Frequently Asked Questions

The death certificate is on file in South Hadley if:

• The death occurred in South Hadley
• The deceased resided in South Hadley and the death occurred within the state
• The deceased is a veteran buried in South Hadley

You can obtain a copy of a death certificate from the Town Clerk’s office in three ways. By visiting Invoice Cloud to purchase certificates online, by physically entering the office located in Town Hall, or by mailing a request to the Town Clerk’s office. Click here for more information on obtaining death certificates.

The Town Clerk’s office processes burial permits. For information on burial permits, contact the Town Clerk's office at 413-538-5030, ext. 6183 or townclerk@southhadleyma.gov. 

View our table to see which situation best fits you and your dog.

You can register your dog online through Viewpermit. You will need a credit card and there is a 2.2$ + .30 cent charge per transaction. Click here to create an account.

You may license your dog by mail by sending the appropriate fee with a copy of the current rabies certificate from your veterinarian. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and we will send you your dog’s license.

A service dog is defined under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The work or task performed by a service animal must be directly related to a handler’s disability. A dog whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support does not qualify as a service animal.

If your parents lived in South Hadley when you were born, you may obtain your birth certificate at the Town Clerk’s office or at the: State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics 150 Mount Vernon Street 1st Floor Dorchester, MA 02125-3105 Phone: 617-740-2600

If your parents lived in another city or town at the time of your birth, with some exceptions, you may obtain your birth certificate from that city clerk’s office, or in the city or town in which you were actually born.

You can obtain a copy of a birth certificate from the Town Clerk’s office in three ways. By visiting Invoice Cloud to purchase certificates online, by physically entering the office located in Town Hall, or by mailing a request to the Town Clerk’s office. Click here for more information on ordering birth certificates.

Assuming the license was issued by the Town of South Hadley Clerk’s Office, there are three ways to obtain a certified copy. By visiting Invoice Cloud to purchase certificates online, by physically entering the office located in Town Hall, or by mailing a request to the Town Clerk’s office.

Assessors have historically warned visitors to their offices that the tax maps are not property line plans. They are an inventory of all the ownerships of land within their municipality and they approximate the geometric size and shapes of individual parcels. Compiled from recorded individual subdivisions and plans of land, the maps are a composite index of a municipality’s land records. No certification of the accuracy of the assessor’s parcel lines is ever conveyed. On January 31, 1972, Attorney General Robert H. Quinn wrote a legal opinion regarding assessor’s maps, “…the purpose of the maps is only to sufficiently describe the property in question in order to provide effective notice of which property is being taxed.” John A. Hammer, III Mass Assn. of Land surveyors & Civil Engineers, Inc.

Yes, maps are available in the office as well as electronically. For electronic versions you can go to our Digital Mapping Program.

Assessor maps can be retrieved at no cost through our Digital Mapping Program.

Learn when the meetings are and the process to follow before you appear before the Selectboard. Email kmaher@southhadleyma.gov. Meetings are the first and third Tuesday of every month, unless otherwise noted. 

Burning permits can be obtained at fire district 1 or 2, depending on where you live. 

Click here: https://www.southhadley.org/jobs

Parking tickets are processed in the Treasurer/Collector's Office. Find more information, and how to appeal parking tickets, here. 

A revaluation is an update of all assessments within the community conducted by the Board of Assessors under the direction of the Department of Revenue. The assessors of each community are responsible for developing a reasonable and realistic program to achieve the fair cash valuation of property in accordance with constitutional and statutory requirements. The nature and extent of that program will depend on the assessor's analysis and consideration of many factors including but not limited to, the results of an in-depth sales ratio study and the accuracy of existing property record information. Every 5 years the assessors must submit property values to the Department of Revenue for review and certification.

State law requires that all property in the town be assessed within 10% of market value every 5 years. This is based on all sales not individual sales - (mass appraisal).

Your application must be filed with the board of assessors on or before the date the first installment payment of the actual tax bill mailed for the fiscal year is due, unless you are a mortgagee. If so, your application must be filed between September 20 and October 1. Actual tax bills are those issued after the tax rate is set. You must file by the due date of your 3rd quarter actual tax bill. The due date is typically February 1.

