This chapter is designed to promote the purposes authorized by Chapter 124, Section 8-2 of the Connecticut General Statutes, including, among others, the following: to regulate the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of the area of the lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts and other open spaces, the density of populations and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, and other purposes; to regulate the height, size, and location of advertising signs and billboards within the limits of the Town; to divide the Town into districts of such number, shape, and area as may be best suited to carry out the purposes of the statutes; to regulate the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or use of buildings or structures and the use of land in accordance with a comprehensive plan; to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers, to promote health and the general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of populations; to facilitate adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements with full consideration of the character of the districts and their suitability for particular uses; to conserve the value of buildings and encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout said town.

All references to the Connecticut General Statutes refer to the Revision of 1958 revised to January 1, 2023, as amended.

No building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, structurally altered, enlarged, moved, or maintained, nor shall any building, structure, or land be used or be designed for any use other than as permitted by this chapter in the district in which such building, structure, or land is located.

In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be adopted for the purposes stated herein. It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul, or in any way impair or interfere with any restrictive covenants or with any existing provisions of law other than zoning laws, or with any permits previously issued pursuant to law; provided that where any conflict arises between the provisions of this chapter and any other law, ordinance, regulation, or permit, the provision that imposes the highest standard or establishes the greatest restriction upon the use of the land, form of buildings, structures, or site shall control.

Amendments. This chapter may be amended, changed, or repealed as provided in the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended from time to time.

Publication of notice. Notice of the time and place of a hearing on a proposed amendment to this chapter, and/or the Zoning Map, shall be published at least twice in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the Town. Such publication shall be at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than 15 days nor less than 10 days, and the last not less than two days before such hearing, and a copy of such proposed amendment shall be filed in the Office of the Town Clerk at least 10 days before such hearing. Such additional notice shall be given as the Commission may prescribe.

Protest. If a protest against such change is filed at such hearing and such protest is signed by the owners of 20% or more of the area of the lots included in such proposed change or of the lots within 500 feet in all directions of the property included in the proposed change, such change shall not be adopted except by a majority vote of the Commission.

Application requirements. No application for a change in zone boundaries shall be received unless accompanied by a map drawn to scale by a licensed engineer or land surveyor, showing the property or properties involved.

Application fee. A fee as set forth in Chapter 5, Article VIII of the Ordinances of the Town of Woodbridge entitled Schedule of Land Use Fees,[1] as amended from time to time, shall be charged for each application to the Commission for a change of this chapter or zoning boundaries, and this fee must be paid at the time of submitting of the application. All fees so collected shall be remitted to the Treasurer of the Town.

Validity. If any section or provision of this chapter as contained herein or as amended hereafter is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any other part thereof other than the part so declared to be invalid.

Repealer. The provisions of the Zoning Regulations of the Town of Woodbridge, as adopted, July 1, 2019, and subsequently amended, are hereby repealed as of the effective date of these Zoning Regulations, except that all terms and conditions attached to special permits, site plans, planned unit developments, and variances granted under prior regulations shall remain in effect.

Boundaries.

Any principal use of land, buildings, or structures not expressly permitted by this chapter in the various districts is prohibited.

Any use not expressly permitted in this chapter is prohibited.

For a principal use permitted by this chapter, accessory uses that are customarily incidental and are subordinate thereto are permitted.

No accessory use shall be established on a property until a principal use has first been established.

Where documents are referred to within this chapter, unless otherwise expressly stated, each such document shall be assumed to be the most current effective version.