Bolthole Index

Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Whitman, Massachusetts

The Town of Whitman, Massachusetts, in Plymouth County, sets its own zoning under the Protective Zoning Bylaw1. Building permits come from the town, because Massachusetts enforces its state building code through local inspectors2. Septic permits are a local board of health job under state rules3; we could not confirm Whitman's own septic procedure, so ask the Whitman Board of Health.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the town's Protective Zoning Bylaw (Chapter 240) covers land and buildings inside Whitman1
Building permit
Required; issued by the town, not Plymouth County42
Septic
Local board of health under state Title 5; Whitman's own process not confirmed53
Smallest lot, a-1 district
22,500 square feet with 150 feet of frontage6
Accessory dwelling
One allowed by right in a-1, a-2 and general residence, with site plan approval7
Owner-builder
Exempt from home-improvement-contractor registration; not an exemption from building permits8
RV or tiny home
Not confirmed for Whitman; ask the zoning enforcement officer9

Who to call

Building permits

Whitman Building Department (Building Commissioner / Zoning Enforcement Officer)

Building, electrical, gas and plumbing permits, zoning enforcement, and online permit applications for the Town of Whitman

781-618-9770

54 South Ave. Whitman, MA 02382

Online permits →

Septic permits

Whitman Board of Health

Local health office for the Town of Whitman; first call for septic and well questions

781-618-9754

54 South Ave. Whitman, MA 02382

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Whitman means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Whitman, MA have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Whitman applies its Protective Zoning Bylaw to the erection, construction, alteration or use of buildings, structures and land inside town limits1. The bylaw sets eight districts, including single residence a-1, single residence a-2, general residence, highway business, general business, limited industrial, industrial and a floodplain and watershed protection district10.

In the single residence a-1 district, a lot needs 22,500 square feet and 150 feet of frontage, with a 35-foot front yard, 20-foot side yards and a 50-foot rear yard611. In single residence a-2 the minimums drop to 18,000 square feet, 120 feet of frontage, and 30, 15 and 40 feet for the yards1213. Structures may cover up to 25 percent of the lot in a-114, and buildings top out at 35 feet15. Older lots on approved plans can be exempt from the area and width minimums6.

Do you need a building permit in Whitman, MA, and who issues it?

Yes. Massachusetts applies one state building code to every city and town, and each town's local inspector enforces it2. Plymouth County has no building department, so Whitman building permits come from the town4.

The Whitman Building Department, led by a part-time Building Commissioner who also serves as Zoning Enforcement Officer, handles building, electrical, gas and plumbing permits, and accepts applications through the town's online portal9. Whitman also enforces the state stretch energy code through its building commissioner16. We could not confirm Whitman's fee schedule or inspection steps, so ask the Building Department before you budget.

How do septic permits work in Whitman, MA?

Massachusetts leaves septic permits for homes of up to four dwelling units to local boards of health, working under the state sanitary code and any stricter local health rules3. For Whitman, that means the Whitman Board of Health is the office to call first17.

We could not confirm Whitman's own septic permit steps, inspection requirements or sewer connection rules. Soil matters here: only a small share of Plymouth County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system if the lot is not on town sewer18. If the street has a public sewer, state law directs the owner to connect as the sewer authority directs19. Private wells need a state-certified driller, and a town may add its own site permit20.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or accessory dwelling in Whitman, MA?

We could not confirm whether Whitman allows living in an RV, camping on private land or a tiny home, because the town's use table was not verified. Ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer at the Building Department before parking or placing anything on a lot9.

Whitman does allow one accessory dwelling unit by right in its a-1, a-2 and general residence districts, with site plan approval from the board of appeals7. The unit is capped at the smaller of half the main home's floor area or 900 square feet, and a trailer may not serve as one7. Accessory units cannot be short-term rentals21. State law also lets a household whose home burned down live in a manufactured home on the site while rebuilding, for up to 12 months22.

Building a home in Whitman, MA: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and whether it is an older lot exempt from area minimums, then check lot size, frontage and yards against the bylaw106.
  2. Ask the Whitman Board of Health about septic design, soil testing and sewer availability17.
  3. Creating new lots requires Planning Board approval under the town's subdivision control bylaw23.
  4. Apply for building permits with the Whitman Building Department, which takes applications online9. Owner-builders are exempt from home-improvement-contractor registration, not from building permits8.
  5. Build to the state building code and the stretch energy code216.

What stays with Plymouth County, and what to check before you buy in Whitman

Plymouth County does not issue building permits, zoning or septic permits; Massachusetts leaves zoning to cities and towns, so the answers for land outside Whitman come from whichever town it sits in24. See the Plymouth County page for the county picture.

