These regulations are enacted to promote the general welfare of the Town, to protect the health and safety of its inhabitants, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town, to preserve the cultural, historical and agricultural heritage of the community, to increase the amenities of the Town, and to reduce the hazard from fire by regulating the location and use of buildings and the area of open space around them, all as authorized by, but not limited to, the provisions of the Zoning Act, MGL. c. 40A, as amended, and Ch. 808, § 2A, Acts of 1975.
This Zoning Bylaw ("this bylaw") is enacted in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 40A, and any and all amendments thereto, and by Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
For these purposes, the construction, repair, alteration, reconstruction, height, number of stories, and size of buildings and structures, the size and width of lots, the percentage of lot area that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land in the Town are regulated as hereinafter provided.
All buildings or structures hereinafter erected, reconstructed, altered, enlarged, or moved, and the use of all premises in the Town, shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Zoning Bylaw. No building, structure or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is expressly permitted within the district in which such building, structure or land is located. Where the application of this bylaw imposes greater restrictions than those imposed by any other regulations, permits, restrictions, easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this bylaw shall control.
1.4.1. 
Applicability; nonconformities. Except as hereinafter provided, this bylaw shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun, or to a building permit or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing on this bylaw or any amendments thereto, but shall apply to any change or substantial extension of such use, to a building permit or special permit issued after the first notice or said public hearing, to any reconstruction, extension or structural change of such structure and to any alteration of a structure begun after the first notice of said public hearing to provide for its use in a substantially different purpose or for the same purpose in a substantially different manner or to a substantially greater extent except where alteration, reconstruction, extension or a structural change to a single- or two-family residential structure does not increase the nonconforming nature of said structure.
1.4.2. 
Commencement of construction or operation. Construction or operations under a building permit or special permit shall conform to any subsequent amendments to this bylaw, unless the use or construction is commenced within a period of not more than six months after the issuance of the permit and in any case involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable.
This bylaw may from time to time be changed by amendment, addition, or repeal by the Town Meeting in the manner provided in MGL. c. 40A, § 5, and any amendments thereto.
The invalidity of any section or provision of this bylaw shall not invalidate any other section or provision herein.