Frequently Asked Questions

If you know what job you would like to apply for, you can apply online right now! If not, view the current employment opportunities.

All meeting agendas for Town Boards and Committees are posted here.

$3.00 per request. We accept cash, check or you can pay online for payment. Online Payment

Please make check payable to the Town of Chatham. To request a certified abutter's list please complete the form Certified Abutter's List Form and email akelley@chatham-ma.gov or fax 508-945-3550. 

Property must be Assessed to the record owner as of January 1st, transfers completed after January 1st will be mailed now to the new owner.

View Assessing Page

There are two types of personal property, secondary homeowners and business owners. Personal property is assessed and taxed by the Town where the property or business is situated on the January 1st assessment date as well as to the record owner of the property as of January 1.

Personal Property being taxed is generally those items not permanently affixed to real estate. Personal property is movable and can be removed without serious damage either to the real estate or to the item being removed. The categories of taxable personal property are:

 The most common type of personal property is 

• business furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

• Household furnishings, in property other than the principal residence typically a vacation or summer home or rental property.
• Farm Animals
• Furniture, fixtures, and equipment owned by utility companies.

Items one, two, and three are assessed by the local Board of Assessors. Item four is assessed by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and committed for collection by the local Board of Assessors.

The assessment date for Personal Property is as if the property were there as of January 1st of each year.  If you close your business during the course of the year you are still responsible for that tax bill. Also, please contact the Town Clerk's Office at the Town Hall to file for a statement of discontinuance.

Each year taxpayers are required to return a Form of List (State Tax Form 2) to the Assessors. The Form of List details taxable personal property and is required by the Massachusetts statute. Failure to complete this form could result in a loss of your right to appeal your valuation to the Appellate Tax Board.

Individuals are entitled to an exemption for household furniture and effects at their place of domicile. The tax is assessed upon non-real estate, tangible assets, such as; furniture & fixtures, machinery & equipment, goods and materials, and other chattels not part of real estate. Proof of residency: voter registration, driver's license, census, IRS Forms, etc.

Department of Revenue FAQ

Assessments are based on "Fair Market Value" using the comparative sales approach of sales as of January 1st, of each year.

The deadline for filing a real estate or personal property application for abatement is the same as the payment due date for the 1st half actual real estate/personal property tax bill. The Board of Assessors does not have jurisdiction to act on an application if the application if filed past the deadline. Motor Vehicle or Boat Excise you have 3 years from the due date on the bill or 1 year after payment. Please contact your leasing company if your vehicle was leased. Applications can found below.

Real Estate/PP Application Form 

Motor Vehicle Application Form 

Boat Application Form 

View Abatement Information Page

Taxes support the School system, Public Safety, Police and Fire, Beaches, DPW, and General Government.

The Planning Board meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 5PM for regular business and long range planning discussions. 

Planning Board Page

A subdivision involves the division of land into two or more lots. An ANR plan is the division of land into lots with frontage on existing roads, whether those roads are public or private. Since the latter type does not create new roads, endorsement of an ANR plan by the Planning Board is a certification that Approval under the Subdivision Control Law is Not Required.

This would depend on the zoning district the property is located, and any environmental or physical impediments that may affect the development potential of any given site. That determination can be best made by a Registered Professional Land Surveyor. We cannot recommend a land surveyor but suggest you ask friends for their recommendations or look in the phone book for a list of surveying firms.

No use, other than single-family dwellings and their accessory structures, approved home occupations, agricultural and fishing uses, roadside stands, and those uses permitted in the Conservancy Districts as set forth in Section IV. A of the Zoning Bylaw shall be established, erected, enlarged, or changed except in conformity with a Site Plan approved by the Planning Board.

Planning Board Page

Town Meeting votes to adopt zoning bylaw amendments, which require a two-thirds vote. Zoning bylaw amendments are typically presented to Town Meeting as articles printed in Warrant.  Prior to Town Meeting the Planning Board holds a public hearing for the purpose of accepting public comment on the article and making a recommendation to Town Meeting.  The article is also voted on by the Finance Committee and Select Board. Once the article is approved by Town Meeting and the MA Attorney General, the amendment is effective retro-active to the date of publication of the public hearing notice.  