You may request applications be mailed from the Assessor’s Office or you may download them here.

You should provide any information that supports your case.

A list of the personal property tax roll is available with the Assessor’s Office.

You must file the application with the Assessor’s Office in the city or town that issued the bill.

You may request one from the Assessor’s office or you may download the form here.

Applications for abatement must be received by the Board of Assessors within 3 years after the excise was due, or 1 year after the excise is paid, whichever is later. To preserve your right to appeal, you must file on time.

When you file for an abatement, our office requires you to also file a “Boat status change form”  for the Commonwealth and we also keep a copy on file in the office for our records.

You can either call the Assessor’s Office with the property location or owner’s name or you may self retrieve this information from our Digital Mapping Program.

The assessment date is January 1 for the upcoming fiscal year. New construction (i.e. new homes, additions, sheds, decks, etc.) and demolitions are assessed as of July 1. (For example January 1, 2024 is the assessment date for fiscal 2025 valuations other than additions or demolitions that occurred until June 30, 2024. Fiscal 2025 runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.)

Yes. The Assessors Office lists a book and page reference on the property record card for most of the properties. Deed references (book and page numbers) are recorded at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. You can contact the Registry of Deeds located at 60 Railroad Avenue, Northampton, MA. 01060 at 413-584-3637.

Yes, you can find this information by calling our office or looking on the Registry of Deeds website. Please keep in mind that the Assessors office is typically a week or so behind the Registry of Deeds information.

You must file the application with the Assessor’s Office.  Applications can be found here.

You can request one from the Assessor’s Office or you may download the form here.

The Planning Board Office is the best location to find that information since they have a digital map which allows them to locate the parcel by map and parcel number and determine if the property is in more than 1 zoning district. Find more information by clicking the following link: https://ecode360.com/30052807 

This is determined by the Zoning District in which the property is located. For more information, please visit: https://ecode360.com/30052807

This process is governed by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40A. Since South Hadley has a representative town meeting form of government, the town follows specific process, which is detailed below:

1. Submittal of a written request to the Selectboard through the Town Administrator specifying the existing zoning district of the subject property and the zoning district being sought.  You need to identify the property address and Assessor Map and Parcel information.
2. The Selectboard will need to vote to refer the matter to the Planning Board for a public hearing and a report to Town Meeting.
3. The Planning Board will need to hold a public hearing on the matter and will need to post the notice of the public hearing in the Town Reminder and send out notices to the "certified abutters". The applicant must pay for the Town Reminder notice as well as the cost of mailing notices to the abutters. The Town will submit the notice to the Town Reminder and request that the applicant be billed. Similarly, the Town will mail notices to the abutters but will bill the applicant $50 plus the cost of postage. However, the applicant will also need to request the abutters list and mailing labels from the Assessor's Office.
4. The Selectboard determines when the item is placed on the Town Meeting Warrant. If this occurs more than 6 months after the Planning Board public hearing, the public hearing must be conducted anew.
5. Most zoning bylaw and map amendments require a vote of 2/3's of the Town Meeting members present (South Hadley has a 120 member Town Meeting).

The Zoning Bylaw, Subdivision Regulations and the stormwater management bylaw are located in Ecode linked here: https://ecode360.com/SO1428

The Building Commissioner / Inspector is the Zoning Enforcement Officer. You should contact their office and detail the alleged violation. They can tell you if in fact what you describe is a violation, in their opinion. You should follow up with a written complaint if you believe the violation is continuing.

