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FAQ

FAQs are arranged by department. For general inquires, please contact the Town Manager.

Building Department

1. When is a building permit required?
2. What does not require a permit?
3. Who can be issued a building permit?
4. Who can apply for a plumbing, electrical and heating work permits?
5. When can I start work?
6. When must work begin under the building permit?
7. What are the handicap requirements?
8. Do I need a building permit to install a shed?
9. Can the Building Department recommend a contractor, architect, or attorney?
10. When does my permit expire?
11. How do I check to see if a contractor is in good standing?

1. When is a building permit required?
An application must be submitted to the Licenses and Inspections Division for the following activities, and shall not commence without a permit being issued in accordance with Section 105.0.

1. Construct or alter a structure
2. Construct an addition
3. Demolish or move a structure
4. Make a change of occupancy
5. Install or alter any equipment which is regulated by State Building Code

The building permit must be prominently posted at the job site.

2. What does not require a permit?
Ordinary repairs such as counter top replacement and painting do not require permits

3. Who can be issued a building permit?
Owners or the lessee of a building structure and the agent of owner can be issued a building permit.

4. Who can apply for a plumbing, electrical and heating work permits?
Only Licensed contractors may apply for a permit. Owners of single-family homes in which they reside may also apply.

5. When can I start work?
You may begin work when the permit is issued. Permits are issued a maximum of 30 days from the date of application unless violations are found on plans in which case the applicant is notified in writing.

6. When must work begin under the building permit?
Work must begin within six (6) months of the date the permit is issued and shall not start prior to the receipt of the permit. Once started, the work must be progressed continuously to completion. The Building official can issue one or more extensions not to exceed 90 days each.

7. What are the handicap requirements?
Handicap Accessibility applies to new construction, additions, and change of occupancy or major renovation in which case, 20 percent of the cost must be applied to accessibility.

8. Do I need a building permit to install a shed?
Yes, if a shed is to be built you would need a site plan showing prepared distances from site and rear of the property lines with a blue print or sketch showing height size, width (sq ft) as well as one must comply with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance for any size shed and distance from side and rear property lines. If a shed is prefabricated, you need a site plan with manufactures specifications on the shed.

9. Can the Building Department recommend a contractor, architect, or attorney?
No. The Building Department does not solicit or recommend using specific contractors or food vendors.

10. When does my permit expire?
Permit is valid for 6 months from date of issue. However if there is a reasonable cause extension can be granted if requested in writing.

11. How do I check to see if a contractor is in good standing?
Check with the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website.

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Engineering Department

1. Can I connect my sump pump to the sanitary sewer pipe in my home?
2. What do I do if my sewer line is blocked?
3. How do I get a street light fixed?
4. How can I find out if my property is located within a flood plain?

1. Can I connect my sump pump to the sanitary sewer pipe in my home?
You can not connect your sump pump to any portion of the sanitary sewer system. You can
discharge pumped water from your basement on to your property provided the water does not
run on to another property or into the street which may cause a hazardous condition during
winter months. You can also check with the Engineering Department to determine if connection
to a catch basin is feasible.

2. What do I do if my sewer line is blocked?
The portion for the sewer line from a home to the main sewer pipe in the street is the
responsibility of the homeowner. The main sewer pipe in the street is the responsibility of the
Town. You should contact your plumber to determine where the blockage has occurred. If it is
located within your portion of the sewer line you are responsible for all costs incurred to
remove the blockage. If it has been determined that the blockage is located in the main sewer
pipe, contact the Engineering Department at 484-6009.

3. How do I get a street light fixed?
The Town is served by the United Illuminating Company in the southern part
of North Branford and by Wallingford Electric in the northern part of Town.
Check the utility pole to determine which utility serves your area and call the
responsible utility to report the outage.

Wallingford Electric: 203-294-2020, Emergency after Hours 203-265-5055
United Illuminating Co: 1-800-772-5584

4. How can I find out if my property is located within a flood plain?
See Flood Maps Section on Engineering’s page for answer.

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Public Works

1. What is the Town’s policy regarding damaged mail boxes?
2. Will the Town trim trees adjacent to the road in front of my property?
3. Who do I call to report a missing street sign or traffic sign?

1. What is the Town’s policy regarding damaged mail boxes?
See Mail Box policy on Public Works page for answer.

2. Will the Town trim trees adjacent to the road in front of my property?
See Tree Maintenance (Within Public ROW) on Public Works page for answer.

3. Who do I call to report a missing street sign or traffic sign?
See Traffic and Street Signs on the Public Works page for answer.

