DUBLIN ZONING
ARTICLE XIX REGULATION OF DEVELOPMENT ON STEEP SLOPES 
 
A. PURPOSE AND INTENT: In the interest of public health, safety and 
welfare of individual land owners, owners of abutting property, and the 
Town of Dublin, these regulations are intended to guide the use of 
steeply sloping land. 
 
Where steep slopes exist in the Town of Dublin, the nature of these 
soils is such as to render the land exceptionally vulnerable to erosion 
and attendant problems of water pollution - potentially affecting not 
only an individual landowner's property, but that of abutters and 
ultimately the community. These regulations are intended to protect the 
Town from undue hardship or expense caused by excessive erosion of 
hillsides due to improper excavation, drainage, construction of 
driveways, or other activities which disturb the fragile soil conditions 
of steep slope areas and may result in sedimentation, erosion or the 
creation of a watercourse where one did not previously exist on 
neighboring property, Town property, or by interference with Town or 
state road drainage systems. They are further intended to protect the 
Town from the public health hazard caused by improper construction and 
the possible resulting failure of septic systems constructed in steep 
slope areas. 
 
Therefore, the Town of Dublin deems it necessary and proper to regulate 
certain practices upon and uses of such lands to preserve our common 
heritage and protect the health and well-being of all the inhabitants. 
 
B. DEFINITION AND DELINEATION: Slope is defined as a percent determined 
by dividing vertical distance (rise) by horizontal distance (run) and 
"steep" slopes are generally considered areas where this ratio exceeds 
fifteen percent. The regulations contained herein apply to any lot, 
parcel or tract of land in the Town of Dublin regardless of the zoning 
district in which said lot is located. These regulations come into 
effect for: 
 
(1) the construction of driveways on ground with an existing slope of 
fifteen (15) percent or greater; 
 
(2) the construction of septic systems where the leaching field location 
is on a slope of twelve (12) percent or greater; and 
 
(3) the construction of buildings where the slope of the building site 
is 15 (15) percent or greater. 
 
These steep slope regulations provide supplementary controls over land 
use in addition to requirements of the several zoning districts. The 
proposed location of any of the above mentioned construction activities 
will be checked and a determination of slope made by the Dublin Site 
Inspector after an on-site inspection. Where it is alleged that this determination is in 
error, assistance will be requested from the Cheshire County 
Conservation District. In such cases, detailed engineering data may also 
be requested from the land owner to provide a more accurate 
determination of the slopes involved. 
 
C. PROVISIONS: If the Site Inspector determines after an on-site 
investigation that the land upon which a building, driveway, septic 
system or other structure is to be constructed is of excessively sloping 
nature according to the standards contained herein, a driveway or 
building permit for uses normally permitted in that zoning district may 
be issued only after evidence that the following conditions will be met 
is submitted to the Site Inspector. 
 
Driveways: 
 
1. Driveways and other land clearing shall not cause excessive erosion. 
 
2. Driveway access onto Town or state roads shall not create an undue 
traffic hazard. 
 
3. If the slope of the driveway is to be 10 percent or greater, an 
adequate stormwater drainage plan and an erosion control plan that meets 
the design standards and specifications set forth in the "Erosion and 
Sedimentation Control Design Handbook for Developing Areas in New 
Hampshire" (USDA Soil Conservation Service) shall be submitted. 
 
4. In the event the land on which a driveway is to be constructed has a 
slope of 15 percent or greater, engineering data prepared by an engineer 
licensed in the State of New Hampshire shall be submitted to show that 
the following conditions have been met: 
 
Sediment in the runoff water both during and after construction shall be 
trapped by the uses of sediment basins or other acceptable methods, 
until the disturbed area is stabilized. 
 
The storm drainage system and culvert capacity shall be based on a 
design flow with a minimum return interval of a ten (10) 
year/twenty-four (24) hour storm. 
 
No new drainageways shall be created nor additional run-off directed to 
adjacent properties unless necessary easements are obtained. 
 
5. The Planning Board may, as deemed necessary, require that any 
proposed driveway plan be accompanied by documentation showing that the 
driveway provides safe access for emergency vehicles and creates no 
hazard to the public right-of-way. 
 
Septic System Leaching Areas: 
 
Any land area with a natural slope of twelve (12) percent or greater 
shall not be altered or used for the disposal of septic tank effluent, 
unless the system is designed by a sanitary engineer (registered with 
the State of New Hampshire) and overcomes the adverse land conditions to 
the satisfaction of the Board. 
 
Building Sites: 
 
Where the natural slope of the land on which a building (any structure 
for which a building permit is normally required) is to be constructed 
is of fifteen (15) percent slope or greater, engineering data shall be 
submitted to show that the proposed structure is of sound engineering 
design and footings shall be designed to extend to stable soil or rock. 
 
D. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES: The Town of Dublin or its agents have the 
right to inspect the premises at any time during construction to assure 
that construction is being carried out according to the approved 
engineering plans as submitted to the Site Inspector for the purposes of 
obtaining the building permit. If construction does not proceed 
according to these plans (with minor allowances made for adjustments to 
previously unknown natural conditions were the overall effect remains 
the same or is improved) the owner will be liable for a fine of up to 
$500 (five hundred dollars) for each violation or deviation from the 
plan. 
 
E. TOWN LIABILITY: In any case where changes in topography alter the 
course of water flow, normal or excessive, so as to cause damage to 
neighboring properties or those downstream, the petitioner for use of 
steep slopes shall assume all liability for such damage. Even though his 
plan has been approved by the Dublin Board of Selectmen, the Town of 
Dublin shall be held harmless from any claims for damage resulting from 
his actions.