Variances are subject to very specific hardship criteria in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A and are difficult to obtain. Variances and administrative appeals are under the authority of the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Planning Board Office merely acts as the processing agent for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The steps for applying for a variance or an administrative appeal are detailed on this page here: https://www.southhadley.org/343/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals

First determine if there is a liquor license available. The Town of South Hadley has three "General on Premise" Beer & Wine licenses available, as of Jan. 26, 2022.  See more info, here: https://www.southhadley.org/922/Permits-Licenses

Read about our permits here. One-Day Beer & Wine licenses are obtained online via OpenGov. One you’ve completed an online application, the town receives a notification and submits your application to be reviewed by the Selectboard.
As the local licensing authority, the Selectboard must approve the license. This occurs during Selectboard meetings. The Selectboard meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.
You will be notified through OpenGov of your application’s approval status following the Selectboard meeting at which it was reviewed. If approved, your license is available to print via OpenGov.
Please note: An organization is allowed no more than 30 One-Day Beer & Wine licenses per calendar year. 

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE EVENT. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR REVIEW BY THE SELECTBOARD.

Applicants CANNOT purchase alcoholic beverages from a package store. Per the ABCC, please see the list of authorized sources from which to purchase alcohol here.

EVENT REQUIREMENTS: Issuance of this license does not exempt license holders from additional licensing requirements. Food truck permits and entertainment licenses for live music are separate, additional licenses your event may need. Contact the Health Department and Administration Office respectively at 538-5030 for more information.

Registration is available for all programs online through our registration site, Blue sombrero. Registrations are not accepted in office. Payment can be paid at the time of registration with Visa or MasterCard or a check can be mailed to the Recreation Office after the online registration is completed.

Financial aid is available for youth sports and is based upon your school lunch qualification. Students that receive free school lunch are eligible for a 100% fee waiver and students that receive half lunch are responsible to pay 50% of the registration fee. If you do not meet the school lunch qualification and have a need for financial assistance, you can request financial help. Fees are not waived for bus trips, adult sports leagues and adult fitness classes. You can fill out the financial waiver form below.

Recreation Department activities are publicized in the Town Reminder, Hampshire Gazette, the Republican, registration page, Facebook page, Channel 15 and in the school newsletters.

Anybody that wants to volunteer for the Recreation Department should indicate that on the registration form. If you are looking to volunteer and do not have a child playing you can email recreation@southhadleyma.gov with your name, phone number, address, qualifications, etc. All volunteers that work with children must complete a CORI check and may be interviewed for certain activities.

The Recreation Department is always looking for donations or sponsorships to help with its programs or facilities. If you are interested in making a donation or becoming a sponsor contact the Recreation Department at recreation@southhadleyma.gov.

The Recreation Department’s cancellation hotline is 413-538-5030 ext. 6188. When programs are cancelled due to inclement weather, their status will be listed at that number. If a coach decides to cancel a game or practice when the weather is questionable on their own, they will contact team members directly. Additionally, certain sport groups have their own websites where they will announce any cancellations.

The Recreation Commission is a 9-member group that is appointed by the Selectboard. Each Commissioner serves a 3-year term and their primary functions are to oversee the Recreation Department, to create policy, and to select what programs to offer. If you are interested in serving on the Recreation Commission, contact the Recreation Director or apply to the Selectboard when an opening is advertised. 

If you are interested in starting a new program or have an idea, please submit that idea in writing to the Recreation Department at recreation@southhadleyma.gov. The Recreation Director and Commission will look into the feasibility of that program. Key factors include need, how many people will register for the program, cost, where can the program be held and how will it be supervised.

You can book a pavilion at Buttery Brook Park by filling out the form at www.southhadleyrecreation.org

If you are unable to find the information you need in your online payment history or open invoices, please call your biller’s office at 413-538-5030, ext. 6189.

Call the South Hadley Council on Aging at 413-538-5030, ext. 3 and make an appointment for a tour of the facility. Or, just stop by to visit the center at 45 Dayton Street. Be sure to stop at the front desk to register. 

1. Pick up a fitness center packet at the front desk of the Council on Aging.
2. Return completed forms to the Welcome Desk. Please keep informational forms for your files.
3. When all forms are complete you will receive a phone call from the Council on Aging staff to schedule an orientation appointment.
4. Membership is free for South Hadley Residents over the age of 60.
5. Non-residents and individuals less than 60 years old pay $15.00 a month, due every 30 days. 
6. A Council on Aging scan card is required to sign in. Please request a scan card at the Welcome Desk.

