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

Village of Windsor’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work subject to the Uniform Code/Energy Code inside Windsor village

  • Exemptions listed in § 67-4(b) were not reviewed in detail

  “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 and premises inside Windsor village

  • Local Law #1-2023 repealed and replaced Chapter 67
  • Administers NY Uniform Code and Energy Code

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

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Windsor village (Broome County)

  • Adopted by the Board of Trustees 7-25-67; amendments noted in the code

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

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Windsor village

  • Districts in chapter table of contents: RA, RB, RA/C, C, CD, I

  “article iv-1 ra/c residence/commercial transition district § 200-23a-1. permitted uses.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  One-family dwelling in the RA residence district, Windsor village

  • RB one-family lots are the same as RA
  • § 200-40 allows a one-family dwelling on a pre-existing undersized lot (not in the industrial district) if all other provisions are met

  minimum lot area: >= 9000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 70 ft

  “the following lot area and lot width requirements shall apply in the ra district: a. one-family dwelling: the lot area shall be not less than nine thousand (9,000) square feet and lot width not less than seventy (70) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  RA residence district, Windsor village (principal buildings)

  • Front yard may instead be in line with existing structure
  • Accessory buildings: max height 18 ft, none in front of principal building, 5 ft from side lot line (§ 200-16)

  front yard: >= 25 ft (or in line with existing structure) · each side yard: >= 6 ft (aggregate of both side yards not less than 15 ft) · rear yard: >= 30 ft

  “b. each side yard: no side yard shall be less than six (6) feet, but the aggregate measurement of both yards shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  RA residence district, Windsor village

  • Includes accessory buildings
  • Commercial/RA-C/industrial districts allow 40%

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent of lot area

  “all buildings, including accessory buildings, shall not cover more than thirty percent (30%) of the lot area.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential structures in the RA residence district, Windsor village

  • Non-residential buildings may exceed only with a special permit from the zoning board of appeals
  • RB district limit is 2 stories or 45 feet (§ 200-19)

  maximum height: <= 35 ft (or 2.5 stories) (special permit for non-residential buildings)

  “buildings other than those intended for residential use may exceed the height limitation only after a special permit has been granted by the zoning board of appeals in conformity with article x.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Trailer/mobile home used as a dwelling, Windsor village (listed among RB district permitted uses)

  • Special permit under Chapter 182 required
  • Trailer parks require a special permit and Article XII compliance
  • Chapter 182 defines trailer/mobile home as designed for permanent dwelling use

  “a trailer may be used as a dwelling subject to the issuance of a special permit as provided in chapter 182, trailers and trailer parks.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder inside Windsor village
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Windsor village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Windsor village
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Windsor village
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Windsor 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.