Cattaraugus County, NY Building Permits & Zoning

In Cattaraugus County, New York, building permits are required for work covered by the state Uniform Code, but the town, city or village where the property lies issues them—not the county¹². Zoning also varies by municipality, while the Cattaraugus County Health Department permits every onsite wastewater installation or repair before construction³⁴.

At a glance

Building permit: Required for work covered by the Uniform Code; apply through the town, city or village¹²
Zoning: Handled by the municipality; rules vary across Cattaraugus County³
Septic permit: Required from Environmental Health before installation or repair⁴
Private well permit: No county Health Department permit; a new residential well is covered by the building permit⁵
RV or tiny-home occupancy: No countywide answer confirmed; ask the municipality governing the parcel⁶
Owner-builder exemption: Not confirmed; ask local code enforcement before relying on one⁷
Certificate of occupancy: Required for permitted work and changes in general occupancy classification⁸

Who to call

Zoning

Cattaraugus County Planning Division

Planning support and County Planning Board referrals; municipal boards decide local zoning applications

(716) 938-2387

207 Rock City St., 2nd Floor, Little Valley, NY 14755

Also useful

Cattaraugus County Directory of Federal, State, County, City, Town & Village Officials

Official directory for finding the applicable town, city or village contact

Septic permits

Cattaraugus County Health Department - Environmental Health Division

Onsite wastewater permits, site investigations and inspections throughout Cattaraugus County

716-373-8050

1 Leo Moss Drive, Suite 4010, Olean, NY 14760-1101

Also useful

Cattaraugus County Health Department - Environmental Health Division

Private-water guidance and well-standard waivers

716-373-8050

1 Leo Moss Drive, Suite 4010, Olean, NY 14760-1101

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Cattaraugus County, NY?

Yes. Work that must conform to New York's Uniform Code requires a building permit, subject to limited exceptions, and the local authority administers that permit¹. In Cattaraugus County, the town, city or village where the property sits is the permit authority; Cattaraugus County does not issue the building permit². Start by identifying the municipality, then use the county's directory to locate its officials⁹. Permit holders must leave covered work accessible until the municipality inspects and accepts it¹⁰. A certificate of occupancy or compliance is required for work that needed a building permit and whenever the general occupancy classification changes⁸. Ask local code enforcement which application, plans, fees and locally adopted exceptions apply before ordering materials.

Who issues Cattaraugus County building permits, and how do you reach them?

The applicable town, city or village—not Cattaraugus County—issues the building permit for a Cattaraugus County parcel². The county's online Directory of Federal, State, County, City, Town & Village Officials is the practical starting point for finding the correct municipal contact⁹. Cattaraugus County's Planning Division supports municipalities with land use, comprehensive planning, zoning, mapping, infrastructure and design guidance¹¹. The Planning Division can be reached at (716) 938-2387 at 207 Rock City St., 2nd Floor, Little Valley, NY 14755¹¹. It is a planning and referral resource, not a substitute for municipal code enforcement. Bring the parcel's tax-map number and proposed use when you call so the municipality can identify the zoning district, permit path and required submissions.

Does Cattaraugus County have zoning?

Cattaraugus County does not administer one countywide zoning code; zoning is handled by its individual towns, cities and villages⁶. The municipal board with jurisdiction decides the application, and that board may be a planning board, town or village board, or zoning board of appeals depending on the request³. Some local applications near specified boundaries, roads, parks, public lands, farm operations or county streams must also be referred to the County Planning Board³. The county Planning Division assists municipalities but does not replace the local decision-maker¹¹. Consequently, setbacks, minimum lot size, building height, lot coverage and similar dimensional rules cannot be answered countywide. Confirm the parcel's municipality and zoning district before treating a rural listing as buildable.

How do septic permits work in Cattaraugus County?

Every onsite wastewater system installation or repair in Cattaraugus County needs an Environmental Health Division permit before construction⁴. The applicant or contractor submits the application and payment; an inspector then investigates environmental hazards, soil layers and percolation, designs the system under current state standards, and issues the construction permit¹²¹³. After construction, the system must be inspected before backfill, and satisfactory work receives a permit to operate¹⁴¹². Reach Environmental Health at 716-373-8050 at 1 Leo Moss Drive, Suite 4010, Olean, NY 14760-1101¹³. Only about 0.6% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard system will fit¹⁵.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Cattaraugus County?

