Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Port Dickinson, New York

Village of Port Dickinson’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction work subject to the Uniform Code inside Port Dickinson village

  • Exemptions listed in § 26-4(b) (e.g., certain repairs not affecting fire and life safety)
  • Permit invalid if work not started within 6 months; expires 12 months after issuance
  • Fee set under § 26-18

  permit validity: 12 months (invalid if work not commenced within 6 months)

  “a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the uniform code and/or the energy code”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  All buildings inside Port Dickinson village

  • Chapter 26 adopted 1-10-23 (L.L. 1-2023) repealed and replaced the prior chapter
  • Also enforces the State Energy Conservation Construction Code

  “this chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (the uniform code) and the state energy conservation construction code (the energy code) in the village of port dickinson”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Port Dickinson village

  • Elements inspected where applicable include footing/foundation and a final inspection
  • Remote inspection may be allowed at the code enforcement officer's discretion

  “work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the code enforcement officer or by an inspector authorized by the code enforcement officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work under a building permit and change of use/occupancy inside Port Dickinson village

  • Issued by code enforcement officer if work complies with Uniform Code and Energy Code

  “a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Port Dickinson village (Broome County)

  • Districts: R, RM, C, I, PUD
  • Dimensional limits are in separate zoning schedules (attachments I-VII) not opened

  “this chapter may be known and may be cited as the "village of port dickinson zoning ordinance."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Port Dickinson village zoning districts

  • Zoning map adopted June 10, 1958, updated July 29, 1974
  • Dimensional schedules published separately as attachments I-VII

  “r district: residential district rm district: multiresidential district c district: commercial district i district: industrial district pud district: planned unit development district”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile home trailers inside Port Dickinson village

  • Only in mobile home parks in RM residential districts
  • Must meet single-family residence rules for an R district
  • Zoning Board of Appeals may impose other controls
  • Mobile home trailer park means two or more mobile homes occupied over 90 consecutive days

  “special permits for mobile home trailers located in mobile home parks in rm residential districts may be granted by the zoning board of appeals provided that the mobile home trailer comply with the regulations as outlined for a single-family residence in an r residential district.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Port Dickinson village

  • Permit issued by Broome County Health Department
  • Engineering evidence of compliance submitted before building permit

  “engineering evidence of compliance with this requirement shall be submitted by each applicant before the issuance of a building permit. a permit from the broome county health department shall be obtained.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Properties abutting a street with public sewer or water main inside Port Dickinson village

  • Sewer: applies where a public sanitary sewer is within 100 feet of the property line
  • Water: applies to property fronting or abutting a street with a public water main (added by L.L. 4-2023, 5/23/2023)

  sewer connection distance: <= 100 feet

  “situated within the village and abutting on any street or public right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer within one hundred (100) feet”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits, variances, special permits and site plans inside Port Dickinson village

  • Amounts are not in the code; the village website has a separate fee schedule page not opened
  • May require reimbursement for professional consultants (§ 65-36.1, added 5-23-2023)

  “permit fees for building permits, use and area variance applications, special permits, and site plans shall be set by resolution of the village board.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Port Dickinson village

  • Site plan review by the planning board may be needed before a building permit
  • Written application on a form acceptable to the code enforcement officer, signed by owner or agent

  “applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the code enforcement officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Port Dickinson

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

• Who permits septicCounty

  Private sewage systems inside Port Dickinson village; village zoning code sends the permit to the Broome County Health Department

  • Village also requires engineering evidence before the building permit

  “a permit from the broome county health department shall be obtained.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Port Dickinson or Broome County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Port Dickinson village
• Minimum dwelling size — R district, Port Dickinson village
• Minimum lot size — R district, Port Dickinson village
• Setbacks — R district, Port Dickinson village
• Lot coverage — R district, Port Dickinson 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.