[Amended 3-31-2026, eff. 5-1-2026]
A. 
The Residential A and Residential A-1 Zoning Districts are intended to recognize and support the predominant rural and agricultural character of Somers and provide for residential use and development in these areas appropriate to the environmental characteristics of the land (such as soil types, terrain, and infrastructure capacity) and the character of the area.
B. 
The Residential A-2 Zoning District is intended to recognize the smaller lot sizes in the centers of Somers and Somersville and provide for residential use and development in these areas appropriate to the environmental characteristics of the land (such as soil types, terrain, and infrastructure capacity) and the character of the area.
C. 
Certain nonresidential uses may be allowed in the residential zoning districts when the Planning & Zoning Commission finds, based on information presented, that such uses will be appropriate for the proposed location in accordance with the standards contained in these regulations.
Somers
Somersville
Residential
Agricultural
[Amended 3-31-2026, eff. 5-1-2026]
ZPNR
Permitted; zoning permit not required
ZP
Permitted with zoning permit (from Zoning Enforcement Officer)
SPA
Permitted with site plan approval (from Planning & Zoning Commission)
SUP
Permitted with special use permit approval (from Planning & Zoning Commission)
X
Not permitted in this district
Use
Residential
A
Residential
A-1
Residential
A-2
A.
Residential
(1)
One single-family detached dwelling per lot, except no lot shall be occupied for residential purposes unless it has the required frontage on a Town-approved or state-approved street
ZP
ZP
ZP
(2)
Two-family building, provided that there shall be at least 80,000 square feet of contiguous buildable area and at least 300 feet of frontage
X
ZP
ZP
(3)
Age-restricted housing subject to the requirements of Section 214-6.5 of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
(4)
Open space subdivision subject to the requirements of Section 214-6.6 of these regulations and § 213-62 of the Somers Subdivision Regulations
X
Approval by Planning Commission
Approval by Planning Commission
B.
Open Space
(1)
Open space
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(2)
Parks and playgrounds
SUP
SUP
SUP
C.
Agricultural
(1)
Farm/agriculture
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(2)
Water harvesting for commercial purposes
SUP
SUP
SUP
(3)
Commercial horse farm subject to the requirements of Section 214-6.3B of these regulations
X
SUP
X
(4)
Greenhouse operations and nurseries, provided that any on-premises sales are limited to products raised on the premises
X
SUP
X
D.
Institutional
(1)
Convalescent or nursing home or home for the aged
X
SUP
SUP
(2)
Place of worship or religious institution
SUP
SUP
SUP
(3)
Nonprofit institution
X
SUP
SUP
(4)
Private museum
X
SUP
SUP
(5)
Governmental uses and public service uses, such as firehouse, library, etc.
SUP
SUP
SUP
(6)
Public or private school (not including business or trade schools), nursery, dancing school or riding school, conservatory for music or other arts
X
SUP
SUP
E.
Recreational
(1)
Golf course or country club
X
SUP
X
(2)
Golf center
X
SUP
X
(3)
Public or quasi-public camp, provided that a minimum boundary buffer of 50 feet shall be provided to camping areas
X
SUP
X
(4)
Membership club, outdoor recreation provided that the property shall contain at least 400 square feet of land per member
X
SUP
X
(5)
Commercial swimming club
X
SUP
X
F.
Utility/Infrastructure
(1)
Public utility lines, substations and buildings in accordance with Section 214-6.10 of these regulations
SUP
SUP
SUP
(2)
Wireless telecommunications in accordance with Section 214-8.3 of these regulations
X
See Section 214-8.3
See Section 214-8.3
G.
Other
(1)
Cemetery, provided that a minimum boundary buffer of 20 feet shall be provided to burial plots
X
SUP
SUP
(2)
Adaptive reuse of an existing structure on a state highway in accordance with Section 214-6.7 of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
[Amended 3-31-2026, eff. 5-1-2026]
A. 
Accessory parking of vehicles.
(1) 
On a residential property, parking or storage of motor vehicles is allowed as follows:
Type of Vehicle
Outside
Inside
(a)
Registered passenger-type vehicle (including antique, dealer, combinations, etc.)
Permitted
Permitted
(b)
Registered commercial-type vehicle
Outside storage requires approval of special use permit (from Planning & Zoning Commission)
Inside storage of one vehicle per lot is permitted, provided that vehicle is less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating
(c)
Farm vehicles on a farm
Permitted but such vehicles shall not be kept in front of any residence or within the front yard setback
No limit
(d)
Unregistered vehicle
Limited to two such vehicles, except that storage of one additional vehicle may be allowed for 30 days when:
Permitted
°
Such vehicle is for sale;
°
Prior notification is given to the ZEO of the dates of such storage; and
°
Such storage does not recur for another six months
(e)
Trailers, camping trailers, recreational vehicles, boats, and the like
Storage in the rear or side yard, provided that:
Permitted
°
No unit shall be used for sleeping, living, cooking or for carrying on a business in any district except as provided elsewhere in these regulations.