We could not confirm one countywide rule for living in an RV or tiny home on private land in Cattaraugus County. Because land-use controls are municipal, ask the town, city or village that governs the parcel about RV occupancy, temporary camping, minimum dwelling size and whether a tiny home is allowed in the zoning district⁶. A tiny home used as a dwelling does not automatically escape the building process: work covered by the Uniform Code requires a permit from the local authority¹. Occupancy of permitted work requires a certificate of occupancy or compliance⁸. The same caution applies to an owner-builder exemption; no authoritative county or municipal source confirmed one, so ask local code enforcement before assuming an owner may bypass permit requirements⁷.

Building a home in Cattaraugus County: steps in order

Identify the parcel's town, city or village, because that municipality handles building permits and local zoning²³.
Find the municipal contact through the county officials directory and confirm the zoning district, allowed use and required submissions⁹.
Contact Environmental Health for a septic application and site investigation before construction; soil conditions and percolation are evaluated during that process¹².
Plan the private water source. The Health Department does not issue a private-well permit, but a new residential source is included in the building permit and local code enforcement checks state standards⁵.
Submit the building-permit application to the municipality and keep work exposed for required inspections¹¹⁰.
Have the septic system inspected before backfill and obtain the required occupancy or compliance certificate before moving in¹⁴⁸.

What should you check before buying land in Cattaraugus County?

Check municipal zoning, legal access, septic feasibility, water and the building site before closing. About 77.1% of Cattaraugus County is wooded and about 69% is at a slope of 15% or less, but parcel-level clearing and grade can differ sharply from county averages¹⁶¹⁷. Conventional septic is the harder filter: only about 0.6% of mapped soils avoid severe drain-field limitations, so obtain an Environmental Health site evaluation early¹⁵¹². A private-use well needs no Health Department permit, although new residential water sources fall within the building permit and must meet state standards enforced locally⁵. We could not confirm a countywide driveway or floodplain-development rule; ask the municipality and road owner which approvals apply. Finally, the effective property-tax rate is about 2.7%, with a median annual bill of about $2,946¹⁸¹⁹.

Watch-outs

Cattaraugus County zoning answers are parcel-specific: the municipal board with jurisdiction handles the application, and some proposals also require County Planning Board referral³.
Do not cover a new septic system before inspection; completion must be inspected before backfill¹⁴.
A private well does not need a county Health Department permit, but a new residential well remains part of local building-permit review⁵.
We could not confirm countywide rules for RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, driveway permits or floodplain development; because zoning is municipal, ask the parcel's municipality and road owner before committing⁶.

Sources

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

How Cattaraugus County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency64100% ev.

Admin Boringness5890% ev.

Durability76100% ev.

Property Autonomy33100% ev.

Carry Cost73100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$169kTypical home

2.7%Property tax

$2,954Land / acre

45.3"Annual rain

0.8% of yrsSevere drought

0.2 / yr (+0.2)Mid-century 100°F days

8.5 daysMid-century dry spell

1.52" (+7.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.65×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$904Home insurance / yr

1.8% / yrInsurance growth

0.52%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

37,624People within 30 min

2,030,899People within 2 hr

40,940Radius comparison (15 mi)

57.8People / sq mi

1.7%Federal land

69%Land at 15% slope or less

0.6%Septic soil without severe limits

3,917 acWorkable land screen

77.1%Wooded land

67.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac

45.8°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Cattaraugus County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Cattaraugus County rules

