A. 
No structure shall be erected or used or land used except as set forth in § 290-2-2.3, "Use Regulation Schedule", or in § 2-2.4, "Accessory Buildings and Uses", unless exempted by § 2-2.5, or by statute. Uses not expressly provided for herein are prohibited.
B. 
Symbols employed below shall mean the following:
Y
A permitted use.
N
An excluded or prohibited use.
SP
A use authorized under special permit from the Board of Appeals as provided under Article 5-3.
SP*
A use authorized under special permit from the Planning Board as provided under Article 5-3.
SP#
A use authorized under special permit from the Select Board as provided under Article 5-3.
When an activity might be classified under more than one of the following uses, the more specific classification shall govern; if equally specific, the more restrictive shall govern.
[Amended 4-11-2023 ATM by Art. 29; 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23; 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 24; 10-7-2025 STM by Art. 7]
USE REGULATION SCHEDULE
Principal Use
RA
HC
GB
VB
V
GBP
IA
IB
IC
AP
SSID
A. RESIDENTIAL
Detached single-family dwelling
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Accessory Apartment (ADU)6
see footnote 6
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Mixed Use Structures
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
SP*
Dwelling units above commercial or office uses
N
N
SP*
SP*6
SP*6
N
N
N
SP*
N
SP*
Conservation subdivision
SP*
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Duplex and Two Family Dwelling
SP*
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
N
N
N
Planned Neighborhood Development
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
Townhouse Development
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
N
N
Mixed Use Structures, dwelling units above commercial or office uses
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
SP*
Agricultural use exempted by G.L. c. 40A, s. 3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Agricultural use not exempted by G.L. c. 40A, s. 3
SP
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Cranberry receiving station
SP
N
SP*
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Child care facility or day care facility exempted by GL c. 40A, s. 3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Municipal facilities
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Airport
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Heliport
N
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
N
Cemetery
SP
N
SP
N
SP
N
N
N
N
SP
N
Earth Removal+
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Mobile Home Park
SP
N
N
N
N
N
SP
SP
N
SP
N
Commercial Campgrounds
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
B. COMMERCIAL
RA
HC
GB
VB
V
GBP
IA
IB
IC
AP
SSID
Office, including medical office
N
Y
Y
Y
SP*
Y
Y
N
Y
SP*
Y
Bank, including freestanding ATM and drive-in facilities
N
Y
Y
Y
SP*
Y
SP*
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
Retail sales with manufacturing or assembly in a building less than 20,000 sq. ft. building footprint.
N
Y
SP*
Y
SP*
Y
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
SP*
Retail sales or rental less than 80,000 square feet in gross floor area for a single structure without display outdoors
N
Y
Y
N
SP*
Y
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
Retail sales or rental less than 80,000 square feet in gross floor area for a single structure with display outdoors
N
Y
SP*
N
N
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
Retail sales or rental less than 25,000 sq. ft. in gross floor area for a single structure without display outdoors
N
Y
SP*
Y
N
Y
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
Retail sales or rental less than 25,000 sq. ft. in gross floor area for a single structure with display outdoors1
N
Y
SP*
Y
N
Y
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
Motor vehicle service station
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Motor vehicle repair shop
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Establishment for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, with or without entertainment, including clubs, whether for profit or not for profit
N
SP
SP
SP
SP
N
SP
SP
N
SP
SP
Junkyard or automobile graveyard
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Hospital or sanitarium
N
Y
SP
N
N
Y
SP
N
N
N
SP
Convalescent or nursing home, or assisted elderly housing
SP
Y
SP
N
N
N
SP
N
N
N
SP
Hotel or motel
N
Y
SP*
N
N
Y
SP*
N
N
N
SP
Bed and Breakfast
SP*
N
Y
Y
SP*
N
N
N
N
N
SP
Print shop
N
Y
SP*
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Craftsman/Tradesman
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Essential services
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Service shop
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
Restaurant, not including fast-food or drive-in restaurant
N
Y
Y
Y
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
SP*
Y
Fast-Food or drive-in restaurant
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
Places of assembly
N
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
