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Ashfield Bylaws
Amendments to the General and Zoning By-laws are proposed to and become effective upon adoption by Town Meeting, approval by the Office of the Attorney General, and posting by the Town Clerk. Bylaw documents are updated as needed. Comprehensive copies of bylaws are available at the links below or in hard copy by request to the Town Clerk's office.
Frequently requested: Ban on Single-Use Plastic bylaw (this can also be found in the General Bylaws below)
Zoning Bylaws
Read/download the May 2025 version of the ZONING BYLAWS
Recent Updates
- NEW - Revisions to the ZONING BYLAWS Flood Hazard District and Special Permit Bylaw were unanimously approved at Annual Town Meeting on May 3, 2025, and were approved by the Office of the Attorney General (AG) on August 15, 2025 . Upon AG approval, a Zoning Bylaw is effective as of the original date of passage at Town Meeting.
- Non-substantive and formatting changes made by the Town Clerk and approved by the Select Board on April 10, 2023 in keeping with the town's "Non-Substantive Bylaw Changes" that is part of the General Bylaws.
- Revisions to the ZONING BYLAWS Solar Bylaw were unanimously approved at Special Town Meeting on August 8, 2022, and were approved by the Office of the Attorney General (AG) on March 13, 2023 . Upon AG approval, a Zoning Bylaw is effective as of the original date of passage at Town Meeting.
- Revisions to the ZONING BYLAWS Table of Contents were unanimously approved at Special Town Meeting on August 8, 2022, and were approved by the Office of the Attorney General (AG) on December 19, 2022. Upon AG approval, a Zoning Bylaw is effective as of the original date of passage at Town Meeting.
Included in the ZONING BYLAWS: Purpose, Definitions, General Regulations, Dimensional Requirements, Districts, Use Regulations, Special Permit, and Administration.
View older versions of the Zoning Bylaws. If you are seeking an older version not published online, please contact the Town Clerk.
General Bylaws
Read/download the August 2025 version of the GENERAL BYLAWS
Recent Updates
- NEW - The GENERAL BYLAWS (Town Meeting, Tree Warden, and Planning Board sections) were amended by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on May 3, 2025. The amendments were approved by the Attorney General on August 15, 2025 and posted in Ashfield on August 18, 2025, and this is the effective date for the changes.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (Revolving Fund section) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on May 4, 2024. The amendments were approved by the Attorney General on May 23, 2024 and posted in Ashfield on May 23, 2024 and this is the effective date for the Revolving Fund change.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (repealing the Stretch Energy Code and enacting a Specialized Energy Code) by majority vote of Town Meeting on May 4, 2024. The amendments were approved by the Attorney General on May 23, 2024 and posted in Ashfield on May 23, 2024. The effective date of the change, as moved at Town Meeting, is January 1, 2025.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (enacting a Stretch Energy Code section) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on September 29, 2011. Due to an administrative error the bylaw was not submitted to the AG's office at that time nor included in the Ashfield General Bylaws. The amendment was approved by the Attorney General on March 26, 2024 and posted in Ashfield on March 27, 2024 and this is the effective date of the Stretch Energy Code section.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (Revolving Fund section) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on December 5, 2023, with the amendment approved by the Attorney General on March 13, 2024. The required Public Notice was posted on March 14, 2024 and this is the effective date for the amendment.
- Two GENERAL BYLAW amendments were passed by a vote of Town Meeting on May 6, 2023 (a revised Excessive Noise Bylaw was passed by paper ballot and a Single-Use Plastic Ban was passed by declared majority vote), with the amendments approved by the Office of the Attorney General on November 13, 2023. The required Public Notice was posted on December 6, 2023. The effective date for the Excessive Noise Bylaw is 12/6/23 and for the Ban on Single-Use Plastic is 1/1/24.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (Revolving Fund section) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on May 6, 2023, with the amendment approved by the Attorney General on August 7, 2023. The required Public Notice was posted on August 10, 2023 and this is the effective date for the amendment.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (to increase Park Commission membership from three to five Commissioners) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on November 29, 2022, with the amendment approved by the Attorney General on February 1, 2023. The Public Notice was posted on February 9, 2023, and this is the effective date for the amendment.
- The GENERAL BYLAWS were amended (Revolving Fund section) by unanimous vote of Town Meeting on May 7, 2022, with the amendment approved by the Attorney General on September 1, 2022. The Public Notice was posted on September 9, 2023, and this is the effective date for the amendment.
Included in the GENERAL BYLAWS: Introduction, Qualified Voters, Town Meetings & Elections, Posting Places, Absentee Voters, Conduct of Town Meetings, Non-Substantive Bylaw Changes, Election of Certain Officers, Protection of Public Officials, Moderator Power to Declare, Ashfield Dog Bylaw, Excessive Noise, Unregistered Motor Vehicles, Road Detail Bylaw, Recycling Bylaws, Right to Farm Bylaw, Ban on Single-Use Plastic, Hazardous Material Bylaw, Stripping Land of Soil and Loam, Stretch Energy Code, Revolving Funds, Solicitation Bylaw, and Acts to Establish Boards and Commissions, and Acts to Create Departments.
View older versions of the General Bylaws. If you are seeking an older version not published online, please contact the Town Clerk.