Local zoningVaries (with conditions)
Local zoning and land-use controls throughout Cattaraugus County, aggregated across towns, villages, and cities; the county provides referral and advisory functions rather than administering every local ordinance.
- The municipal board with jurisdiction handles the application; this may be a planning board, town or village board, or zoning board of appeals.
- Certain applications within 500 feet of specified boundaries, roads, parks, public lands, farm operations, or county streams may require County Planning Board referral.
“The municipal board that has jurisdiction over the application is responsible for referring it to the County Planning Board. This may be the Planning Board, the Town or Village Board, or the Zoning Board of Appeals, depending on the type of application.”
County Zoning Referrals ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Repairs and installations of onsite wastewater treatment systems in Cattaraugus County.
- The permit must be obtained before construction.
- Commercial and other large systems with design flow of 1000 gallons per day or greater also require a NYS DEC SPDES permit and licensed Professional Engineer.
- The permit-to-construct is valid for one year or as otherwise stated and is non-transferable.
permit-to-construct validity: 1 year (or as otherwise stated; non-transferable)
“All onsite wastewater treatment system repairs or installations in Cattaraugus County require a permit issued by the Environmental Health Division prior to construction.”
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Septic inspectionRequired
Construction and completion of onsite wastewater treatment systems in Cattaraugus County.
- A site investigation occurs before design.
- The system must be inspected at completion and before backfill.
- An additional inspection may be required by the Department.
- A Permit-to-Operate is issued only if construction meets applicable standards and approved plans.
“The contractor or owner must cause inspection of the onsite wastewater treatment system at completion, prior to backfill, and as may be deemed necessary by the Department.”
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Well permitNot required
Private-use wells in Cattaraugus County.
- New residential water sources are included in the residence's building permit.
- Local Code Enforcement must ensure newly constructed wells meet current NYS standards.
- A Health Department waiver is required if a well cannot meet those standards.
- Well contractors must be registered with NYS DEC and well logs submitted after construction.
“However, you do NOT currently need a permit from the health department to install a well for private use. New residential water sources are part of your residence and are included in your building permit.”
Onsite Water Supplies ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Permit processPartial
County Environmental Health permitting for onsite wastewater systems.
- Applicant or contractor submits the construction-permit application with payment.
- An inspector performs a site investigation.
- The inspector designs the system under current NYS standards and issues a permit to construct.
- After construction, the inspector inspects before cover; satisfactory work receives a permit to operate.
“An inspector will perform a site investigation with you and your contractor. This involves evaluating the site for potential environmental and health hazards, as well as evaluating the soil stratum and soil percolation rates.”
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
County-wide zoningAbsent
New York counties have no zoning authority; zoning is administered by individual towns and villages, not Cattaraugus County.
Cattaraugus County FAQ ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