Before you buy in Whitman, check the zoning district, the floodplain and watershed protection district, sewer availability and soils. Plymouth County's nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 13 miles from the county center25, and the county's effective property tax rate is 1.2 percent26. Whitman's own tax bill and floodplain rules are not covered here.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Whitman's building permit fees, inspection steps, certificates of occupancy or owner-builder process; call the Building Department9.
  • The town's rules on RVs, camping and tiny homes were not confirmed; do not assume they are allowed on a Whitman lot; ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer9.
  • Accessory dwelling units in Whitman need site plan approval from the board of appeals and cannot be used as short-term rentals7.
  • Lots in the floodplain and watershed protection district carry extra rules we could not review; ask the Building Department before buying10.

Sources

  1. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article IV Interpretation and Applicability (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  2. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 143, Section 3A: Enforcement of state building code (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 111, Section 31E, quoted and re-checked
  4. Mass.gov — 780 CMR Massachusetts State Building Code (Administration) (2026 county census)
  5. Mass.gov — 310 CMR 15.000 Septic Systems (Title 5) (2026 county census)
  6. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  8. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 142A, Section 14 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Whitman Building Department (Building Commissioner / Zoning Enforcement Officer) (whitman-ma.gov)
  10. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  13. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  15. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  16. Town of Whitman General Bylaws, Chapter 124 Buildings and Building Construction (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  17. Whitman Board of Health (whitman-ma.gov)
  18. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 83, Section 5 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21G, Section 20 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  22. General Law - Part I, Title VII, Chapter 40A, Section 3 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 240, Article VI Dimensional and Density Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Whitman), quoted and re-checked
  24. General Laws c. 40A, § 1A — Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  25. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Whitman

Town of Whitman’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential and commercial buildings in Whitman town (stretch energy code)

    • Stretch code (780 CMR appendix 115.AA) incorporated by reference into the town general bylaws; enforceable by the building commissioner/inspector of buildings.
    • Applies to residential and commercial buildings; buildings outside this scope comply with 780 CMR 13, 34, 51 as applicable.
    “the stretch code, as codified by the board of building regulations and standards as 780 cmr appendix 115.aa, including any future editions, amendments or modifications, is herein incorporated by reference into the town of whitman general bylaws.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and buildings inside Whitman town limits, under the Town of Whitman Protective Zoning Bylaw (Town Code Chapter 240, Zoning)

    • Construction, alteration, or use of land must conform to the bylaw; the bylaw's minimum requirements govern where it is stricter than other regulations.
    • Original adoption date and Attorney General approval date were not verified on an official page; the eCode landing page states the code includes legislation through 05-05-2025.
    “the provisions of this bylaw shall apply to the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or use of buildings and structures or use of land.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts of Whitman town, as listed in the Article VI district table: single residence a-1, single residence a-2, general residence gr, highway business hb, general business gb, limited industrial li, industrial i, and floodplain and watershed protection fp

    • The official zoning map (a separate eCode map item) was not opened; district boundaries were not verified.
    • Overlay districts are cross-referenced (fp overlay at § 240-7.6; MBTA communities overlay at § 240-16) and were not reviewed in text.
    “single residence a-1 22,500 150 35 20 50 35 25 single residence a-2 18,000 120 30 15 40 35 25 general residence gr 10,000 90 30 12 30 45 25 highway business hb 10,000 90 100 12 (6) 50 45 (5) general business gb 10,000 90 0 0 20 45 (5) limited industrial li 15,000 100 50 25 (6) 20 (6) 45 (5) industrial i 15,000 100 50 25 (6) 20 (6) 45 (5) floodplain and watershed protection fp (4)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Apartment units in a two-family or multifamily dwelling in Whitman town (single-family dwellings are not covered by this rule)

    • Measured to the exterior walls of structures.

    minimum interior floor area, primary apartment unit: >= 600 square feet (two-family or multifamily dwelling) · minimum interior floor area, each additional apartment unit: >= 400 square feet (two-family or multifamily dwelling)

    “the primary apartment unit within a two-family dwelling or a multifamily dwelling shall have a minimum interior floor area of 600 square feet; each additional apartment unit shall have a minimum interior floor area of 400 square feet; said area to be measured to the exterior walls of structures.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single residence a-1 district (main single-family residential district) in Whitman town

    • Continuous minimum lot frontage of 150 linear feet also applies in this district.
    • Lots shown as separate parcels on planning board-approved subdivision plans, or held in separate ownership from contiguous lots when the subdivision control bylaw took effect, are exempt from minimum lot area and width requirements and may be used for any permitted use in the district.
    • Lots less than 90 feet wide: one foot may be deducted from the sum of the two required side yards for each two feet the lot is under 90 feet wide, but no side yard may be less than 10 feet.