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Social Services

1. Who is served by the Office of Social Service?
2. What age groups and types of people are served?
3. How can we reach you?
4. Is information confidential?
5. How is information released?
6. Do you work for the State or Federal Government?
7. Do you work for the Senior Center?

1. Who is served by the Office of Social Service?
All persons in Northford and North Branford.

2. What age groups and types of people are served?
From children to seniors, individuals and families.

3. How can we reach you?
By mail, phone or email, all numbers are listed on the opening page. Voice Mail is secure and a message can be left 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

4. Is information confidential?
All information is held in strict confidence.

5. How is information released?
Only by written permission of the individual.

6. Do you work for the State or Federal Government?
No, this office works for the Town of North Branford.

7. Do you work for the Senior Center?
No, the Office of Social Service is located in the Senior Center, but we are two separate departments.

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Tax Collector

1. What are the Tax due dates?
2. What are the Sewer Use & Sewer Assessment due dates?
3. Can interest be waived?
4. Can I pay with a personal check if I'm delinquent and need a clearance to register my motor vehicle with the department of motor vehicles?
5. I sold or disposed of my vehicle. How do I get my name removed off the Grand List?
6. My assessment is to high. What can I do?
7. What is your Bounced check policy?
8. What is a Pro Rated Real Estate Bill?
9. What is a Supplemental Motor Vehicle Bill?
10. Do I still owe Motor Vehicle taxes to the State of Connecticut if I move out of the State?
11. What methods of payment of taxes are available?

1. What are the Tax due dates?
Real Estate, Personal Property, and Motor Vehicles July 1, and January 1 of any year, payable by August 1, and February 1. Note: If bill is under $100.00, total bill is due in the month of July. Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills are due in their entirety in the month of January, payable by February 1. Payments are delinquent and subject to interest on August 2, and February 2 of any year.

2. Sewer Use & Sewer Assessment due dates?
October 1, and April 1, of any year ( two payment schedules). One payment schedules are due April 1. Payments are delinquent and subject to interest on November 2, and May 2, of any year.

3. Can interest be waived?
No. Interest is set by the State of Connecticut and cannot be waived. Interest accrues @ 1-1/2%, 18% per annum. Sec. 12-146.

4. Can I pay with a personal check if I'm delinquent and need a clearance to register my motor vehicle with the department of motor vehicles?
No. It is the Town’s policy that when paying delinquent Taxes to obtain a clearance to register a motor vehicle that all outstanding taxes must be paid, including the second half, in cash, certified check or money order.

5. I sold or disposed of my vehicle. How do I get my name removed off the Grand List?
If you sold your vehicle and turned the plates into D.M.V. get a plate receipt and bring both the plate receipt and the copy of the bill of sale to the Assessors office. You may still owe a portion of this bill, please contact the Tax Office after presenting proof to the Assessor.

6. My assessment is to high. What can I do?
Please contact the Assessor for your information @ 484-6013.

7. What is you bounced check policy?
My bank just informed me that my check bounced. Can I reissue a new personal check to cover this?

No. The Town’s policy with regard to this situation is thus:

Payments must be made with cash, certified check or money order. This applies to any payments made to the Town for a period of one year after the returned check was paid.

8. What is a Pro Rated Real Estate Bill?
Pro rated real estate bills may pertain to new construction and the time period, of when you received your certificate of occupancy or date of use, whichever came first or if there was a reduction of an elderly benefit. This bill goes directly to the homeowner. If you are escrowing your taxes through your mortgage bank, please forward this bill to them.

9. What is a Supplemental Motor Vehicle Bill?
This is a pro rated bill. This covers the period of the month that you registered your new vehicle through September 30, of any year. It pertains to the registering of the motor vehicle after October 1, of any year and before August the first of any year. Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills are sent out each year in the month of December. This bill is due in full in the month of January. Sec. 12-71B.

10. Do I still owe Motor Vehicle taxes to the State of Connecticut if I move out of the State?
You may or may not owe taxes depending on your individual situation:

Certain forms of proof to the Assessor are required

It is recommended that you contact both the Assessor’s and Tax Collector’s Offices to see if you owe any remaining outstanding taxes that may still be due for the current Grand List Year and the next Grand List Year.

11. What method of payment of taxes is available?
Payment of taxes can be made in person with cash, check or money order or by mail with a check. Payment can also be made at Citizens Bank in North Branford and TD North Bank in Northford during July and January only. You may also pay by credit card online or by calling 866-700-3150 during July and January. Click here to pay your taxes online. There is a fee for this service.

