Code Adoption Ordinance
Code Adoption Ordinance
Town of Lyme

Be it enacted and ordained by the Town of Lyme in Town Meeting convened:

§ 1-1. Adoption of Code.
The compilation of the ordinances of the Town of Lyme, codified and consolidated into chapters
and sections in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof, and consisting of Chapters 1
through 279, is hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as the "Code of the Town of
Lyme, Connecticut," hereinafter called the "Code." All provisions contained in the compilation
provided for herein and known as the "Code of the Town of Lyme" shall be in force and effect on
and after the effective date of this ordinance.
§ 1-2. Continuation of existing provisions.
The provisions of the Code, insofar as they are substantively the same as those ordinances in
force immediately prior to the enactment of the Code by this ordinance, are intended as a
continuation of such ordinances and not as new enactments, and the effectiveness of such
provisions shall date from the date of adoption of the prior ordinance. All such provisions are
hereby continued in full force and effect and are hereby reaffirmed as to their adoption by the
Town.
§ 1-3. Repealer.
A. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions contained in the
Code adopted by this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal
shall only be to the extent of such inconsistency, and any valid legislation of the Town of
Lyme which is not in conflict with the provisions of the Code shall be deemed to remain
in full force and effect.
B. The repeal of an ordinance shall not revive any ordinances in force before or at the time
the ordinance repealed took effect. The repeal of an ordinance shall not affect any
punishment or penalty incurred before the repeal took effect, nor any suit, prosecution or
proceeding pending at the time of the repeal, for an offense committed under the
ordinance repealed.
C. The following are specifically repealed:
1) A resolution effective May 10, 1958, authorizing the Lyme Garden Club to develop
certain lands in the rear of the Lyme Consolidated School for the purpose of creating
a wild plant life area.

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2) An Ordinance Providing for the Participation in the Connecticut River Estuary
Planning Region, effective June 6, 1967.

§ 1-4. Severability.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, article or part of this ordinance or of any ordinance
appearing in the Code or included in this Code through supplementation, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof or the
application thereof to other persons and circumstances but shall be confined in its operation to the
clause, sentence, paragraph, section, article or part thereof and the persons and circumstances
directly involved in the controversy in which judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 1-5. Copy of Code on file.
A copy of the Code has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Lyme and shall
remain there for use and examination by the public until final action is taken on this ordinance,
and if this ordinance shall be adopted such copy shall be certified to by the Town Clerk of the
Town of Lyme, and such certified copy shall remain on file in the office of said Town Clerk to be
made available to persons desiring to examine the same during all times while said Code is in
effect. The enactment and publication of this ordinance, coupled with the availability of a copy of
the Code for inspection by the public, shall be deemed, held and considered to be due and legal
publication of all provisions of the Code for all purposes.
§ 1-6. Amendments to Code.
Any and all additions, deletions, amendments or supplements to any of the ordinances in the
Code of the Town of Lyme, or any new ordinances, when enacted or adopted in such form as to
indicate the intention that they be a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such
Code so that reference to the Code shall be understood and intended to include such additions,
deletions, amendments or supplements. Whenever such additions, deletions, amendments or
supplements to the Code shall be enacted or adopted, they shall thereafter be included in the Code
as amendments and supplements thereto.
§ 1-7. Code to be kept up-to-date.
It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk or designee to keep up-to-date the certified copy of the
Code of the Town of Lyme required to be filed in the office of the Town Clerk for use by the
public. All changes in said Code and all ordinances adopted by the Town subsequent to the
enactment of this ordinance in such form as to indicate the intention that they be a part of said
Code shall, when finally enacted or adopted, be included therein by temporary attachment of
copies of such changes until such changes are included as supplements to said Code.

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§ 1-8. Sale of Code; supplementation.
Copies of the Code, or any chapter or portion of it, may be purchased from the Town Clerk of the
Town of Lyme or an authorized agent of the Town Clerk upon the payment of a fee to be set by
the Board of Selectmen. The Town Clerk may also arrange for procedures for the periodic
supplementation thereof.
§ 1-9. Penalties for tampering with Code.
Any person who, without authorization from the Town Clerk, changes or amends, by additions or
deletions, any part or portion of the Code of the Town of Lyme, or who alters or tampers with
such Code in any manner whatsoever which will cause the legislation of the Town of Lyme to be
misrepresented thereby, or who violates any other provision of this ordinance, shall, upon
conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $250.
§ 1-10. Changes in previously adopted ordinances.
A.