All are available at the Town Hall Annex counter, for a fee. The Zoning Bylaw is also available on the Town’s website.

Planning Division Page

Contact the Building Department for applicable forms and requirements.

Building Department Staff Directory Page

View a current list of the Planning Board

Planning Board Page

The Building Commissioner who is also the Chief Zoning Officer. 

Building Commissioner Staff Directory Page

The Commission holds public hearings three times a month on the first, second and fourth Wednesdays to review applications. Public Hearings start at 1 pm, in the large meeting room located in the Town Annex building at 261 George Ryder Road. You may also attend online through the link on the agenda located at https://www.mytowngovernment.org/. 

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The Commission is a board of 7 volunteers who are citizens of the Town of Chatham and who are appointed by the Select Board for a three-year term.

The Commission's primary responsibility is to administer both local and state wetlands protection statutes (the Wetlands Protection Act, MGL Chapter 131, s. 40 and the Chatham Wetlands Protection Bylaw, Chapter 272). This means that the Commission reviews proposed projects to be undertaken in areas of its jurisdiction. The Commission's objective is to permit projects while protecting the natural resources and the public interests they provide.

The Commission is also responsible for overseeing several town-owned conservation lands.

Both freshwater and coastal wetlands are protected. In addition to the obvious wetlands such as marshes, ponds, bogs, etc., other areas considered wetland resource areas include coastal banks, inland banks, and land subject to coastal storm flowage (the 100-year flood plain). Additionally, the upland within 100 feet of any of these resource areas and the land within 200 feet of a river or perennial stream are protected.

Generally, any activity that would constitute altering, removing, filling, dredging, or building upon an area under the jurisdiction of the Commission as described above requires Conservation Commission approval. An application is to be filed with the Commission prior to undertaking the activity. For small projects, an "Administrative Review" may be all that is needed. Any questions about whether a proposed activity requires Commission review should be directed to the Conservation office. Please note that alteration includes the cutting of trees and/or vegetation.

A copy of Chapter 272, Chatham's Wetlands Protection Bylaw, and the regulations can be purchased for $10 and is available at the Town Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. It may also be downloaded at no charge from this website on the Conservation Division's webpage.

Please see the schedule posted under Other Documents at https://www.chatham-ma.gov/232/Conservation-Division.

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Native, or indigenous plants, are plants that have evolved over thousands of years in a particular region. They have adapted to the geography, hydrology, and climate of that region. They occur in communities, meaning they have evolved together with other plants. As a result, a community of native plants provides habitat for a variety of native wildlife species.

Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought-resistant, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment. Once established, they save time and money by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water, and maintenance.

An invasive plant is a term for a plant species that has been introduced into a local area from other parts of the country or another continent and has become an environmental weed pest. Characteristics of harmful invasive plant species include:

• The ability of the species to reproduce in large quantities
• Tolerance of many different soil and weather conditions
• Aggressive growth habit and the ability to spread rampantly
• There are no natural enemies such as insects or disease to control their populations

Invasive plants pose a long-term threat to biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and the balance of nature on which all species depend. They spread into natural areas where they crowd out native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. These weeds disrupt ecosystem patterns and processes, such as hydrology, natural plant succession, and soil erosion.

Invasive plants are difficult to control and can be a real nuisance in landscaped areas. Japanese Bamboo, for example, spreads aggressively both by seed and vegetatively and is extremely difficult to manage.

Invasive species can interfere with the enjoyment of public and private conservation lands. Their tall growth habitat and ability to decrease the diversity of wild areas by creating a monoculture (solid stands where nothing else can grow), can greatly diminish scenic views and vistas. Phragmites are just one example, commonly seen impeding the view of freshwater wetlands and salt marshes.

Harmful invasive plants have the potential to adversely alter the ecological balance of the Cape's sensitive and globally unique coastal plain ponds. Freshwater ponds are threatened by the invasion of exotic pondweeds. One such weed, hydrilla, has the potential to completely choke ponds, making it impossible for people to swim and fish. Therefore, invasive species have a negative impact, both on aesthetics and recreational activities.

