Granby Board of Health to require free permits for all rental dwelling units

GRANBY — March 11, 2026 — Granby Board of Health moves toward free mandatory rental-unit permits. The board reached consensus at its March 11 meeting to pursue a no-fee registration requirement for any dwelling unit rented for compensation — money or barter — with one permit required per unit. Chair Dick relayed that South Hadley uses a similar no-fee model through its Board of Health, saying the goal is straightforward: "Find out what we have." Bill warned the regulation must be legally airtight before enforcement, saying "the last thing we want is to be in the Hampshire Gazette — Board of Health adopts illegal regulation." The board directed Dick to call town counsel Brian before the March 24 meeting and asked administrator Colleen to consult with Northampton health officials on the proper promulgation process. The board also declined to approve a certificate of compliance for 44 Taylor Street — citing a missing distribution-box reference on the as-built drawing and an unabandoned well — and rejected a well permit for Lot 2 on Chicopee Street after the submitted drawing lacked dimensions and questions arose about how a house on the lot obtained a building permit without a functioning well.