You must be 60 years of age or older to attend activities at the South Hadley Council on Aging. 

Due to funding regulations, most activities must be limited to members 60 years or older. 

For programs which allow participation for individuals under age 60, a suggested donation may be required. An example would be our Congregate Meal lunch program.

Intergenerational programs are noted in the Golden Chronicle Newsletter.

There is no cost for membership at the Council on Aging.

No, you do not have to be South Hadley resident to attend the Congregate Lunch Program. 

An Anonymous, suggested donation is $3.00 for 60 or older, guests under 60 are charged $6.50 per Federal Regulations. Title III-C Congregate Meal Site program provided by Access Care Partners through funding from the Executive Office of Aging and Independence. For questions about meals, please call the Access Care Partners' Nutrition Department at 413-538-9020. 

Call 413-538-5030, ext. 3 by 11 am the day before the meal you would like to attend.

All attendees must be registered at the Council on Aging to participate. Application form and waivers must be received prior to scheduling lunch.

Lunch participants must be 60 or over. The only exceptions to the age requirements are if the participant is a volunteer or a guest of a senior who is attending lunch.

IN-TOWN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

To request rides through our free In-Town transportation Program, please contact the Transportation Coordinator, Eric Gallagher at 413-538-5030, ext. 6205.

• Requests must be made at least 3 business days prior to the date of requested transportation. 
• Ride space is limited and cannot be guaranteed. 
• Rides are available Monday - Friday, 8:15 am - 3:30 pm.

COMPANION MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

To request rides through our Companion Medical Transportation Program, please contact the Transportation Coordinator, Eric Gallagher at 413-538-5030, ext. 6205.

• Requests must be made at least 5 business days prior to the date of the requested transportation.
• Rides are only available for medical appointments outside of South Hadley. 
• Ride space is limited and cannot be guaranteed. 

There are several ways to access The Golden Chronicle:

• Receive the newsletter in email. To receive your monthly copy delivered to your inbox please sign up for the Town of South Hadley's NotifyMe system at https://www.southhadley.org/list.aspx
• Pick up a copy of The Golden Chronicle in many participating locations around South Hadley, including at the Council on Aging's front desk. For a location near you, please contact the Council on Aging.
• We hope one of the above options will be the easiest and quickest way for you to get your copy of the newsletter. If you are homebound or need to have a copy mailed to your home, please contact the Welcome Desk at 413-538-5030, ext. 3 to request a form to fill out with your request. The suggestion donation for residents to receive the newsletter in the mail is $5 per year. Out-of-town residents may receive the publication for a required fee of $10 per year.

The current tax rates as well as historical tax rate information can be found here.

In 2007-2009, the South Hadley master-planning process iden­tified five core initiatives during its robust public engagement pro­cess. The number one core initiative was the revitalization of South Hadley Falls. Town Meeting Members subsequently adopted and endorsed the Master Plan in 2010, including the commitment to revitalize South Hadley Falls.  In 2012, at the Town’s request, the American Institute of Architect’s Sustainable Design Assistance Team (SDAT) visited South Hadley Falls and met with South Hadley residents.  The SDAT then provided a compelling vision for the area.

While there are other parts of town in need redevelopment, only the South Hadley Falls area meets the Commonwealth’s narrow criteria for the establishment of a targeted redevelopment area under the direction of a redevelopment authority.  Those criteria include the proportion of vacant lots, empty stores, and properties with deferred maintenance issues.  But that does not mean that Town officials are uninterested in redevelopment in other parts of the community.  The Selectboard, Town Administrator, Planning Director and Planning Board, as well as the Redevelopment Authority Chair, are all actively engaged in redeveloping other parts of South Hadley.

See question 1 for background.  The SDAT vision motivated South Hadley Town Meeting to create the South Hadley Rede¬velopment Authority (SHRA), in 2014. The SDAT vision has provided the framework for the South Had¬ley Falls Urban Redevelopment and Renewal Plan.  The plan provides an implementation strategy for the Town to realize that vision, by targeting specific buildings, lots and areas in which to concentrate public and private investment.