    minimum lot size: >= 22500 square feet (pre-bylaw approved or separately held lots are exempt) · continuous minimum lot frontage: >= 150 linear feet (pre-bylaw approved or separately held lots are exempt)

    “single residence a-1 22,500 150 35 20 50 35 25”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single residence a-1 district, principal building yards (main single-family residential district) in Whitman town

    • Front yard 35 feet, side yard 20 feet, rear yard 50 feet, per the § 240-6.5 table columns labeled front, side, and rear.
    • On lots abutting streets on more than one side, the front yard requirement applies to each abutting street.
    • Detached accessory buildings may be in the side or rear yard no closer than 10 feet to any side or rear lot line and no closer than 10 feet to the principal building, and must meet the front yard requirement; an attached accessory building is subject to the principal building yard requirements.
    • Corner-lot sight-line restriction applies at intersections under § 240-6.3.

    minimum front yard depth: >= 35 feet (applies to each abutting street on lots abutting streets on more than one side) · minimum side yard depth: >= 20 feet · minimum rear yard depth: >= 50 feet · minimum detached accessory building setback from side or rear lot line: >= 10 feet

    “single residence a-1 22,500 150 35 20 50 35 25”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single residence a-1 district (main single-family residential district) in Whitman town

    • Table column is maximum percentage of lot coverage by structure.
    • Restriction does not apply to swimming pools.
    • Detached accessory buildings may cover no more than 25% of the rear yard area required for the principal building (§ 240-6.2b), a separate limit.

    maximum lot coverage by structure: <= 25 percent of lot (does not apply to swimming pools)

    “(3) this restriction does not apply to swimming pools.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single residence a-1 district (main single-family residential district) in Whitman town

    • Height restriction does not apply to chimneys, water towers, skylights and other necessary features appurtenant to buildings that are usually carried above roofs and are not used for human occupancy, nor to wireless or broadcasting towers and other like unenclosed structures.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (excludes chimneys, water towers, skylights and similar appurtenant features)

    “(2) these height restrictions shall not apply to chimneys, water towers, skylights and other necessary features appurtenant to buildings which are usually carried above roofs and are not used for human occupancy nor to wireless or broadcasting towers and other like unenclosed structures.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a principal dwelling, in the single residence a-1, single residence a-2, and general residence districts of Whitman town

    • Allowed by right, but the use of a lot for an accessory dwelling unit requires site plan approval by the board of appeals under § 240-7.2.
    • ADU gross floor area may not exceed one-half the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller.
    • Separate entrance required, sufficient for state building code egress.
    • At least two off-street parking spaces for the principal dwelling plus one for the ADU, except where the ADU is less than 0.5 miles from a transit station.
    • ADU in an accessory structure must be affixed to a foundation and connected to external utilities; a trailer (as defined in § 240-2.1) may not be used as an ADU; a modular unit meeting 760 CMR 71.02 may be used.
    • No owner-occupancy or familial-relationship requirement.
    • An ADU may not be used as a short-term rental; a lot with an ADU may not be submitted to MGL c. 183A condominium status.
    • Enlargement for an ADU must comply with the state building, fire, and sanitary codes and other applicable town fire, health, and safety requirements.

    maximum gross floor area of accessory dwelling unit: <= 900 square feet (or one-half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller) · off-street parking spaces for accessory dwelling unit: >= 1 space (not required where the ADU is located less than 0.5 miles from a transit station)

    “a single accessory dwelling unit is allowed, by right, on a lot on which a principal dwelling is located, within the single residence a-1, single residence a-2, and general residence districts, subject to the dimensional and other requirements set forth in this section.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Creation of new lots by subdivision inside Whitman town

    • Whitman has a town subdivision control bylaw; the Planning Board approves subdivision plans.
    • The subdivision bylaw's procedures and standards were not opened; this claim records only that the zoning bylaw recognizes the subdivision control bylaw and Planning Board-approved plans.
    “when the town bylaw on development of land and construction of streets, and subdivision control became effective in the town of whitman.”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Accessory dwelling units only, in Whitman town

    • Applies only to accessory dwelling units under § 240-6.6; it is not a general short-term rental rule for principal dwellings.
    “m. an accessory dwelling unit shall not be used for a short-term rental, as defined in mgl c. 64g, § 1.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Whitman or Plymouth County directly.

  • Building permit — New dwelling construction inside Whitman town
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a dwelling inside Whitman town
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Whitman town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Whitman town
  • Living in an RV — Long-term occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside Whitman town
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Whitman publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Plymouth County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Plymouth County: county rules, score and offices