These regulations are enacted to promote the general welfare of the Town of Sudbury, to protect the health and safety of its inhabitants, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town, to preserve the cultural, historical and agricultural heritage of the community, to increase the amenities of the Town, and to reduce the hazard from fire by regulating the location and use of buildings and structures and the area of open space around them, all as authorized by, but not limited to, the provisions of the Zoning Act, MGL c. 40A, as amended, Section 2A of 1975 Mass. Acts 808, and by Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

No parcel of land in any district shall be used for any purpose other than that for which the district is established by this bylaw and the uses shall be subject to the other restrictions required by this bylaw except for any municipal purposes or exemption from other restrictions when and as authorized by a vote of the Town. The use of land in any district by the Sudbury Housing Authority for housing for older adults of low income shall be exempt from all of the provisions of this Zoning Bylaw when and as authorized by a two-thirds vote of the Town. The use, construction, alteration, height and area of buildings and the use of premises in the aforementioned districts shall be regulated and restricted as hereinafter provided. No lot, nor the building or structure, shall be changed in size or use so as to violate the provisions of this bylaw.

Where the application of this bylaw imposes greater restrictions than those imposed by any other regulations, permits, restrictions, easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this bylaw shall control.

Construction or operations under a building permit or special permit shall conform to any subsequent amendment of this bylaw unless the use or construction is commenced within a period of one year after the issuance of the permit and, in cases involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as possible.

This bylaw shall be administered and enforced by the Inspector of Buildings. The Inspector of Buildings may require such plans and specifications as may be necessary to determine compliance with all pertinent laws of the commonwealth. Buildings, structures or signs may not be erected, structurally altered, moved, or changed in use and land may not be substantially altered or changed in principal use unless such action is in compliance with then-applicable zoning and all necessary permits have been received under federal, state, or local law. All building permits shall be posted conspicuously on the premises to which they apply during the time of construction. A certificate of occupancy shall not be issued for any dwelling until the street number, readable from the street, has been attached to said dwelling. In cases where the dwelling setback from the street makes this requirement impractical, the street number shall be placed at or near the driveway entrance.

The Inspector of Buildings shall institute and take any and all such action as may be necessary to enforce full compliance with any and all of the provisions of this bylaw and of permits and variances issued thereunder, including notification of noncompliance and request for legal action through the Select Board to Town Counsel.

Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Inspector of Buildings to grant a building permit or by any order or ruling made by him, notice of which shall have been given to the applicant or permittee, may appeal in writing to the Zoning Board of Appeals as is provided in MGL c. 40A, § 15.

The penalty for violation of any provision of this bylaw, of any of the conditions under which a permit is issued, or of any decision rendered by the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be $300 for each offense. Each day that each violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.