A portion of this plan is devoted to the improvement of housing opportunities in South Hadley Falls. Residents of rental units have limited options within the area as they look to purchase a home or upgrade to other units. The plan recommends filling some of the vacant lots in neighborhoods with housing options for a mix of incomes in both ownership and rental units.

Although the target of this plan is South Hadley Falls, its benefits will be felt throughout the community.  As redevelopment proceeds, the property tax base will increase, new businesses will be able to start and expand, more services can be offered, and the South Hadley Falls area will become a more attractive place in which to live, work and visit.

South Hadley’s urban renewal plan is simply a road map for the revitalization of South Hadley Falls.  The plan aims to satisfy the requirements of a Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development approved Urban Renewal Plan (See Question 6: What does an Urban Renewal Plan look like?).  It targets a specific area of South Hadley and its goal is to promote a vibrant, diverse and economically sustainable South Hadley Falls.

See question 1 for background.  The plan was developed based on findings from the South Hadley Master Plan and the SDAT vision for South Hadley Falls. The SDAT visit included a “visioning process” whereby concurrent workshops were held in Town Hall.  At that event, members of the public were asked to provide their desires for the South Hadley Falls neighborhood. The vision was then developed, with recommendations and goals to strive for in any urban renewal plan for South Hadley Falls.  Soon after it was formed, the South Hadley Redevelopment Authority (SHRA) engaged the services of an expert and experienced consultant group, McCabe Enterprises, to aid it in the production of a redevelopment plan.  The SHRA then formed a citizen’s advisory board, in order to obtain direction from the public as it moved forward on forming the redevelopment plan.  It has met with that group four times.  The SHRA has held scheduled public meetings from 2014 to the present to discuss actions related to the plan.  We have met and discussed the plan several times, as it has been developed, with our Planning Board and our Selectboard.  Members of the RA have attended monthly meetings of the South Hadley Falls Neighborhood Association to provide information and updates, and conducted surveys of residents and businesses in South Hadley Falls as part of the development of the plan.

As a result the advice given to us by our consultant, our advisory group, and boards and committees, we are focusing on Main Street, beginning at our new library and going southward down Main to the intersection of Main and Bridge.  The Main/Bridge intersection is the gateway across the Memorial Bridge from Holyoke into South Hadley Falls and South Hadley proper.  The proposed redevelopment area in this direction extends a bit further down Main to just beyond the Town Hall.  In the east-west direction, we are concentrating on an area that is bounded by Main Street on the east, and bounded on the north and south by Gaylord and Bridge Streets respectively.  These streets run eastward from Main and roughly parallel to each other before they both reach the eastern boundary of the redevelopment area on Lamb Street, which is running roughly north/south.

Most of the Redevelopment Authorities operating in Massachusetts were originally created to take advantage of the federal Urban Renewal Program, serving as vehicles for carrying out the federal mandate to eliminate blight from inner cities. Although the federal program no longer exists, Redevelopment Authorities continue to play a role in the Commonwealth’s revitalization under C.121B.

M.G.L. Chapter 121B allows municipalities, through their Redevelopment Authorities acting as urban renewal agencies, to eliminate and redevelop substandard, decadent or blighted open areas for industrial, commercial, business, residential, recreational, educational, hospital or other purposes. With the goals of revitalizing such land uses and encouraging new growth, Redevelopment Authorities have the power to:

• Establish rehabilitation and design standards;
• Assemble and dispose of land, including the taking of real estate through eminent domain;
• Relocate businesses and residents occupying urban renewal sites;
• Demolish and/or rehabilitate substandard structures;
• Participate in real estate development and commercial revitalization;
• Issue bonds, borrow money and invest funds;
• Seek and receive grants and loans;
• Accept gifts or requests.