Animal Hospital or Hobby or Commercial Kennel2
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
Y
SP*
N
N
SP*
Drive-in service at facility other than restaurant or bank
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
Adult Use
N
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
Landscaping business3
SP*
N
SP*
N
SP*
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Nursery/Greenhouse
Y
N
Y
SP*
SP*
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Car wash
N
N
SP*
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Commercial recreation, outdoors3
SP*
N
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
Major Commercial Project
N
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
SP*
Tattoo Parlor/Body Piercing
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
Non-Exempt educational use
N
Y
N
SP*
N
Y
SP*
SP*
N
N
Y
C. INDUSTRIAL
RA
HC
GB
VB
V
GBP
IA
IB
IC
AP
SSID
Light manufacturing in a building with less than 20,000 sq.ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
SP*
Y
Light manufacturing in a building with more than 20,000 sq.ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Manufacturing, processing, assembly, or fabrication in a building with less than 20,000 sq. ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
Manufacturing, processing, assembly, or fabrication in a building with more than 20,000 sq. ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
SP*
Y
Y
N
N
Wholesale, warehouse, or distribution facility in a building with less than 20,000 sq. ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
SP*
SP*
N
N
SP*
Wholesale, warehouse, or distribution facility in a building with more than 20,000 sq. ft. building footprint
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
SP*
SP*
Bituminous concrete or concrete batching plant
N
N
N
N
N
Y
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
N
Contractor's yard
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
N
N
SP*
Sawmill4
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
Y
N
N
Truck, bus or freight terminal
SP
N
SP*
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
N
N
N
Auto Body Shops
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
SP*
N
Self-Storage Facility
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Research and Development facilities, not limited to Renewable or Alternative Energy research and development facilities
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Manufacturing, processing, assembly, or fabrication of alternative energy components
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Publicly Owned Treatment Works or POTW
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment Facility or PWTF5
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
Large-scale ground mounted solar photovoltaic installations
SP*
N
N
N
N
SP*++
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*++
N
Battery Storage Tier 1
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Battery Storage Tier 2
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
Battery Storage Tier 3
N
SP*
N
N
N
N
SP*
SP*
SP*
SP*
N
+
Allowed by right with approval by the Earth Removal Committee under the General Bylaws.
++
Denotes Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic limited to 15% maximum area within the underlying zoning district
+++
See Article 4-11
1
Outdoor displays and sales of flowers and plants are allowed by special permit in the Village District.
2
The raising, breeding, and training of dogs that qualifies as agricultural use under G.L.c. 40A Section 3 shall be allowed on parcels of more than 5 acres in any district. See Chapter 114, Article II, of the General By-laws
3
Minimum sites of 5 acres in RA district
4
Minimum sites of 5 acres in RA District
5
Does not include package treatment plants as accessory uses to subdivision, commercial or industrial development
6
Accessory Apartment/ADU are not subject to Minimum Lot Size
Any use permitted as a principal use is also allowed as an accessory use, as are others customarily accessory and incidental to permitted principal uses. The occupation or profession shall be carried on wholly within the principal building, or alternately the home occupation may be carried on within a structure accessory thereto.
A. 
Home Occupations As of Right. Businesses or professions incidental to and customarily associated with the principal residential use of premises may be engaged in as an accessory use by a resident of that dwelling; provided, however, that all of the following conditions shall be satisfied:
(1) 
The occupation or profession shall be carried on wholly within the principal building; or alternately the home occupation may be carried on within a structure accessory thereto which has been in existence at least three (3) years, without extension thereof.
(2) 
Not more than thirty (30) percent of the combined floor area of the residence and any qualified accessory structures shall be used in the home occupation.
(3) 
No person not a member of the household shall be employed on the premises in the home occupation.