Further introduction of invasive plants and a failure to manage invasive plant populations will result in the reduction of biological diversity. In addition, it will have adverse impacts on ponds and marshes by altering significant ecosystems and habitats. Ultimately, invasive plants pose a threat to fisheries, outdoor recreation, tourism, and the character of the Cape. See a list of invasive plant species for Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

• Seek information on invasive plants from botanical gardens, horticulturists, conservationists, and government agencies.
• Remove invasive plants from your property. If they can't be removed, inquire about ways to control them, (but remember! any proposed work within a wetland or within 100 feet of a wetland requires prior authorization from the local Conservation Commission).
• Don't over-fertilize - this encourages weeds.
• Don't plant potentially invasive species.
• Support public policies and programs to control invasive plants.
• Ask for native plant species when buying plants and learn the Latin names so you won't be fooled by an exotic imposter or hybrid.
• Be sure your kayak, canoe, paddles, and fishing boat are clear of any vegetation that may have been picked up elsewhere
• Seek native species which offer more to wildlife, the local ecology, and you! A great resource is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Guide - "Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants"

The person performing the marriage ceremony must complete and sign the original license (in black ink) and return it to the Town Clerk who issued the marriage license.

The clergyperson must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. This certificate, which is issued by the Public Records Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is to be returned to the clerk of the city or town where the license was issued.

View Non-Resident Clergy Information

Yes, it is possible for a non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative or family friend) to obtain special permission to perform a marriage from the Governor. Contact the Commissions Section at 617-727-2836.

View One-Day Solemnization Certificate Information

Notify the Social Security Administration and fill out the SS-5 form.

View SS-5 Social Security Administration Form (PDF)

The Board meets on Monday evenings at 4 pm at:
Town Hall Annex
261 George Ryder Road
Lower Level Small Meeting Room
Chatham, MA 02633

Meetings are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (unless posted otherwise, please confirm with the Health Department Secretary).

The Health Department has files on most properties in Chatham. Call the Health Department to see if one is available for your property. If we have the information, we will make copies for you to pick up.

The Chatham Board of Health's Interim Nitrogen Loading Regulation states that for any new construction or additions to an existing dwelling, one bedroom per 10,000 square feet of lot area is allowed. Repairs to existing Title 5 septic systems are allowed to be designed and installed only for the existing number of bedrooms on the property.

Pumping the septic system every two to three years is recommended for most properties under normal use.

The septic tank must be 10 feet away and the leaching area must be 20 feet away from a foundation wall. All components can be 10 feet away from a slab foundation or a frost wall (the leaching area must be at an elevation below the slab or footings of frost wall). An in-ground swimming pool is required to have the same setbacks as a full foundation.

In accordance with Chatham Board of Health regulations, Title 5 inspections are valid for 18 months. If the dwelling is a part of a condominium complex with greater than five units, then the condominium association is required to have all its septic systems inspected every three years. Therefore, these inspections are valid for three years. Town of Chatham regulations require the system to be inspected within sixty days of the sale, or a waiver must be received from the Health Department.

Certificates of compliance are accepted in lieu of Title 5 inspections for two years from the date the compliance was issued.

The system should not be pumped in the two weeks before the inspection. The tank may be pumped after the inspection is completed for maintenance purposes.

Cesspools are considered an automatic failure criterion for real estate transfers within the Town of Chatham. They must be upgraded to Title 5 as part of the transfer of the property.

Transfers between spouses are not required to have a Title 5 inspection completed. The introduction of new parties or beneficiaries to a trust, including any change in ownership or form of ownership is subject to the inspection and upgrade requirements of the real estate inspection regulation.

Wrap the bird and put in your trash for disposal.

All public beaches are tested weekly by the Barnstable County Lab during the summer season. Test results are posted at the Town Offices, Annex Permit Department, and on the Towns website. Testing information also available at: https://www.capecod.gov/departments/health-environment/programs-services/water-and-wastewater/beach-sample-results/.

The Health Department staff inspects all restaurants in Chatham at least twice a year.

The Health Department has a completer list of licensed septic installers; licensed septic pumpers and engineers available at the office.

