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Grow Your Business

The Town of Thompson is here to help you find your way to develop and grow your business, and to guide you through the process. Here are the general steps: 

When you have a project plan and location in mind, you can make an appointment with the Planning and Development office or Zoning office. They can inform you whether your proposed business use is allowed in the zoning district, and on the specific property you are interested in.

Some permits can be issued at the staff level (e.g., zoning permits, wetlands agent approvals for certain activities in upland review areas); others require applying to one or more land use boards and commissions (e.g., special permits, subdivision approvals, variances, wetland permits). Some applications may involve a public hearing; some may not.

A pre-application meeting is highly recommended to guide you through the plans and information you’ll need, the permitting procedure and the timeline involved. The reviewing staff and inspectors are available to answer your questions on the state laws, zoning regulations, wetlands regulations, building code, fire code, and other agencies or departments you may need to contact.

Approvals and Permits

In order to promote the health, welfare, safety and convenience of the community, development projects and proposed uses of land and buildings require permits before businesses can open or expand.

Zoning Approvals

If you are planning to construct or alter a structure on your property as part of your business or home occupation, you will be required to apply for the necessary building and zoning permits obtained through the Building and Planning & Zoning offices. A site plan is required to ensure that the size of the structure/addition/renovation complies with Zoning Regulations and meets the required distances from the road frontage, back and side boundary lines. A detached structure under 200 square feet will require a zoning permit only. A scaled site plan will be required as part of the application. Work involving the removal of earth material from a site is allowed provided not more than 3,000 cubic yards is removed.

Special Permits

The Zoning regulations authorize the Planning & Zoning Commission to act on special permits. All Special Permit applications require a public hearing; the public hearing process takes a minimum of two months; complicated applications may take longer. A Special Permit is not valid until the approval is filed in the Town Clerk’s office.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The ZBA has the power and duty to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order from, or in a decision by, the official charged with enforcement of the regulations. The board also has the power to determine and vary the application of the Zoning Regulations, keeping in harmony with the general purpose and intent of Thompson’s Plan of Conservation and Development. Due consideration for conserving the public health, safety, convenience, welfare and property value is expected. A public hearing is required. If the appeal is upheld or the variance is granted, you, the applicant, will receive a certificate of approval which shall be filed on land records in the Town Clerk’s office. A variance is not valid until the approval is filed with the Town Clerk.

Building Permits

The purpose of the State Building Code is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard the public safety, health and general welfare through affordability, structural strength, means of egress of facilities, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, and energy conservation. A building permit is required and shall apply to the construction, alteration, enlargement, replacement, repair, use and occupancy, removal and demolition of one- and two- family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in height, accessory structures, as well as commercial and industrial facilities.

Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Approvals

Inland wetlands are identified by soil type and watercourses as any river, stream, brook, waterway, lake, pond, marsh, swamp, bog and all other bodies of water, natural or artificial, vernal or intermittent, public or private, which are contained within, flow through or border upon the Town of Thompson. Thompson has a variable upland review area of 100’ and 200’ from the wetland/watercourse boundary within which certain activities are regulated. If your property has any wetlands or watercourses or upland review area, be sure to review your proposal with Thompson Wetlands Agent prior to submitting your application.

Taxation and Registrations

If you intend to operate a business in the Town of Thompson, you need to file the appropriate tax forms with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. If you plan to sell tangible goods, you must file a form to pay Connecticut state sales tax. Register your trade name in the Town Clerk’s office, 1st floor, Town Hall. Trade name does not apply to partnerships, if the partnership name includes the true surname of at least one of the persons composing the partnership; limited partnerships which have registered with the state; or limited liability companies which have registered with the state. Personal property declarations are sent to business owners on file on October 1st. Property/equipment used for your business is taxable by the Town. You must file the declaration with the Assessor’s office. Failure to do so results in a 25% penalty.
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