The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) exists as a constitutional safety valve to ensure that ordinances are applied equitably to

all property.  The ZBA is made up of five (5) permanent members, and up to five (5) alternate members.  The State of New Hampshire

Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 672 – 677 (Planning and Zoning RSA's) along with the Town of Bristol New Hampshire ordinances,

(Zoning Ordinance) as voted on by the residents of Bristol, provide the legal basis for the board of adjustment’s work.  Board

members and alternates are appointed by the selectmen to terms of three (3) years.

The Board of adjustment meets regularly at 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month in which there is business for the board

to undertake in the conference room in the lower level of the Town Office Building. All meetings are open to the public, and the

public is encouraged to attend. The minutes of each ZBA meeting are public record and can be viewed on the website or at town hall.

Any person wishing to bring business to the Board of Adjustment should fill out the necessary paperwork, either by

downloading here Variance Application or picking up in person in the Zoning and Planning office of town hall.

All appropriate fees must be paid and abutter’s notices sent prior to the board hearing a case.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) is responsible for the following:

• Variances and Special Exceptions -- The role of the ZBA is to grant or deny variances and special exceptions from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance. 

• Appeals of Administrative Decisions – Any decision by the land use officer, Board of Selectmen or other official or board that involves an interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance can be appealed to the ZBA. (RSA 676:5)  Under RSA 674:33, the ZBA possess all of the powers of the administrative officer whose decision has been appealed, and the ZBA has authority to affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the administrative official, based on the current Zoning Ordinance.

• Re-hearings – The Zoning Board of Adjustment holds a re-hearing (if petitioned to do so) when a ZBA decision denies approval of any application that comes before them.

• Equitable Waivers of Dimensional Requirements – The ZBA can legalize existing violations of the Zoning Ordinance relative to physical layout or dimensional requirements where the violation occurred unknowingly and is discovered later.  This refers to such zoning provisions as frontage, setbacks and building height.  The property owner has the burden of proving four elements set forth in RSA 674:33-a in order to receive an equitable waiver.