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Town Manager

1. Where can I find out about job opportunities with the Town of North Branford?
2. If I need to get in touch with the Mayor or Town Council members what should I do?
3. When are the Town Council meetings scheduled?
4. Can I speak at a Town Council meeting?
5. What holidays does the Town of North Branford observe?
6. What holidays do the Town’s trash haulers observe?
7. Where and how can I find out what is acceptable recycling/trash?
8. Does the Town of North Branford have a dump?
9. What should I do if my trash wasn’t picked up?
10. What if the trash is unacceptable for pick up?
11. What time of day does trash collection start?
12. When is bulk trash picked up?
13. When is scrap metal collected?
14. How do I dispose of my leaves and branches?
15. Where can I purchase a recycle bin?
16. What methods of payment of taxes are available?
17. What are your hours in the town hall and does it close for lunch?
18. Are document Notarization services available in the Town Hall?
19. Where can I find information about the Town of North Branford?

1. Where can I find out about job opportunities with the Town of North Branford?
You can check the Employment section of this website. Job opportunities are also posted on a bulletin board located in Town Hall and advertised in the New Haven Register, Totoket Times and the Shoreline Sound newspapers.

2. If I need to get in touch with the Mayor or Town Council members what should I do?
You can send a letter to Town Manager’s Office, North Branford Town Hall, 909 Foxon Road, North Branford CT 06471.

3. When are the Town Council meetings scheduled?
Meetings are scheduled on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month except for July & August which are scheduled on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

4. Can I speak at a Town Council meeting?
Residents may speak during the Citizen’s Comments portion of the meeting.

5. What holidays does the Town of North Branford observe?
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and ½ day on Christmas Eve and ½ day on New Year’s Day.

6. What holidays do the Town’s trash haulers observe?
Currently our trash haulers observe: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (only when the holiday falls during the week). When the holiday falls on the weekend, trash will picked up one day later than the normal schedule.

7. Where and how can I find out what is acceptable recycling/trash?
During the beginning of each New Year, the Town sends out a recycling/trash information card as an insert in the Totoket Times. The insert includes information about what types of recycling/trash are acceptable and the dates of upcoming collection events. Information can also be found on the Town’s website at the Trash, Recycling & Hazardous Waste section.

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8. Does the Town of North Branford have a dump?
The Town of North Branford does not have a dump.

9. What should I do if my trash wasn’t picked up?
Please call the Town Manager’s office and we will contact the trash haulers and ask them to go back out and pick up your trash.

10. What if the trash is unacceptable for pick up?
The trash hauler will place an orange sticker on unacceptable trash. If your trash is metal, it may be disposed during scrap metal week.

11. What time of day does trash collection start?
Trash collection normally starts after 6:00 AM.

12. When is bulk trash picked up?
Bulk items (wooden furniture, mattress, box springs, etc.) are picked up twice a year, April 20-24 and November 2-6, 2009 on your normal trash day.  See the recycling/trash information card for a complete list of acceptable items. Information can also be found on the Town’s website at the Trash, Recycling & Hazardous Waste section.

13. When is scrap metal collected?
Scrap metal is collected twice a year, April 20-24 and November 2-6-, 2009(on your normal trash day).  Both bulky waste and scrap metal must be separated into two separate piles.  Residents can also call the Town’s Trash hotline at 203-484-4091 for the latest collection information.

14. How do I dispose of my leaves and branches?
The Town of North Branford Leaf drop off center is located on Middletown Avenue at the North Haven town line. The center is open on Saturdays in April, May, October and November. Please check the recycling/trash card and Town’s website for drop off dates. The center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bundled and tied branches less than 4’ in length and no thicker than 4” diameter are acceptable with your normal trash. If you want to burn branches, you can obtain a burning permit through the Fire Marshall’s Office which is located in the Town Hall.

15. Where can I purchase a recycle bin?
Recycle bins may obtained at Town Manager’s Office. The fee is $10.00.

16. What method of payment of taxes is available?
Payment of taxes can be made in person with cash, check or money order or by mail with a check. Payment can also be made at Citizens Bank in North Branford and TD North Bank in Northford during July and January only. You may also pay by credit card online or by calling 866-700-3150 during July and January. Click here to pay your taxes online. There is a fee for this service.

17. What are your hours in the town hall and does it close for lunch?
Town Hall hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We do not close for lunch.

18. Are document Notarization services available in the Town Hall?
Document Notarization services are available in the Town Clerk’s Office and in the Town Manager’s Office. The document Notarization service is free for residents. A fee of $5.00 per page is charged for non-residents. You will need your driver’s license to verify your signature.

19. Where can I find information about the Town of North Branford?
Copies of the Town of North Branford Annual Report are made available to the public at Town Hall in the Town Manager’s Office and at the Atwater and Smith Libraries.

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