Protecting Dedham's Natural Resource Areas

Preserving Dedham's wetlands, floodplains, and riverfronts is crucial to our unique natural environment, which, in turn, protects public interests such as flood control, stormwater damage protection, protection of drinking water supplies, fisheries, and wildlife habitats. Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, no person may "remove, fill, dredge, or alter" any of the land surface, water, or vegetation in wetland resource areas without obtaining a permit from the local Conservation Commission. Wetlands in Dedham are protected under the state Wetlands Protection Act, as well as the Dedham Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Chapter 271) and associated Wetlands Protection Rules & Regulations.

Determining if your Project is near or within a Resource Area

Any work within the wetlands, the 100-year floodplain, 200 feet of a perennial stream, or the 100-foot buffer zone to wetlands requires review and approval from the Dedham Conservation Commission. If you are planning any landscaping, clearing, filling, excavation, demolition, or construction within a wetland or floodplain, within the 100 foot buffer zone, or within 200 feet a perennial stream, please contact the Conservation Department before you begin your project to determine if you will need a permit.

Wetland Application Forms

A permit is required for projects or activities proposed within 100 feet of a wetland or vernal pool or within 200 feet of a river or perennial stream. Wetlands permits should be submitted to the Dedham Conservation Commission using our OpenGov Online Permitting System or by mail, and copies of the permits should be sent to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). There are two main types of wetlands permits, and the right permit for your project will depend on its scope and proximity to wetlands. A Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) should be filed for simple projects that will have relatively little impact on nearby wetlands or waterways. A Notice of Intent (NOI) should be filed for more complex projects, such as an addition, new house, subdivision, or commercial project. Additionally, applicants can file an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) if they wish to have the Conservation Commission review and approve a wetland delineation on a property. The wetland application fee for your project will depend on the type of application and the size of the project. If you have any questions about which application is right for your project, please call the Conservation Division. Permitting resources & our filing fee schedule is available below in our documents section. 

Undisturbed Buffer Area

Section 14.3 of Dedham's Wetlands Protection Rules and Regulations outlines our requirements for the Undisturbed Buffer Area, or UBA. The UBA is a "no build zone" that intends to protect the natural buffer area from the edge of the resource area. The UBA value is calculated by multiplying the average slope across the 100' buffer zone by the project's usage factor. If the project if located in a previously developed area, the UBA is the distance between the Resource Area and existing man-made structures (including buildings, paved areas, and retaining walls). For more information, please refer to pages 20 - 22 and Appendix A (Undisturbed Buffer Area Calculation) of Dedham's Wetlands Protection Rules & Regulations or contact the Conservation Division. 

Tree Replacement Policy

The Conservation Commission requires that, wherever feasible, a “snag” of at least 6 feet high shall be retained when a diseased, dead, or hazardous tree, 6-inches or greater in diameter at breast height is removed.  The Commission also requires that all healthy trees removed within a wetland resource area (including the 100-foot Buffer Zone) be replaced within the 100-foot Buffer Zone and/or 200-foot Riverfront Area, at a minimum 2:1 ratio (two new trees for each one tree removed), with native tree species being used as replacement trees (see Dedham Conservation Commission's Native Plant Guidance document).  For more information about Dedham's Tree Replacement requirements, please refer to Section 21 of Dedham's Wetlands Protection Rules & Regulations or contact the Conservation Division.