The Health Department recommends that residents connected to a private well have their water tested annually. Testing options include private laboratories listed in the phone book or at the Barnstable County Laboratory. If you choose the latter option, you may pick up a water sample bottle at the Health Department office, and they will provide details on where to bring the sample once collected.

The Chatham Health Department sponsors flu shot clinics every fall and early winter. You may call the Health Department for details beginning in September. As information is available it will be posted in the local paper and Town website.

Some vaccines are supplied by the State Department of Public Health are available to town residents by calling the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod at 508-957-7423, or the Barnstable County Health Department Nursing Division at 774-223-7175.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are a group of chemical compounds called PFAS. Two PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), were extensively produced and are the most studied and regulated of these chemicals. Several other PFAS that are similar to PFOS and PFOA exist. These PFAS are contained in some firefighting foams used to extinguish oil and gas fires. They have also been used in a number of industrial processes and to make carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food and other materials (e.g., cookware) that are resistant to water, grease and stains. Because these chemicals have been used in many consumer products, most people have been exposed to them.

While consumer products and food are the largest source of exposure to these chemicals for most people, drinking water can be an additional source of exposure in communities where these chemicals have contaminated water supplies. Such contamination is typically localized and associated with a specific facility, for example, an airfield at which they were used for firefighting or a facility where these chemicals were produced or used.

On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published its public drinking water standard or Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Limit (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion (ppt) – for the sum of the concentrations of six PFAS. The six PFAS are: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). MassDEP abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6.” This drinking water standard is set to be protective against adverse health effects for all people consuming the water. 

For information on the PFAS6 drinking water standard see: 310 CMR 22.00: The Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations. For more information about the technical details behind the MMCL, see MassDEP’s technical support document at: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): An Updated Subgroup Approach to Groundwater and Drinking Water Values.

The MassDEP drinking water standard is based on studies of the six PFAS substances in laboratory animals and studies of exposed people. Overall, these studies indicate that exposure to sufficiently elevated levels of the six PFAS compounds may cause developmental effects in fetuses during pregnancy and in breastfed infants. Effects on the thyroid, the liver, kidneys, hormone levels and the immune system have also been reported. Some studies suggest a cancer risk may exist following long-term exposures to elevated levels of some of these compounds.

It is important to note that consuming water with PFAS6 above the drinking water standard does not mean that adverse effects will occur. The degree of risk depends on the level of the chemicals and the duration of exposure. The drinking water standard assumes that individuals drink only contaminated water, which typically overestimates exposure, and that they are also exposed to PFAS6 from sources beyond drinking water, such as food. To enhance safety, several uncertainty factors are additionally applied to account for differences between test animals and humans, and to account for differences between people. Scientists are still working to study and better understand the health risks posed by exposures to PFAS. If your water has been found to have PFAS6 and you have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult with your doctor.

If you get your water from a public water system, you should contact them for this information. For a contact list for all public water systems in the Commonwealth you may visit:

https://www.mass.gov/lists/drinking-water-health-safety#contacts then under “Contacts” click on “MA Public Water Supplier contacts sorted By Town.” For private well owners see the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Private Well Drinking Water Supplies FAQ for more information.