In compiling and preparing the ordinances for publication as the Code of the Town of
Lyme, no changes in the meaning or intent of such ordinances have been made, except as
provided in Subsection B of this section. Certain grammar and spelling corrections and
other minor nonsubstantive changes were made in one or more of said ordinances. It is
the intention of the Town Meeting that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as
if the ordinances had been previously formally amended to read as such.

B.

The amendments as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof are
made herewith, to become effective upon the effective date of this ordinance. (Chapter
and section number references are to the ordinances as they have been renumbered and
appear in the Code.)

§ 1-11. Rules of construction.
Whenever any words in any section of this Code import the plural number, the singular number
shall be deemed to be included, and whenever the singular number shall be used, it shall be
deemed to include the plural. Any word of masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter
and may refer to a corporation or to a board or other body or assemblage of persons, and when the
sense so indicates, words of the neuter gender may refer to any gender. Words used in the present
tense include the future.
§ 1-12. When effective.
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication as required by law.

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 Code Adoption Ordinance
Schedule A
(As referenced in § 1-10B)
Throughout the Code:
1. References to "Chairman" and "Chairperson" are amended to "Chair."
2. References to the State Department of Environmental Protection and Commissioner of
Environmental Protection are amended to the State Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection and Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection,
respectively.
3. References to "Inland Wetlands Commission," "Inland Wetlands Agency" and "Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Commission" are amended to "Inland Wetlands and
Watercourses Agency."

Chapter 3, Affordable Housing Commission.
Throughout this chapter, references to the Lyme Housing Partnership are amended to "Affordable
Housing Commission."

Chapter 15, Cemetery Commission.
Section 15-3 is amended as follows: "The Commission shall be composed of nine seven members
who shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen and they shall be residents of the Town of
Lyme."
Section 15-5 is amended to change the term of office in Subsection B from three years to six
years and to set the following initial terms in Subsection A: two members shall serve for a period
of two years, two members shall serve for a period of four years, and three members shall serve
for a period of six years.

Chapter 19, Conservation Commission.
Sections 19-4, 19-5A and D, 19-6 and 19-7 are amended to change "Watercourses and Inland
Wetlands Agency" to "Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency." Section 19-6D is further
amended to update the reference to the Soil Conservation Service to the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.

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 Code Adoption Ordinance
Chapter 28, Elections.
Section 28-1 is amended to read as follows:
Pursuant to § 9-17 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, those sessions of the
Board for Admission of Electors to be held on the seventh day before election day shall be
held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and a limited session shall be held on the last weekday
before each regular election from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of admitting only
those persons whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in the municipality were
attained after the last session for admission of electors prior to an election.

Chapter 34, Finance, Board of.
Section 34-3B is amended as follows: "Thereafter, at the expiration of the original term of office
of each of the original alternate members, a members shall be elected or his successor shall serve
for a term of six years."

Chapter 45, Funds.
Section 45-5 is amended as follows: "It shall be the responsibility of the Lyme Cemetery
Commission and the Board of Selectmen to direct disbursement, as it deems they deem necessary,
of said funds for the purposes set forth herein."

Chapter 66, Lake Authority.
Section 66-2 is amended to update the reference to the State Boating Commission in the opening
sentence to the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and to revise
Subsection A as follows: "Control and abate algae and aquatic weeds in cooperation with the
State Water Resources Commission under Sections 25.3b and 25.3c Commissioner of Energy and
Environmental Protection."

Chapter 75, Meetings.
Chapter 75 is amended as follows:
In § 75-1: "The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that meetings of the Town and its boards and
commissions are held during hours that neither put an unreasonable burden on members of such
bodies nor make the meetings virtually inaccessible to the public."
In § 75-2 to change "Park and Recreation Commission" to "Recreation Commission."

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In § 75-3: "All meetings of the Town of Lyme and its boards and commissions shall recess at no
later than 11:30 p.m. unless a majority of the members present vote to extend the meeting. Any
such committee board or commission, so recessed, shall be reconvened at a time and date set by
the members in attendance."

Chapter 84, Officers and Employees.
Section 84-2 is amended as follows: "This article shall apply to all elective offices and appointed
offices, including but not limited to all boards, commissions, committees and bureaus, other than
the Board of Finance, and shall govern the future filling of said vacancies."