(4) 
The home occupation shall not serve clients, customers, pupils, salespersons, or the like on the premises.
(5) 
There shall be no sign, exterior display, no exterior storage of materials, and no other exterior indication of the home occupation, or other variation from the residential character of the premises.
(6) 
No disturbance, as defined in § 290-3-8.1, shall be caused, nor shall the home occupation use or store hazardous materials in quantities greater than associated with normal household use.
(7) 
Traffic generated shall not exceed volumes normally expected in a residential neighborhood.
B. 
Home Occupations by Special Permit. Businesses or professions incidental to and customarily associated with the principal residential use of premises may be engaged in as an accessory use by a resident of that dwelling upon the issuance of a special permit by the Board of Appeals; provided, however, that all of the following conditions shall be satisfied:
(1) 
All of the requirements of § 290-2-2.4A(1), (2), and (7).
(2) 
Not more than one (1) person not a member of the household shall be employed on the premises in the home occupation.
(3) 
An unlighted sign of not more than three (3) square feet in area may be permitted. The visibility of exterior storage of materials and other exterior indications of the home occupation, or other variation from the residential character of the premises, shall be minimized through screening and other appropriate devices.
(4) 
Parking generated by the home occupation shall be accommodated off-street, other than in a required front yard, and shall not occupy more than 35% of lot area.
(5) 
No disturbance, as defined in Article 3-8, shall be caused. The use or storage of hazardous materials in quantities greater than associated with normal household use shall be subject to design requirements to protect against discharge to the environment.
C. 
Accessory Scientific Uses. Uses, whether or not on the same parcel as activities permitted as a matter of right, which are necessary in connection with scientific research or scientific development or related production, may be permitted upon the issuance of a special permit by the Board of Appeals, provided that the Board finds that the proposed use does not substantially derogate from the public good.
D. 
Boarders in Single-Family Dwelling. The renting of rooms and/or furnishing of board to not more than one person in a single-family dwelling by the owner/occupant thereof shall be a permitted accessory use. The renting of rooms and/or furnishing of board to two, three or four persons in a single-family dwelling by the owner/occupant thereof shall be an accessory use permitted upon the issuance of a special permit by the Board of Appeals.
E. 
Dimensional Regulation; Accessory Uses. Accessory structures may not be placed within required yards; provided, however, that
(1) 
permitted signs may be located within a required front yard; and
(2) 
a permitted one-story accessory structure may be located within a required rear or side yard provided that it is not located within 10 feet of any property line or in front of the front line of the principal building. However, where a detached single-family dwelling is located one hundred (100) feet or more back from the front lot line, an accessory building may be placed within the front yard provided that said accessory structure is located no closer than sixty (60) feet from the front property line and meets all other setback requirements for an accessory structure. An accessory structure in a mobile home park may be located any distance from any property line, provided it is behind the front line of the principal structure and at least five (5) feet from any dwelling.
(3) 
garages, tool sheds, shops, well houses, and the like shall not exceed a floor area of 700 square feet. Barns or buildings used to house animals or poultry shall not exceed a floor area of 600 square feet, unless located on a lot greater than 5 acres.
F. 
Major Recreational Equipment. No major unregistered recreational equipment shall be stored on any lot in a residential district other than in a carport or enclosed building or behind the front building line of the principal building, provided however that such equipment may be parked anywhere on residential premises for a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours. No such equipment shall be used for living or housekeeping purposes when stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use. All equipment which does not conform to these regulations shall be considered nonconforming.
A. 
Applicability. This zoning by-law shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun, or to a building or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing required by G.L. c. 40A, s. 5 at which this zoning by-law, or any relevant part thereof, was adopted. Such prior, lawfully existing nonconforming uses and structures may continue, provided that no modification of the use or structure is accomplished, unless authorized hereunder.
B. 