• Sensitive subgroups, including pregnant or nursing women, infants and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system, should consider using bottled water that has been tested for PFAS6, for their drinking water, cooking of foods that absorb water (like pasta) and to make infant formula. Bottled water that has been tested for PFAS6, or formula that does not require adding water, are alternatives
• For older children and adults, the MMCL is applicable to a lifetime of consuming the water. For these groups, shorter duration exposures present less risk. However, if you are concerned about your exposure while steps are taken to assess and lower the PFAS6 concentration in your drinking water, use of bottled water that has been tested for PFAS6 will reduce your exposure.
• Water contaminated with PFAS6 can be treated by some home water treatment systems that are certified to remove PFAS6 by an independent testing group such as NSF, UL, or Water Quality Association. These may include point of entry (POE) systems, which treat all the water entering a home, or point of use (POU) devices, which treat water where it is used, such as at a faucet.
• In most situations the water can be safely used for washing and rinsing foods and washing dishes.
• For washing items that might go directly into your mouth, like dentures and pacifiers, only a small amount of water might be swallowed and the risk of experiencing adverse health effects is very low. You can minimize any risk by not using water with PFAS6 greater than the MMCL to wash such items.
• The water can be safely used by adults and older children for brushing teeth. However, use of bottled water should be considered for young children as they may swallow more water than adults when they brush their teeth. If you are concerned about your exposure, even though the risk is very low, you could use bottled water for these activities.
• Because PFAS are not well absorbed through the skin, routine showering or bathing are not a significant concern unless PFAS6 levels are very high. Shorter showers or baths, especially for children who may swallow water while playing in the bath, or for people with severe skin conditions (e.g. significant rashes) would limit any absorption from the water. Based on information from the Connecticut Department of Health, which is the only State to have issued guidance on this issue, water should not be used, long-term, for showering and bathing if the PFAS6 level exceeds 210 ppt.
• For pets or companion animals, the health effects and levels of concern to mammalian species, like dogs, cats and farm animals, are likely to be similar to those for people. However, because these animals are different sizes, have different lifespans, and drink different amounts of water than people it’s not possible to predict what health effects an animal may experience from drinking water long-term with PFAS6 concentrations greater than the MMCL. There is some evidence that birds may be more sensitive to PFAS6. There is little data on PFAS6 effects on other species like turtles, lizards, snakes and fish. As a precaution, if you have elevated levels of PFAS6 in your water, you may wish to consider using alternative water for your pets. If you have concerns, you may also want to consult with your veterinarian.
• For gardening or farming, certain plants may take up some PFAS6 from irrigation water and soil. Unfortunately, there is not enough scientific data to predict how much will end up in a specific crop. Since people eat a variety of foods, the risk from the occasional consumption of produce grown in soil or irrigated with water contaminated with PFAS6 is likely to be low. Families who grow a large fraction of their produce would experience higher potential exposures and should consider the following steps, which should help reduce PFAS6 exposures from gardening:
  • Maximize use of rainwater or water from another safe source for your garden.
  • Wash your produce in clean water after you harvest it.
  • Enhance your soil with clean compost rich in organic matter, which has been reported to reduce PFAS uptake into plants.
  • Use raised beds with clean soil.
• Note on Boiling Water: Boiling water will not destroy these chemicals and will increase their levels somewhat due to water evaporation.
• NOTE ON BOTTLED WATER: Even though bottlers are not required to test for PFAS6, some bottlers have. The best way to know if the bottled water you are drinking or plan to drink has been tested for PFAS6 is to contact the bottler and ask for the latest PFAS testing results. Contact information should be available on the bottle or you may need to search the internet. For more information, see MassDEP’s website on PFAS and bottled water at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/per-andpolyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas#bottled-water-and-home-water-filters-.
• NOTE ON POU and POE TREATMENT DEVICES: Point of Use (POU) and Point of Entry (POE) treatment devices are not specifically designed to meet Massachusetts’ drinking water standard for PFAS6, there are systems that have been designed to meet the USEPA’s Health Advisory of 70 ng/L for the sum of PFOS and PFOA. Any treatment device you use should be certified to meet the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standard P473 to remove PFOS and PFOA compounds so that the sum of their concentrations is below the USEPA Health Advisory of 70 ng/L. Please be aware that 70 ng/L is significantly greater than the MassDEP’s drinking water standard of 20 ppt for the PFAS6 compounds. Many of these treatment devices certified to meet NSF standard P473 will likely be able to reduce PFAS6 levels to well below 70 ppt, but there are no federal or state testing requirements for these treatment devices. If you chose to install a treatment device, you should check to see if the manufacturer has independently verifiable PFAS6 monitoring results demonstrating that the device can reduce PFAS6 below 20 ppt. See more detailed information on POU/POE treatment systems in the Private Well Factsheet at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-private-well-drinking-water-supplies-faq.

• MassDEP PFAS Information
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health PFAS webpage
• Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS resources
• Association of State Drinking Water Administrators PFAS webpage
• EPA’s Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Statement for PFOS and PFOA

• MassDEP information on drinking water treatment devices
• NSF PFAS information
• USEPA information on PFAS and treatment devices
• UL information on PFAS and treatment devices
• The Water Quality Association information on PFAS, including treatment (PDF)