Redevelopment Authorities are particularly effective in large scale and complex redevelopment projects and in land assembly. Redevelopment Authorities are exempt from M.G.L. Chapter 30(b), the Uniform Procurement Act, when they are engaged in the development and disposition of real property in accordance with an urban renewal plan.  This exemption, coupled with the ability to use eminent domain powers, makes Redevelopment Authorities powerful tools for commercial revitalization, industrial park development, infrastructure improvements, facilities renovation and brownfield site remediation. The development and approval of an urban renewal plan is necessary for a Redevelopment Authority to undertake specific projects.  A Redevelopment Authority, as an independent body politic and corporate, is not an agency of a municipality and therefore, does not answer directly to the chief executive.  This affords the Redevelopment Authority more autonomy in planning and implementing redevelopment and revitalization projects.

An Urban Renewal Plan is an application submitted by a municipality through its urban renewal agency (like the South Hadley Redevelopment Authority) to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) requesting its approval of a redevelopment project. The Urban Renewal Plan must include the following information as specified under Massachusetts Regulations 760 CMR 12.00:

• Maps of the project area;
• Data demonstrating that the area meets the eligibility criteria as a substandard, decadent or blighted open area;
• Project objectives including specifications of all proposed redevelopment and detailed job creation and retention estimates;
• A financial plan including cost estimates and a project budget;
• Local approvals;
• Site preparations including land protections and measures to address environmental or flood problems;
• Public improvements including how the improvements will help achieve the objectives of the plan;
• A relocation plan;
• Redeveloper’s obligations (restrictions that are or will be placed on owners of individual parcels);
• Disposition for each parcel including any known redeveloper;
• A report on citizen participation describing meaningful citizen participation in the planning process and expected citizen participation during project execution.

Recommended actions include improving sidewalks, adding crosswalks, traffic calming enhancements, benches, and streetscapes.  The area of concentration for these infrastructure improvements would be Main Street, running from the new library down past and including the Bridge and Main intersection, and extending past Town Hall to the Beach ground Park.  Other recommended actions include improvements to the park at the Old Firehouse Museum, improving access to the riverfront, adding bike and walking paths in the area, consolidating properties at the northeast corner of Bridge and Main, and also day lighting that part of Buttery Brook running through the redevelopment plan target area.  We also intend to make improvements to the public parking lot on Main Street.

This plan identifies parcels and properties that may be acquired in order to stimulate private investment.  For example, the SHELD property will be acquired at no cost to the Town when SHELD moves to another location, elsewhere in South Hadley Falls.  Some acquisitions may result in demolition or cleanup of the properties, in order to make the properties site-ready or shovel-ready for redevelopment and construction.

Parcel acquisition, including eminent domain, is a last resort option. The properties listed for acquisition in the plan have generally not seen a high level of interest from the private sector due to their size and/or the cost associated with redevelopment. Many of these properties are either in poor condition, contaminated, too small in size for new construction, have limited access or have other characteristics that are cost prohibitive for a private entity to see a return on investment. With these problems seen throughout the South Hadley Falls, the SHRA will step in and incur some of the cost of redevelopment, in turn creating a market for these properties once again.  It is important to point out that none of the properties to be considered for acquisition in the plan is residential.

The active businesses recommended for possible acquisition were selected in order to change the type of land use of the parcel and/or as a critical step to do parcel aggregation for a public benefit project. The SHRA will attempt to acquire all privately owned properties by negotiated purchase. Eminent domain is a last-resort tool that urban renewal agencies, such as the SHRA, have to acquire private property to undertake a necessary project for public benefit.  Private property owners must be compensated at fair market value for their property as well as for relocation expenses associated with any taking.  The SHRA will make best efforts to reach an out-of-court settlement agreement with private property owners for their properties in return for a financial benefit package.

Yes. Any significant amendments need approval of Town Meeting and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). For example, if a property that was not identified in the plan were to be added for possible acquisition, the plan would need to be amended and approved by Town Meeting and the DHCD.

The URP’s purpose is to spur private investment by targeting the areas and properties that can be a catalyst through public assistance.  Targeting the properties with the highest need and potential will therefore increase private development in and around those properties.