°
Screening shall be provided for any such unit, when stored, to substantially reduce the visibility of the unit from the street and from nearby properties
B. 
General provisions for accessory uses/structures.
Accessory uses, buildings, and structures customarily incidental to any use permitted herein are allowed, provided that such accessory structures shall not include any advertising signs, signboards or posters, except as allowed by Section 214-7.1 of these regulations.
(1) 
Accessory buildings shall not be located in the front yard of any lot unless located in the rear half of the lot.
(2) 
Accessory buildings less than 200 square feet in area and less than 10 feet in height may be located to within 10 feet of side or rear lot lines when located in the rear half of any lot and when located at least 50 feet from a principal residence on an abutting property.
(3) 
A barn, stable or garage may be erected to the same height limits as a principal building.
(4) 
An accessory building, including those attached to a main building by means of a breezeway or a roofed passageway or other connection, shall not be used for residential purposes, except as may be specifically provided elsewhere in these regulations.
(5) 
Greenhouses as accessory buildings:
(a) 
On a residential lot, are limited to one structure not exceeding 200 square feet in area.
(b) 
On a farm, are not limited as to number or size.
(6) 
Accessory buildings housing farm animals shall be located as follows:
(a) 
Horses and ponies: sited in accordance with Section 214-6.3.
(b) 
Hens: at least 100 feet from any lot line and not located between the house and the street.
(c) 
Other farm animals: at least 100 feet from a street line and at least 200 feet from side or rear lot lines.
(7) 
Accessory buildings on a farm for other than housing farm animals shall be at least 100 feet from all property lines.
(8) 
Accessory buildings to a proposed main building may be erected on a then-vacant residential lot, if so placed as not to interfere with the eventual practicable and conforming location of the principal building.
(9) 
Any accessory building or structure with a footprint larger than the footprint of the principal building on the property shall:
(a) 
Meet the setbacks for a principal building; and
(b) 
Obtain a special use permit from the Commission for the structure unless it is a barn or other agricultural building on an active farm.
C. 
Provisions for specific accessory uses/structures.
ZPNR
Permitted; zoning permit not required
ZP
Permitted with zoning permit (from Zoning Enforcement Officer)
SPA
Permitted with site plan approval (from Planning & Zoning Commission)
SUP
Permitted with special use permit approval (from Planning & Zoning Commission)
X
Not permitted in this district
Use/Structure
Residential
A
Residential
A-1
Residential
A-2
(1)
Parking/Storage-Related
(a)
Private garage for motor vehicles
ZP
ZP
ZP
(b)
Noncommercial greenhouse, storage shed or boathouse
X
ZP
ZP
(c)
One temporary storage structure up to 8 feet by 8 feet by 16 feet for up to 30 days in any calendar year when located on the driveway
X
ZPNR
ZPNR
(2)
Home-Based-Business-Related
(a)
Home office in accordance with Section 214-6.2A of these regulations
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(b)
Minor home occupation in accordance with Section 214-6.2B of these regulations
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(c)
Tea room in accordance with Section 214-6.2C of these regulations
X
SUP
X
(d)
Bed-and-breakfast in accordance with Section 214-6.2D of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
(e)
Professional office in accordance with Section 214-6.2E of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
(f)
Group day-care home in accordance with Section 214-6.2F of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
(3)
Recreation-Related Facilities
(a)
Noncommercial swimming pool or tennis court, provided that it complies with yard setbacks for accessory structures
ZP
ZP
ZP
(4)
Animal-Related
(a)
Personal kennel
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(b)
Commercial kennel on a parcel containing at least 3.0 acres of land
X
SUP
X
(c)
Keeping of up to six hens (no roosters)
ZP
ZP
ZP
(d)
Horses and ponies for pleasure only in accordance with Section 214-6.3A of these regulations
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(e)
Horses and ponies for commercial purposes in accordance with Section 214-6.3B of these regulations
X
ZPNR
ZPNR
(5)
Agriculture-Related
(a)
