When do I need to file with the Conservation Commission?

In general, you are not allowed to remove, fill, dredge, or alter land in the following protected resource areas unless you have a valid wetland permit from the Conservation Commission:

  • Wetland Resource Areas (including wetlands, swamps, streams, ponds, floodplains and vernal pools);
  • 100-Foot Buffer Zones (the upland areas next to a Wetland Resource Area);
  • Riverfront Areas (the upland areas within 200 feet of a year-round stream); or
  • Leicester 25 Foot No Disturb Zone (the upland area next to a wetland).

If there are any questions about the legal status of a proposed (or ongoing) activity, the Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) procedure should be used to clarify the issue.