Permit Info & Applications

Use this page to get started with wetland permitting. Staff at the Conservation Office is available to help with any questions you may have. 

Laws and Regulations

Please review the wetland regulations prior to initiating any permit application. The Massachusetts State Wetland Protection Act and associated regulations protect all wetlands for a variety of protected interests. Review applicable sections under the sections Regulations for All Wetlands and the Additional Regulations for Inland Wetlands. The Town of Mendon adopted a local Wetland Protections Bylaw on April 10th, 2012, and revised the Bylaw on May 2nd, 2025. The local Bylaw provides additional protections for wetland buffer zones, setbacks, vernal pools, and isolated wetlands. 

Permit Applications

If you are unsure whether you need a wetland permit, please use the Homeowners' Guide to Wetlands and Permitting. This is not a definitive determination of a wetland, but may help you identify a wetland on your property. See the Wetland Resource Area Graphic to visualize how jurisdictional Resource Areas may overlap. Mass Mapper is a great resource to help identify wetlands that may be on your property, but it does not capture everything. Past files on record with the office are also available to identify resource areas. Checklists in the following section will help you ensure your application is complete.

If you are unsure which permit application is appropriate for your project, please review the Wetland Regulations linked above or contact the Conservation office. Complete permit applications are required two weeks prior to the public hearing date. 2026 Meeting Schedule. 

A Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) is appropriate for minor projects in wetland buffer zones that will have no impact on a wetland resource area. It is the simplest and least expensive permit application, that can likely be filled out by yourself. A RDA results in a permit called a Determination of Applicability (DoA). A DoA is valid for three years and cannot be extended. 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) is the most common permit application that is used for more extensive work in the buffer zone or any work in wetland resource areas. A NOI is a more detailed application type, likely requiring professionally engineered plans and a wetland delineation. A NOI results in a permit called an Order of Conditions (OOC). An OOC is valid for three years and may be extended by the Commission if requested 30 days prior to the expiration date. An OOC must be closed with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) by submitting a Request for a Certificate of Compliance 

An Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) is used to confirm wetland delineations. This application is typically used for commercial projects or subdivisions to confirm delineations with the Commission early in the planning process to prevent revisions down the permitting road. An ANRAD results in a permit called an Order of Resource Area Delineation (ORAD). An ORAD is valid for three years and may be extended by the Commission if requested 30 days prior to the expiration date. 

A Request for an Extension to an OOC or ORAD must be submitted 30 days prior to the expiration of a valid permit in order to be scheduled for a meeting date. Extensions cannot be granted to any permit that has already expired. A permit may be extended by the Commission for one or more periods of up to three years each. 

A Request for an Amendment to an OOC may be appropriate for modifications to an Order of Conditions where it may not be necessary to file a new Notice of Intent. Amendments cannot be granted to any permit which has already expired. The Commission may deny an amendment and require a Notice of Intent for significant changes. 

A Request for a Certificate of Compliance (rCOC) is required to close an Order of Conditions at the end of a project. Since an OOC is recorded on the deed at the Worcester Registry of Deeds, a COC is required to clear the cloud on the title. 

Additional Forms Outlined in Checklist

Submitting Applications

Please utilize the checklists above for submittal requirements and directions. Complete permit applications are required to be submitted two weeks prior the the public hearing date 2026 Meeting Schedule. If abutter notices are required under the application type, you are responsible for acquiring a certified abutters list from the Mendon Assessor. Visit the Board of Assessors page and the Abutters List Request Form or visit the Assessors Office in person. You must mail out the notice 7 business days prior to the public hearing. The Conservation Office is responsible for placing the legal ad notice in the Milford Daily news once the application is submitted. A digital copy of the application must be submitted to concom@mendonma.gov and two physical copies must be submitted to the Conservation Office by Certified Mail or hand delivery. Applications must also be submitted to Mass DEP by following the directions on the checklist. 

Appeals

The Conservation Commissions decision on a permit or lack of action can be appealed to Mass DEP. The appeals process is outlined in the State Wetland Regulations 310 CMR 10.05 (7). The following persons may make an appeal request to Mass DEP. Contact the Conservation office or Mass DEP Central Region for assistance in an appeal. 

  1. the applicant;
  2. the owner, if not the applicant;
  3. any person aggrieved by a Determination of an Order;
  4. any owner of land abutting the land on which the work is to be done;
  5. any ten residents of the city or town where the land is located; and
  6. Mass DEP