Zoning Board of Adjustment

What's New / Current Applications


The Zoning Board of Adjustment seeks Alternate(s). Please fill out the Volunteer Service Application and submit to Nic Strong, Community Development Director, at [email protected]. Any questions may be directed to Nic Strong either by email or by calling 673-6041 ext. 204. Thank you for your interest in the Amherst ZBA!


The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) includes five elected and several alternate members who are also appointed by the ZBA. The ZBA members’ terms of office are three years. Their primary function is to review requests for relief from the strict regulations of the Zoning Ordinance adopted by the Town. They have the ability to grant four specific requests: A special exception, variance, equitable waivers or grant an appeal of a decision made by an Administrative Official and the same ability to deny those requests as well. As a quasi-judicial board, the ZBA also acts as the town's Building Code Board of Appeals, in which their function is to hear appeals relating the building permits and codes.

The ZBA meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm and is supported by the staff in the Office of Community Development, (603) 673-6041 x 206.

For ZBA applications and the ZBA Rules of Procedure, please see the Forms, Permits & Fees page. For Amherst’s Zoning Ordinance and land use related regulations please see the Regulations & Ordinances page. The Planning Board is responsible for all proposed Zoning Changes or special projects related to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance or other Regulations. Please see the Planning BoardRegulations & Ordinances and the Community Development Office’s Special Projects page for more information.

Please be advised that pursuant to RSA 677:4 "Appeal from Decision on Motion for Rehearing", any person aggrieved by any order or decision of the zoning board of adjustment or any decision of the local legislative body may apply, by petition, to the superior court within 30 days after the date upon which the board voted to deny the motion for rehearing; provided however, that if the petitioner shows that the minutes of the meeting at which such vote was taken, including the written decision, were not filed within 5 business days after the vote pursuant to RSA 676:3, II, the petitioner shall have the right to amend the petition within 30 days after the date on which the written decision was actually filed. The petition shall set forth that such decision or order is illegal or unreasonable, in whole or in part, and shall specify the grounds upon which the decision or order is claimed to be illegal or unreasonable. For purposes of this section, "person aggrieved" includes any party entitled to request a rehearing under RSA 677:2.
 
 

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Nic Strong Community Development Director 603-673-6041 x 204

Board Members

Name Title
Charlie Vars Member (2026)
Danielle Pray Vice Chair (2025)
Jamie Ramsay Treasurer/Secretary (2026)
Tony Ortiz Member (2027)
Tim Kachmar Member (2027)
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