Chapter 93, Planning and Zoning Commission.
Section 93-3B is amended as follows:
The following are hereby appointed as the original members of the Zoning Commission of the
Town of Lyme for the following terms: Alberta Pfeiffer and William R. Webster until the
biennial election to be held on the first Monday in October 1967; Robert B. Fiske and John H.
Beebe until the biennial election to be held on the first Monday of October 1965; and Walter E.
Block until the biennial election to be held on the first Monday of October 1963. Thereafter As
the term of each member of the Zoning Commission expires, the successor or successors shall be
elected at the biennial election of the Town of Lyme to serve for a term of six years.
Section 93-3C is amended as follows:
In the event any member of the Zoning Commission shall cease to be a resident of the Town of
Lyme, his office shall be deemed vacant. A vacancy from whatever cause arising shall be filled
by the Zoning Commission Board of Selectmen for the unexpired portion of the term by the
appointment of an elector of the Town of Lyme of the same political party as his predecessor.

Section 93-4 is amended as follows:
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Lyme shall consist of seven members who
shall be the five members of the Zoning Commission previously appointed and in addition thereto
Rowland J. Ballek and Alan N. Houghton two members who shall serve for the term until the
biennial election to be held on the first Monday of October 1963, and thereafter their successors
shall be elected at the biennial election of the Town of Lyme to serve for a term of six years.

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Chapter 103, Regional Agencies.
Article I, Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments, is adopted to read as follows:
§ 103-1. Establishment ratified.
The Town of Lyme hereby ratifies, under the provisions set forth in Connecticut General Statutes
§ 4-124j, the resolution adopted on July 27, 2011, by the Connecticut River Valley Council of
Elected Officials, of which the Town of Lyme is a member, to establish a council of governments
called the "Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments" and to formally adopt
Connecticut General Statutes §§ 4-124i through 4-124p.

Chapter 114, Transit District.
Section 114-1 is amended to change "Connecticut River Estuary Planning Area" to "Lower
Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments area."

Chapter 125, Water Pollution Control Commission.
Section 125-3 is amended as follows: "The clerk shall keep a complete record of the proceedings
of the Commission and shall be the custodian of such books, records and documents and which
shall be open for public inspection at all reasonable hours."

Chapter 129, Youth Service Bureau.
Section 129-3 is amended to read as follows: "The composition of the Youth Service Bureau shall
follow the bylaws of the Bureau as revised."
Original § 4, Vacancies, is repealed.

Chapter 133, Zoning Board of Appeals.
Section 133-5 is amended as follows: "Zoning Board of Appeals members and alternate members
shall be electors and shall not be members of the Planning or and Zoning Commission. This
ordinance supersedes Section 12.1 of the Zoning Board of Appeals Regulations."

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 Code Adoption Ordinance
Chapter 145, Alarm Systems.
Section 145-1 is amended as follows: "The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum
standards and regulation applicable to burglar, holdup and fire alarm systems and alarm users as
defined here within."
Section 145-5B is amended as follows: "Notification to appropriate alarm termination station
shall be done prior to testing of system."
Section 145-10 is amended as follows: "Use of an automatic dial alarm or exterior alarm device
in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties:"

Chapter 157, Boating.
Section 157-23A is amended to remove the fee of $20 and to read as follows: "All applications
for mooring permits shall include a fee set by the Board of Selectmen and be submitted on
appropriate forms supplied by the Town of Lyme or its designated agency. Current fees are
available for review at Town Hall and on the Town's website at Townlyme.org."
Section 157-23C is amended to read as follows: "All applications for permits must be received by
the Town of Lyme or its designated agency no later than April 1 of any given year. Any
applications received from April 1 to April 30 will incur a penalty."

Chapter 162, Building Construction.
Section 162-1 is amended to read as follows:
Before the commencement of construction of any new building or other new structure or the
alteration or repair of any existing structure in the Town of Lyme, the owner shall obtain
from the Town of Lyme a building permit. The cost of such permit shall be set by the Board
of Selectmen and be payable to the Town of Lyme. Current fees are available for review at
Town Hall and on the Town's website at Townlyme.org. Written application shall be made
upon a form to be furnished by the Town and shall be accompanied by such plot plan and
shall contain such other information as may be required by the Town in order to facilitate the
performance of the duties of any Town officer, board or commission.
Section 162-4 is amended to update the reference to Chapter 354 of the General Statutes of
Connecticut, Revision of 1958, to Chapter 541 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

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 Code Adoption Ordinance

Chapter 166, Buildings, Numbering of.
Section 166-1 is amended as follows: "The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public safety,
health and welfare, specifically to facilitate the timely arrival of fire protection, emergency
medical service and police protection to all residences and businesses in the Town of Lyme."

