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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Friendship

Town of Friendship does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Friendship town that is required to conform to the New York State Uniform Code.

  • Certain exceptions are permitted under the State code-enforcement program.

  “Building permits must be required for any work which is required to conform to the Uniform Code. Certain exceptions are permitted.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Friendship town, which is outside New York City.

  • The Uniform Code is automatically effective in cities, towns, and villages except New York City.
  • Local governments may impose approved more-restrictive standards.

  “The Uniform Code is applicable in every part of the State (except the City of New York, which was permitted to retain its own code).”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction work inside Friendship town for which a building permit is issued.

  • Permit holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the municipality.

  “Inspections of certain specified elements of the construction process must be required. Building permits holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the municipality.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work inside Friendship town requiring a building permit, and buildings with a changed general occupancy classification.

  • Required for all work for which a building permit was required.
  • Required whenever the general occupancy classification changes.

  “A certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance must be required (1) for all work for which a building permit was required and (2) whenever the general occupancy classification of a building is changed.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  New or replacement onsite wastewater systems inside Friendship town, Allegany County.

  • County department staff design, oversee, and approve final construction to ensure State sanitary-code compliance.

  “In accordance with the requirements of the Allegany County Department of Health, you are hereby granted permission to construct an on-site wastewater treatment system at the above location in accordance with this permit and any sketches or detail and conditions herein or previously provided.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, correction, or alteration of a sewage system inside Friendship town.

  • The permit is issued by the Allegany County Department of Health.

  “I understand that a permit from the Health Department is required for any construction, corrections, or alterations to a sewage system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement onsite wastewater-system installations inside Friendship town.

  • Installation must be inspected near completion and before covering.
  • At least 24 hours' prior notice is required before final inspection.
  • A permit expires if the project is not completed within one year, unless an extension is granted; only four extensions are available after original expiration.

  final-inspection notice: >= 24 hours · permit completion period: 1 year (unless an extension is granted)

  “IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS: The installation, upon near completion and PRIOR TO COVERING, must be inspected by this department. At least 24 hours prior notice is required before final inspection.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Allegany County Health Department environmental-health permits, including septic applications, inside Friendship town.

  • The official Environmental Health page links an Environmental Health Services Fee Schedule for 2026.

  “Environmental Health Services Fee Schedule 2026”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater-system permitting inside Friendship town.

  • The County publishes the septic permit form and requires an application to be filed before online payment for septic-related requests.
  • County staff design, oversee, and approve final construction of new and replacement systems.

  “If your payment requires an application to be filed (Sanitary Survey, septic, food permit, etc.), please fill out the application electronically and email it to: healthinfo@alleganyco.gov or you can mail it to: Allegany County Department of Health 7 Court Street Belmont, NY 14813. Once payment is made and the application received, a member of our staff will reach out to you.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Land inside the Town of Friendship, Allegany County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Friendship town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Friendship town.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Friendship town.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Friendship town.

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.