Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Green Island, New York

Village of Green Island’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Green Island village that must conform to the Uniform Code

  • Exceptions may be allowed for necessary repairs that do not materially affect structural features.
  • Exceptions may be allowed for alterations costing less than $10,000 that do not materially affect structural features or firesafety features, and do not involve installing or extending electrical systems or solid-fuel-burning heating appliances, chimneys and flues.
  • Permit expires one year from issuance and may be renewed in one-year periods (§ 82-8c).
  • Contractors must show liability insurance of at least $500,000 (§ 82-5).

  alteration exemption cost threshold: < 10000 USD (only if no structural, firesafety, electrical or solid-fuel effects)

  “building permits shall be required for any work which must conform to the uniform code.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Inside Green Island village

  • Adopted under § 10 of article 2 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.

  “this chapter shall provide for administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (uniform code) in the village of green island. this chapter is adopted pursuant to § 10 of article 2 of the municipal home rule law.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted work inside Green Island village

  • The applicant must tell the code enforcement officer when work is ready for inspection.
  • No regular periodic inspections of occupied dwelling units without the custodian's consent.

  “work for which a building permit is required shall be inspected for approval prior to enclosing or covering each stage of construction, including building location, site preparation, excavation, foundation, framing, superstructure, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work needing a building permit, and buildings converted between occupancy classifications, inside Green Island village

  • The code enforcement officer must approve or deny a CO application within 10 days (§ 82-4d).

  CO decision time: <= 10 days

  “no building or structure shall be occupied prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Green Island village (Albany County)

  “the village of green island is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Green Island village

  • Districts: Residential 1 (R1), Residential 2 (R2), Commercial (C), Industrial (IN), Recreational (REC), Floodplain (FP), Planned Development (PD).
  • The map is on file with the village clerk; the use and area/bulk schedules are attachments to the chapter and were not read.

  “the village of green island is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: residential 1 r1 residential 2 r2 commercial c industrial in recreational rec floodplain fp planned development pd”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside Green Island village

  • Planning Board special use permit for a mobile home on a new residence's construction site, up to six months, on a finding of hardship.
  • Planning Board may issue permits for temporary construction office use (up to one year) and other nondwelling uses.
  • Permits may be renewed on a finding of hardship.

  construction-site mobile home permit term: <= 6 months (renewable on hardship)

  “the use of mobile homes shall be prohibited within the village of green island due to the lack of available space suitable for such a use, except as follows:”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks and cesspools inside Green Island village

  • Banned except as provided later in the sewer use part; the exceptions were not read.

  “except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings used for human occupancy inside Green Island village abutting a street with a public sewer

  • Applies where the lot abuts a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer.
  • Public sewer must be within 100 feet of the property line.
  • Connection is due within 90 days after official notice.
  • Owner pays the cost.

  distance to sewer: <= 100 feet · time to connect after notice: 90 days

  “is hereby required, at his expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer, in accordance with the provisions of this part 2, within 90 days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Designated floodplain district inside Green Island village

  • Dumps, junkyards, excavation sites, and sewage and water facilities not approved by the state health department are also prohibited there.
  • Recreational, agricultural and temporary uses are excluded from the building prohibition.

  “all residential, commercial, industrial and other buildings intended for human occupancy or employment, excluding recreational, agricultural and temporary uses, unless constructed to the standards established under the national flood insurance program.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Green Island village

  • Fees are set by Board of Trustees resolution; the amounts were not found in the code.

  “fees, as set by resolution of the board of trustees, from time to time, shall be payable, which fees are nonrefundable.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Green Island village

  • Three sets of plans, including a plot plan, are required.
  • Code enforcement officer decides on plans within 60 days (§ 82-4b).
  • Zoning permit and planning board site plan review process not read.

  plan decision time: <= 60 days

  “a completed application for a building permit must include:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Green Island village
• Minimum dwelling size — R1 and R2 districts inside Green Island village
• Minimum lot size — R1 and R2 districts inside Green Island village
• Setbacks — R1 and R2 districts inside Green Island village
• Lot coverage — R1 and R2 districts inside Green Island village

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.