Livestock on a farm when kept in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices as determined by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
(b)
Roadside stand for sale of agricultural produce, provided that at least 4 parking spaces are available
X
ZP
ZP
(c)
Building housing animals other than horses and ponies in accordance with Section 214-3.3B(7)
ZP
ZP
ZP
(d)
Manure storage in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices as follows:
[1]
Up to 2 cubic yards (2 CY)
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
[2]
Between 2 CY and 16 CY, provided that such material shall be stored at least 100 feet from any property line
ZPNR
ZPNR
ZPNR
[3]
If more than 16 CY or if between 2 CY and 16 CY and stored less than 100 feet from any property line
SUP
SUP
SUP
(e)
A building or dormitory on a farm to house farm workers at an active farm, provided that:
[1]
Such farm employs at least 6 workers at any given time during the year, including seasonal or otherwise
X
ZP
ZP
[2]
The number of workers housed shall not exceed 2 workers per cultivated acre, and such cultivated acreage must be within the Town of Somers and owned by the applicant
X
ZP
ZP
[3]
Before construction or use of any such facility, adequate documentation shall be submitted to demonstrate that the above criteria are met and will be maintained
X
ZP
ZP
(f)
Building(s) on a farm for storing and/or processing of agricultural products produced on the premises
X
ZP
ZP
(g)
Building(s) on a farm for storage and repair of motor vehicles and/or equipment for operation of such farm
X
ZP
ZP
(h)
Farm brewery, farm winery and/or farm distillery accessory to a farm and in accordance with Section 214-6.12
SUP
SUP
SUP
(6)
Residential-Related
(a)
Accessory apartment in accordance with Section 214-6.4 of these regulations
X
ZP
ZP
(b)
Use of an existing dwelling as a boardinghouse for up to 3 boarders or roomers, provided that the dwelling shall be occupied by the owner as his or her principal residence during any such rooming or boarding occupancy
X
ZPNR
ZPNR
(7)
Other
(a)
Satellite receivers and antennas (less than 1 meter in diameter)
X
ZPNR
ZPNR
(b)
Mobile homes for emergency housing or storage for up to 6 months necessitated by natural disaster or similar occurrence
X
ZP
ZP
(c)
Temporary trailer in accordance with Section 214-6.9A of these regulations
X
See Section 214-6.9A
See Section 214-6.9A
(d)
School bus shelters in accordance with Section 214-6.9B of these regulations
X
ZP
ZP
(e)
Nonprofit events in accordance with Section 214-6.9C of these regulations
X
ZP
ZP
(f)
Special events for commercial operations in accordance with Section 214-6.9D of these regulations
X
SUP
SUP
(g)
Outdoor wood-burning furnaces in accordance with Section 214-6.13 of these regulations
SUP
SUP
SUP
(h)
Antenna structures operated by licensed amateur radio operators:
[1]
When not located in the front yard
ZP
ZP
ZP
[2]
If located in the front yard
SUP
SUP
SUP
Provisions may be different in an open space subdivision approved in accordance with Section 214-6.6 of the Zoning Regulations and § 213-62 of the Somers Subdivision Regulations.
Regulation
Residential
A
Residential
A-1
Residential
A-2
A.
Density
(1)
Maximum density (lots per acre of buildable area on the parcel)
0.70
0.70
0.70
B.
Lot Area/Frontage
(1)
Minimum lot area (square feet)
40,000
40,000
20,000 (sewer) 40,000 (septic)
(2)
Minimum contiguous buildable area (square feet)
40,000
40,000
20,000
(3)
Minimum lot frontage (feet)
175
175
125
C.
Setbacks - Buildings/Structures
(1)
Minimum front setback (feet)
175
175
175
(a)
Principal structure
50
50
50
(b)
Accessory structure greater than 200 square feet (but not permitted in front yard unless in rear half of lot)
50
50
50
(c)
Accessory structure up to 200 square feet (but not permitted in front yard unless in rear half of lot)
50
50
50
(2)
Minimum side setback (feet)
(a)
Principal structure
25
25
15
(b)
Accessory structure greater than 200 square feet
25
25
15
(c)
Accessory structure up to 200 square feet
25
25
10
(3)
Minimum rear setback (feet)
(a)
Principal structure
40
40
40
(b)
Accessory structure greater than 200 square feet
25
25
25
(c)
Accessory structure up to 200 square feet
25
25
10
D.
Setbacks - Parking Area
(1)
Minimum side setback (feet)
10
10
5
(2)
Minimum rear setback (feet)
10
10
10
E.
Building Height
(1)
Maximum height: primary building
35 feet
2.5 stories
35 feet
2.5 stories
35 feet
2.5 stories
(2)
Maximum height: accessory building
20 feet
2.0 stories
20 feet
2.0 stories
20 feet
1.5 stories
F.
Lot Coverage
(1)
Maximum lot coverage
25%
25%
25%