As a requirement of MGL 121B, the Urban Renewal Plan must identify funding sources for every action.  Since the SHRA does not currently possess funds, seed funding will be sought through grants, Town allocation, parcel transfers from the town to the SHRA or a mix or all options.  As the SHRA gains funds from completing projects, any revenue received will be used on future projects in the plan.  It is important to note that the plan, while it includes a tentative budget, is not a Town budgetary document.  Town Meeting approval of the plan does not commit the Town to funding any part of it.  Any subsequent requests for Town funding will be subject to approval by the appropriate committees and by Town Meeting Members.

The plan does not affect any residential properties.  If a commercial property is on the possible acquisition list, the plan has certain recommendations for the redevelopment of that property.  If a private owner wishes to invest in that   property in a manner that is consistent with those recommendations, the SHRA would not seek to acquire such property.  If a property is in the redevelopment area but is not included in the possible acquisition list, the SHRA cannot acquire such property.

The plan actions will be taken throughout the next 20 years. Goals have been set for short, mid and long-term within that time. Prioritization of actions was based on thoughtful analysis performed by the SHRA and a paid consultant, in consultation with Town officials.  Although the goals for the plan were set, the timing will depend on many factors including but not limited to, availability of funding, private investment, and changing circumstances.  As the plan is implemented, goals will constantly be evaluated based on cost of the action and potential revenue leveraged by the action. For example:

• A grant may be awarded that would apply to infrastructure costs spanning multiple areas that may have been projected as short-term and long-term goals.
• As market conditions improve, a private developer may invest in a redevelopment project in a longer-term area and certain actions such as parcel aggregation, or sidewalk improvements, may need to be taken to support that project.

The SHRA will continue to meet on a regular basis.  Meetings are open to the public and are posted.  Check the Town Calendar for meeting postings, agendas and minutes.

No.  A Master Plan is a comprehensive plan for a city or town at large and is intended to guide the municipality’s actions over the next decades.  The recommendations in the Master Plan are broader than those of an urban renewal plan. An urban renewal plan is a physical plan for a specified area within the community.  The urban renewal plan is primarily for the Redevelopment Authority and guides actions with the goal of creating an attractive environment for private investment resulting in a more vibrant community, in which citizens can live, work, and visit.  Those actions include property acquisition, infrastructure and streetscape improvements and opportunities for partnerships with other entities engaging in actions that complement the plan.

• Target blight across the target area
• Balance growth across the area
• Provide potential financial assistance for property investment/redevelopment/expansion
• Identify capital improvements needed to spur private investment
• Offer a long term vision that provides value to properties developed in a complementary way to the plan

• Give me money for owning a property within the area
• Displace or remove residents from South Hadley Falls
• Demolish buildings that are feasible for redevelopment
• Rehab buildings that are beyond repair and present a public safety hazard

A list of properties for acquisition can be found in the urban renewal plan.

The new district was approved overwhelmingly by Town Meeting in May 2025. The next step for any bylaw is approval by the Massachusetts Attorney General. The bylaw was approved by the AG in November 2025. The district will be legal once the map is recorded at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. Then the Selectboard will appoint the Advisory commission.

https://imgur.com/a/rATkDwL

The South Hadley Historic District Study Committee proposed the District. The Study Committee was formed by the Selectboard in 2012 and charged with exploring the possibility of one or more local historic districts in town.

The Study Committee proposed a single property district: the Firehouse Museum. In total, the proposal includes three town-owned parcels: the Fred M. Smith Memorial Green, the Firehouse Museum, and the sloped lot to the north (right) of the firehouse.  All are owned by the Town of South Hadley.

Massachusetts General Law 40C is called the Historic Districts Act. This is the “enabling legislation” for this proposal and outlines the process for creating a legal local historic district in Massachusetts.

Yes, many if not most of the towns surrounding South Hadley have 40C Local Historic Districts.  These include Holyoke, Granby, Chicopee, Amherst, Belchertown, Northampton, Springfield (21) and West Springfield.

They are different. The National Register is largely an honorary designation. It is through the federal Department of the Interior and is not focused on protection of properties. In contrast, Local Historic Districts involve local oversight and focus on the protection of properties and districts. Specifically they attempt to: “preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in the history of the Commonwealth and its cities and towns.”