Nonconforming Uses. The Board of Appeals may award a special permit to change a nonconforming use in accordance with this section only if it determines that such change or extension shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming use to the neighborhood. The following types of changes to nonconforming uses may be considered by the Board of Appeals:
(1) 
Change or substantial extension of the use;
(2) 
Change from one nonconforming use to another, less detrimental, nonconforming use.
C. 
Nonconforming Structures. The Board of Appeals may award a special permit to reconstruct, extend, alter, or change a nonconforming structure in accordance with this section only if it determines that such reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming structure to the neighborhood. The following types of changes to nonconforming structures may be considered by the Board of Appeals:
(1) 
Reconstruction, extension or structural change of a nonconforming structure, provided said reconstruction, extension or change does not increase an existing nonconformity or create a new nonconformity including, but not limited to, an extension of an exterior wall at or along the same nonconforming distance within a required yard. Except as provided in § 290-2-2.5D, any increase in an existing structural nonconformity or creation of a new structural nonconformity may be permitted only upon the issuance of a variance.
(2) 
Alteration to provide for a substantially different purpose or for the same purpose in a substantially different manner or to a substantially greater extent;
(3) 
Reconstruction after a catastrophe, provided that the owner shall apply for a building permit and start operations for reconstruction on said premises within eighteen (18) months after such catastrophe, and provided that the building(s) as reconstructed shall be only as great in volume or area as the original nonconforming structure.
D. 
Nonconforming Single and Two Family Residential Structures. Nonconforming single and two family residential structures may be reconstructed, extended, altered, or structurally changed upon a determination by the Zoning Enforcement Officer that such proposed reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change does not increase the nonconforming nature of said structure, and the issuance of a building permit, where applicable. In the event that the Zoning Enforcement Officer determines that the nonconforming nature of such structure would be increased by the proposed reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change, the Board of Appeals may, by special permit, allow such reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change where it determines that the proposed modification will not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming structure to the neighborhood.
E. 
Abandonment or Non-Use. A nonconforming use or structure which has been abandoned, or not used for a period of two years, shall lose its protected status and be subject to all of the provisions of this zoning by-law.
F. 
Reversion to Nonconformity. No nonconforming use shall, if changed to a conforming use, revert back to a nonconforming use.
G. 
The following circumstances shall not be deemed to increase the non-conforming nature of any residential structure:
(1) 
alteration to a structure which complies with all current setback, yard, building coverage, and building height requirements but is located on a lot with insufficient area, where the alteration will also comply with all of said current requirements.
(2) 
alteration to a structure which complies with all current setback, yard, building coverage, and building height requirements but is located on a lot with insufficient frontage, where the alteration will also comply with all of said current requirements.
(3) 
alteration to a structure which encroaches upon one or more required yard or setback areas, where the alteration will comply with all current setback, yard, building coverage and building height requirements; the provisions of this subsection shall apply regardless of whether the lot complies with current area and frontage requirements.
(4) 
alteration to the side or face of a structure which encroaches upon a required yard or setback area, where the alteration will not encroach upon such area to a distance greater than the existing structure; the provisions of this subsection shall apply regardless of whether the lot complies with current area and frontage requirements.
(5) 
alteration to a non-conforming structure which will not increase the footprint of the existing structure provided that existing height restrictions shall not be exceeded.
[Amended 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23; 10-7-2025 STM by Art. 7]
A. 
Purpose.
(1) 
For the purpose of enabling persons to provide small additional dwelling units to rent or reside in without adding to the number of buildings in the Town, or substantially altering the appearance of the Town for the reason of (a) enabling owners of single family Principal dwellings to share space and the burdens of home ownership or (b) providing an alternative housing option for persons. Accessory apartments shall not be allowed in a Townhouse Development pursuant to Article 3-11.
(2) 
An accessory apartment is incorporated within, attached, or separate to a single-family Principal dwelling and is a subordinate part of the single-family dwelling and complies with the criteria below.