Chapter 173, Citations.
The definition of "Commission" in § 173-3 is amended to read as follows:
CONSERVATION COMMISSION – The Lyme Conservation Commission, acting as the
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency for the Town of Lyme under § 22a-42g of the
Connecticut General Statutes.
The definition of "Inland Wetlands Agent" in § 173-3 and § § 173-6B, 173-7 and 173-10J are
amended to change "Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission" to "Conservation
Commission."
Section 173-4A is amended to change "Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agent" to "Inland
Wetlands Agent."
Section 173-5B is amended as follows: "That the person cited may contest liability before a
hearing officer by delivering, in person or by mail, within 30 10 days of the date of notice, a
written request for a hearing pursuant to the citation hearing procedure;"
Section 173-10D is amended as follows: "Any person who does not deliver or mail a written
request for a hearing within 30 10 days of the notice provided for in § 173-5 of this article shall
be deemed to have admitted liability, and the person issuing the citation shall certify such
person's failure to respond to the hearing officer."

Chapter 197, Health and Sanitation.
Section 197-2 is amended to read as follows:
§ 197-2. Restrictions.
Any nonconforming building lot of less than 3/4 acre, as defined in the Town of Lyme Zoning
Regulations, shall be subject to the following restrictions:
A. No building permit shall be issued for construction that uses additional land surface, in
excess of the land currently built, without prior approval by the Public Health
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Department. Such approval shall be granted after adequate provisions have been made to
dispose of subsurface sewage and said system satisfies the Public Health Department.
B. No building permit shall be issued for the construction of additional space suitable for
bedrooms without prior approval of the Public Health Department. Such approval shall
be granted only after provisions for the construction of a subsurface sewage disposal
system have been made and said provisions satisfy the Public Health Department.

Chapter 201, Historic District.
Section 201-2A is amended to change "five alternate members" to "three alternate members."
Section 201-4 is amended to change "Zoning Officer" to "Zoning Enforcement Officer."

Chapter 238, Parks and Public Areas.
Section 238-1 is amended to change "from sunset to sunrise of the following day" to "from 1/2
hour after sunset to sunrise of the following day" in Subsection A and to change "either area" to
"the areas designated in Subsection A."
Section 238-5 is amended as follows: "Any person or owner or operator of any vehicle that
violates Section 1 or 3 this article shall be fined not more than $50 for each violation."

Chapter 264, Solid Waste.
Throughout Article II the term "Sanitary Landfill Area" is amended to "Transfer Station."
Section 264-16 is amended to delete the following sentence: "If arrangements are made for
transportation of solid wastes to another municipality, or out of the state, the provisions of §§ 7161 and 7-162 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall be complied with."
Section 264-22C and D, the definitions of "contractual standards" and "disposal charge" in § 26423 and § 264-24 are amended to change "Mid-Connecticut System" to "Materials Innovation and
Recycling Authority (MIRA)."
The definition of "Mid-Connecticut System" in § 264-23 is repealed.
Section 264-26C is amended to change "landfill" to "Transfer Station" and to change the entries
for "Waste oil" and "Storage batteries" to read "Container at Transfer Station – Brush Hill Road."

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 Code Adoption Ordinance

Chapter 272, Streets and Sidewalks.
Section 272-3C(1) is amended as follows: "An application fee of $100 set by the Board of
Selectmen shall accompany submission of the application. Current fees are available for review at
Town Hall and on the Town's website at Townlyme.org."
Section 272-5B(5), C(1) and D(3)(c) are amended to change "Planning Commission" to
"Planning and Zoning Commission."
Section 272-5C(1) is further amended as follows: "In the event that the applicant does not own
the land adjoining the right-of-way established for a road, said right-of-way shall have such extra
width or area as is necessary to accommodate all road construction within the right-of-way within
without encroachment on adjoining land."
Section 272-9 is amended as follows: "To ensure compliance with the terms of the permit, the
Board shall inspect the construction and, if satisfactory, release the bond upon payment by the
applicant of an inspection fee of $250 set by the Board of Selectmen which may be deducted
from the cash bond. Current fees are available for review at Town Hall and on the Town's website
at Townlyme.org."
Section 272-10 is amended as follows: "If the applicant fails to notify the Board when
construction is completed, the Board may conduct an inspection and, if the construction is
satisfactory, deduct the inspection fee of $250 from the cash bond and forward the balance to the
applicant at his/her last known address."
Section 272-15 is amended as follows:
For the purposes of this article, the terms "road," "street" and "highway" shall have the same
definition as "highway" as set forth in § 13a-1 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended.

Chapter 279, Taxation.
Section 279-20 is amended as follows: "and evidence of a dairy farm or milk producing permit or
dairy plant or milk dealer permit, as provided by Connecticut General Statutes § 22-173."

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