approvals required on the Building Department Web page at wiltonct.org. When partial or complete demolition of a building is being done, you may need a separate demolition permit. If the house is over 50 years old, you may need to comply with the demolition delay ordinance.

When do I need a zoning permit?

A zoning permit is required for any type of construction or addition that will change the footprint or height of a structure, and if you wish to install a shed, pool, tennis court, or terrace. You will also need a zoning permit if you decide to open a business, including a home business.

What are the regulations on swimming pools?

If someone wants to build a swimming pool, the process is the same as applying for any zoning permit and the construction must conform to the town’s zoning laws regarding setbacks and lot usage. Plans are also checked for distance to wells, septic fields and wetlands.

The state building codes have additional requirements for safety including fencing. The fence must be at least four feet high and enclose the pool. For more information call the planning and zoning office, 563-0185, or the building inspector at 563-0177.

Can an unlicensed vehicle be kept outside on my property?

Zoning regulations allow for one unregistered vehicle to be stored at one’s home provided it is screened so a person standing on an adjoining property cannot see the vehicle.

The vehicle cannot be located within the property setbacks, i.e. on the front, side or rear yards. The storage of a boat, camping trailer, or a mobile home trailer is a permitted accessory use of a single-family home property but must also not be stored within a setback and must be shielded from view.

A tarp cover is not adequate but a fence, garage, or a tall and thick bush cover (such as an evergreen) would be sufficient screening.

Can I rent an apartment in my house?

Wilton’s zoning regulations allow an accessory apartment in your home within certain parameters, which include a special permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

May I take in boarders?

Yes, up to three permanent boarders or roomers are permitted within certain parameters, including that they not have separate cooking facilities.

Can I start a bed and breakfast?

Yes, residents may have a bed and breakfast in their homes with a special permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. To be approved you will have to submit a site plan, and prove that you will have adequate facilities to meet health and safety regulations.

Do I need a permit for a business in my home?

Yes, you will need to acquire a home business permit, and only certain types of businesses are allowed. If you do open a home business, you will not be allowed to employ more than two non-residents, and there are limits on the number of people you may employ in total.

All products sold at the home business must be made on site. Additionally, the home business cannot use more than one-third of the home’s space, and there must be no visible indications of the business, except for a sign, not to exceed two square feet.

All businesses are required to annually report their equipment to the assessor’s office.

What are some safety precautions I can take in my home?

In addition to installing smoke detectors, the Wilton Fire Commission strongly recommends the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new homes. Carbon monoxide detectors can protect you from this deadly gas. Radon detectors can measure the level of this troublesome gas.

I have an old house. Will the fire department inspect my fireplace chimney to see if it’s safe?

The fire department does courtesy inspections for placement of smoke detectors, safety of gas lines and gas stoves, etc. The inspector will shine a light up or down a chimney from the top or bottom, too, but in the case of a chimney inspection, homeowners should hire a professional chimney cleaning service.

May I shoot off fireworks at home?

No. Anything that goes “bang” is illegal. Only non-exploding, non-aerial sparklers may be used by anyone over 16.

What is radon gas?

Radon gas is a decay product of radioactive uranium that cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. In open air it is harmlessly dispersed, however well water passing through soil with high levels of the gas may be a significant source of radon in a home. High levels of radon occur in Connecticut, particularly in Fairfield County.

Exposure to radon increases your risk of developing lung cancer. According to the U.S. E.P.A., radon causes more cancer deaths than any other single air pollutant except tobacco smoke. When exposure is combined with smoking or inhaling someone else’s smoke, the risk increases dramatically.

Radon gas gets into homes through cracks in foundations, block walls, sump pumps, drains and other openings in cellar floors and walls. It can also be released into the air by running water from faucets and showers if the source of water is a well with high levels of radon.

The simplest way to find out if your home has high levels of radon is through a carbon filter test. Kits are available in stores or may be purchased inexpensively by calling the Radon Hotline — 1-800-SOS-RADON — operated by the National Safety Council.

Will the town check my well to see if the water is safe to drink?

No. A private well means that it is your responsibility to have that water checked. All new wells must have tests submitted to the town health department before a new water supply is approved for use.

The water supply approval is important to have if you ever decide to sell your house. Various private laboratories can test your water quality.

How often should I have my well water tested?

Steve Schole, Wilton’s health director, suggests having a bacterial check done on an annual basis. If you suspect the well has been damaged by construction or landscaping, it might be a good idea to have it tested. In addition, if you notice a strange taste or a funny odor in your water, have the well tested.

How do I take care of my septic system?

You must call private septic system pumping companies. They will advise you how often to have your septic tank pumped.

The Norwalk River Watershed Initiative offers a simple, non-technical brochure for homeowners called Septic Care & Maintenance for the Homeowner. It is available free online at conservect.org/southwest.htm. Click on the septic care link and then click on the link for the downloadable format.

Whom do I call if my neighbor’s septic system is leaking onto my property?

You can file a complaint with the town’s Health Department. You must identify the specific street address or the department will not be able to investigate. You can reach the health department at 563-0174.

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