Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Colonie, New York

Town of Colonie’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, demolition, and specified heating-appliance work inside the Town of Colonie.

  • Exemptions in § 62-14B apply.
  • Zoning approval and a building permit from the Building Department Manager must be obtained before work requiring a permit begins.

  “Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this section, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, and the installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Elements of permitted construction inside the Town of Colonie where applicable.

  • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • The permit holder must notify the Building Department Manager when an enumerated element is ready for inspection.

  “Work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Building Department Manager. The permit holder shall notify the Building Department Manager when any element of work described in Subsection B of this section is ready for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings or structures erected inside the Town of Colonie; a certificate of occupancy applies to buildings primarily used for human occupancy.

  • No building or structure may be used or occupied until the applicable certificate is issued.
  • For work requiring a building permit, continued use after 30 days following substantial completion requires the applicable certificate.

  “New construction. No building or structure or any part thereof erected shall be used or occupied, in whole or in part, until a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance shall have been issued by the Building Department Manager.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside the Town of Colonie.

  • Chapter 190 contains Article IV, Establishment of Zoning Districts and Map, and Attachment 2, Dimensional Table.

  “Article IV Establishment of Zoning Districts and Map § 190-16 Base zoning district classifications. § 190-17 Boundary descriptions.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision applications inside the Town of Colonie.

  • The applicant bears sole responsibility for ensuring improvements are completed according to approved plans, specifications, and standards.
  • The project must conform to the Town’s Land Use Law except where the Planning Board modifies area requirements for a conservation subdivision.

  “Application. All applications for subdivision approval shall be made by the owner of the property to be subdivided or by a party with a purchase agreement for the property. The applicant shall bear the sole responsibility for ensuring that all improvements are completed in accordance with approved plans, specifications and standards.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Proposed construction in flood-hazard locations within the Town of Colonie.

  • The proposed construction must be designed and anchored to prevent flood-related rotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
  • It must use flood-damage-resistant materials and utility equipment, methods that minimize flood damage, adequate drainage, and suitably located public utilities and facilities.

  “The Building Department Manager in reviewing all applications for construction in flood hazard locations within the Town of Colonie shall require that any such proposed construction must:”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits inside the Town of Colonie.

  • The cited schedule is titled 2025 Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule.
  • The schedule states that all permits expire two years from issuance unless stated otherwise; all fees are nonrefundable.

  new one- or two-family dwelling up to 1,500 square feet: 1090 USD (including garages)

  “2025 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE 1. New One or Two-Family Dwelling (including garages) - Up to 1,500 SF — $ 1,090”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside the Town of Colonie.

  • Applications must be in writing on a form provided by or acceptable to the Building Department Manager.
  • The application must be signed by the owner or authorized agent; an owner affidavit is required where another person applies.
  • Required documents include the information and construction documents stated in § 62-14D(2).

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Building Department Manager. The application shall be signed by the owner of the property where the work is to be performed or an authorized agent of the owner.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Colonie or Albany County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside the Town of Colonie.
• Minimum dwelling size — SFR zoning district inside the Town of Colonie.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside the Town of Colonie.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the Town of Colonie.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home residential occupancy inside the Town of Colonie.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.