The proposed district will first and foremost protect the 1889 Firehouse Museum, an important and iconic building which has been a fixture of South Hadley’s history and now houses the Town’s historical resources. The district will also support redevelopment efforts in the Falls, will highlight the 1795 Canal and the Canal District, and will elevate all historic work in the Town of South Hadley.

Following 40C, the South Hadley Selectboard will appoint a seven person commission to oversee the District.

Commissions review changes to the exterior features of a property visible from a public way. They don’t review interior changes. They would also review any new construction within the district. The Study Committee has included all optional exemptions in the proposal: temporary signs and structures, light fixtures, paint color, roof color, etc. Maintenance and landscaping are always exempted.

The Commission would have no authority over any other properties or parcels.

Just to note: there IS a process for enlarging existing districts, but there is no shortcut. The Study Committee would need to go through the full process involved in establishing the original district.

The proposal was submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) and the South Hadley Planning Board on May 15th. To date, it has been endorsed by the MHC, the SH Planning Board, the SH Selectboard, the SH Redevelopment Authority, the SH Trustees of the Old Firehouse Museum, and the SH Falls Neighborhood Association. All votes have been unanimous.

All documents are available on the Town website here or: https://www.southhadley.org/1267/11843/Other-Community-Plans-and-Reports Email: melissataylor7500@gmail.com with any questions.

One-Day Beer & Wine licenses are obtained online via OpenGov. Licenses must be applied for AT LEAST two weeks before the date of your event.  Applications submitted less than that will not be reviewed by the Selectboard. One you’ve completed an online application, the town receives a notification and submits your application to be reviewed by the Selectboard.

As the local licensing authority, the Selectboard must approve the license. This occurs during Selectboard meetings. The Selectboard meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.

You will be notified through OpenGov of your application’s approval status following the Selectboard meeting at which it was reviewed. If approved, your license is available to print via OpenGov.

Please note: An organization is allowed no more than 30 One-Day Beer & Wine licenses per calendar year.

The South Hadley Selectboard hereby establishes the following rules and regulations for any establishment serving alcoholic beverages in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138.

The Town of South Hadley has three "General on Premise" Beer & Wine licenses available, as of Jan. 26, 2022.  See more info, here: https://www.southhadley.org/922/Permits-Licenses

New and transferred licenses for alcoholic beverages, as well as changes to management or the business, require the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) application, a public hearing with the South Hadley Selectboard, and a newspaper advertisement and abutter notification alerting the public to the Selectboard hearing. Both of these notifications must be published and mailed at least 10 days prior to the hearing. The Selectboard will hold a hearing on the application, and if accepted the application will be sent to the ABCC for final approval. Applications are available only at the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/alcoholic-beverages-control-commission. We highly suggest you consult with legal counsel during the application process. Our office cannot assist in filling out the ABCC application or answering specific questions.

To schedule a public hearing with the Selectboard, first  fill out an ABCC application, and email kmaher@southhadleyma.gov with your hearing request.  After a hearing date is confirmed, it is the applicant’s responsibility to put a legal advertisement in a local newspaper and to notify the abutters of the hearing.  Please contact the Assessors’ Office for an official abutters list. The completed application must be submitted to the Selectboard Office at least two weeks prior to the hearing.  The ABCC will only accept typed applications.  

To schedule a hearing or for additional information, please email kmaher@southhadleyma.gov 

The Annual Town Election is held the 2nd Tuesday in April each year, per the Town's bylaws.

You can register to vote at the Town Clerk's office located in room 108 at the Town Hall, or online through the Secretary of Commonwealth’s website.

All elections are held at the South Hadley High School located at 153 Newton Street. 

South Hadley has five precincts, A through E. All precincts vote at the South Hadley High School located at 153 Newton Street. 

For information about all districts: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eledist/distidx.htm

You can find your collection route number by street name here

You can contact DPW directly at (413) 538-5033 or fill out a missed collection report here. Please review the curbside regulations here before reporting.

The 2020 curbside collection schedule can be viewed here.

This service, initially implemented at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, is no longer available. 

The sticker application can be viewed here