(3) 
The use of an accessory dwelling units for short term rentals, as defined in G.L. Chapter 64G Section 1, shall be prohibited.
B. 
Requirements.
(1) 
The habitable area of the accessory dwelling shall not exceed 1/2 the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(2) 
Once an accessory apartment has been added to a single-family residence, the accessory apartment shall never be enlarged beyond the nine hundred (900) square feet or 1/2 the gross floor area, whichever is smaller.
(3) 
An Accessory Apartment shall maintain a separate entrance. Any new outside entrance to serve an accessory apartment shall be located on the side or in the rear of the building or through an entry hall or corridor shared with the Principal Dwelling sufficient to meet the requirements of the Building Code for safe egress.
(4) 
The front of the primary residence shall be the side a property uses as the required frontage.
(5) 
Only one (1) accessory apartment may be created within a single-family house or house lot by right.
(6) 
All parking to the Principal dwelling and the accessory apartment shall be provided off-street unless otherwise waived by the Carver Fire Department.
(7) 
Detatched accessory apartments units shall require a) a separate address and b) access for Emergency Response via a twelve foot (12') wide all weather surface driveway with two feet of clearance on each side.
(8) 
Pursuant to MGL Chapter 40A Section 3, more than one accessory dwelling unit within a Principal home or house lot shall require a Special Permit from the Planning Board pursuant to MGL Chapter 40A Section 9 and Article 5-3 of the Carver Zoning By-laws.
(9) 
Within an historic district, a certificate of appropriateness from the Carver Historic District Commission shall be required.
A. 
Purpose. For the purpose of allowing a mixture of different types of residential housing in the Town without increasing the number of buildings, or substantially altering the appearance of the Town and to allow greater utilization of commercial developments, a special permit may be granted in accordance with the following requirements.
B. 
Procedure.
(1) 
The Planning Board is hereby designated the Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA) for Accessory Dwelling Units above Commercial Developments. Accessory dwelling units above commercial developments may only be allowed in the Village and General Business Districts.
(2) 
The SPGA shall follow the procedural requirements for special permits as set forth in Section 9 of M.G.L. Chapter 40A. After notice and public hearing and after due consideration of the reports and recommendations of other town boards, commissions and or departments, the SPGA may grant such a permit.
(3) 
Commercial buildings may be permitted a base density of two accessory dwelling units to be located on the second floor. Additional accessory dwelling units may be permitted in the special permit application by the transferring of development rights. The number of accessory dwelling units that may be permitted shall be determined by using the total gross square feet of first floor commercial space multiplied by .001. The maximum number of accessory dwelling units allowed for any commercial building shall be 15.
C. 
Design Requirements.
(1) 
All commercial developments with accessory dwelling units shall be limited to a maximum of two stories.
(2) 
The primary entrance/stairway to the second story accessory dwelling units shall be enclosed.
(3) 
One clearly marked parking space within 100 feet of the primary entrance should be provided per unit. This space may be double counted towards the total parking requirement of the development depending on the commercial uses, traffic flow and other site conditions as determined by the Board. In cases where the Board may have concerns about the total number of parking spaces, a condition of the permit may require the applicant to provide additional spaces.
(4) 
The development shall conform to the applicable requirements of Title V of the State Environmental Code[1] and compliance with any conditions which may be imposed by the Board of Health with regard to sanitary wastewater disposal on the site.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 310 CMR 15.00.
(5) 
The Architectural details including the textures of the walls and roof materials of new building or additions to existing buildings should enhance the rural character of the development and surrounding area. The use of pitched roofs, dormers and setbacks to alter the roofline is encouraged.
(6) 
Design shall meet Massachusetts State Building Code.
(7) 
All commercial developments with accessory dwelling units shall be limited to 1,000 square feet of total gross livable space/unit.
(8) 
Dwelling units may be allowed on the ground floor under this Special Permit provision in a Village (V) or Village Business (VB) District provided they meet all other requirements under § 290-2-2.7.