Commission schedules public hearing on unified building-permit ordinance

Compliance Officer Jared Haught introduced the Hampshire County Unified Building Permit Ordinance at the meeting’s first reading. Haught said the ordinance codifies existing permitting practice, provides clearer definitions and timelines and references applicable construction standards: the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2020 electrical code.

Haught highlighted Section 6.5, which clarifies permit display and validity. He told commissioners that residential permits will be valid for two years and then must be reissued, eliminating prior gray areas about permit lengths. “Residential structures are a 2 year permit. At the end of that, they're expired. You have to repermit,” Haught said.

Commissioners discussed the typical process the planning office follows, noted stakeholder review and the purpose of a first and second reading to allow public comment, and moved to schedule a public hearing at the regular commission meeting on Feb. 10, 2026 to allow the public a review period; the motion was approved by voice vote.