New York rules that apply here

Building permitRequired
Work that must conform to the New York State Uniform Code or Energy Code throughout New York State except New York City, where the city has its own construction code; local authorities having jurisdiction administer and enforce the state requirements within their boundaries.
- A local authority having jurisdiction may expressly exempt one or more listed categories of work from the building-permit requirement.
- Permitted exemption categories include one-story detached tool or storage sheds, playhouses, or similar structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses not exceeding 144 square feet gross floor area; temporary sets and scenery; certain window awnings; partitions or movable cases less than 5 feet 9 inches high; painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, or similar finish work; listed portable equipment or appliances; certain equipment replacements; and repairs that do not affect fire and life safety.
- A permit exemption does not authorize work violating the Uniform Code or Energy Code.
- Beginning December 31, 2025, regulated parties submitting building permit applications must comply with the 2025 NYS Uniform Code, subject to the stated transition option before that date.
maximum gross floor area for listed detached accessory structures: <= 144 square feet (Only for one-story detached structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses and used for tool/storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses.) · height threshold for listed partitions or movable cases: < 5 feet 9 inches
“Each authority having jurisdiction shall include in its code enforcement program provisions requiring building permits to be required for work that must conform to either or both of the Codes.”
Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Work in Cattaraugus County required to conform to the New York Uniform Code.
  “Building permits must be required for any work which is required to conform to the Uniform Code. Certain exceptions are permitted.”
  Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
InspectionsRequired
Construction work for which a building permit has been issued and which is subject to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, administered by the applicable local authority having jurisdiction throughout New York State except New York City.
- Inspections may be performed in person or remotely when the authority determines the remote inspection can be performed to the same level and quality and provides sufficient information; otherwise an in-person inspection is required.
- Where applicable, inspections include the worksite before permit issuance, footing and foundation, concrete slab preparation, framing, structural/electrical/plumbing/mechanical/fire-protection systems, fire-resistant construction and penetrations, heating appliances/chimneys/flues/gas vents, Energy Code compliance elements, manufactured buildings or homes, and a final inspection.
- Permit work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted; the permit holder must notify the authority when work is ready for inspection.
- The state minimum standards do not require regular periodic inspections of owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings or agricultural buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes, but this does not limit inspections invited by the owner or required where conditions threaten or present a public-health, safety, or welfare hazard.
maximum interval for periodic fire-safety and property-maintenance inspections of multiple dwellings and nonresidential occupancies: <= 3 years (This periodic-inspection interval does not apply as a requirement to owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings or qualifying agricultural buildings.)
“Each authority having jurisdiction shall include in its code enforcement program provisions requiring the authority having jurisdiction, or an individual or entity contracted by the authority having jurisdiction and satisfying the requirements set forth in section 1203.2 (e)(2), to perform construction inspections required by the Codes including those listed in this paragraph, either in-person or remotely.”
Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Construction work subject to the Uniform Code in Cattaraugus County.
  “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.”
  Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Work subject to a building permit and the Uniform Code or Energy Code, and structures or portions converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another, throughout New York State except New York City.
- Permission to use or occupy covered buildings or portions is granted only by issuance of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance, except as provided for temporary certificates of occupancy.
- Before issuance, the authority must inspect and determine compliance with applicable Codes and, where applicable, review structural-observation statements, special-inspection reports, flood-hazard certifications, Energy Code test results, and manufactured-building or manufactured-home seals, insignias, and data plates.
- A temporary certificate may be issued before completion for a specified period and specified portions, subject to safe occupancy, operational fire and life-safety components, required means of egress, and completion of remaining work.
temporary certificate period: specified period (The permit holder must undertake to bring the structure into full compliance with the Codes.)
“The code enforcement program shall provide that, except as provided in section 1203.3 (d)(4), permission to use or occupy a building or structure, or portion thereof, for which a building permit was previously issued, or which has been converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another, shall be granted only by issuance of a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance.”
Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — Work requiring a building permit and changes in general occupancy classification in Cattaraugus County.
  “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.”
  Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)
Residential and other septic or cesspool systems statewide in New York.
- New York State DEC administers SPDES permitting for regulated wastewater discharges.
- For systems with less than 1,000 gallons per day of sewage-wastewater discharge to groundwater and no industrial or other non-sewage wastes, approval may still be required from the appropriate city health department, county health department, or district office of the New York State Department of Health before construction.
- The actual local or district health authority depends on the property location.
groundwater discharge design flow threshold: < 1000 gallons per day (No industrial or other non-sewage wastes)
“city health department, county health department”
State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit Program ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision review in towns, for the portion of a town outside incorporated villages, where the town board authorizes the planning board to review plats.
- Authorization is by town-board resolution; the statute does not establish one uniform approval process for every municipality.
- The statute defines subdivision by reference to local ordinances, laws, rules, or regulations.
- Preliminary and final plat review is subject to SEQRA coordination and statutory hearing and decision procedures.
- A conditional final-plat approval does not qualify the plat for recording or authorize building permits until required signing and recording occur.
preliminary-plat hearing deadline when no environmental impact statement is required: 62 days (after receipt of a complete preliminary plat) · preliminary-plat decision deadline when no environmental impact statement is required: 62 days (after close of the public hearing) · final-plat filing deadline: 62 days (from final approval, otherwise approval expires)
“For the purpose of providing for the future growth and development of the town and affording adequate facilities for the housing, transportation, distribution, comfort, convenience, safety, health and welfare of its population, the town board may, by resolution, authorize and empower the planning board to approve preliminary and final plats of subdivisions showing lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, within that part of the town outside the limits of any incorporated village.”
New York Town Law § 276: Subdivision review; approval of plats; development of filed plats ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
New York State Department of State building-permit administration and enforcement fees.
- The schedule is identified as having a publication date of August 2022.
- Fees vary by project type, building type, area, dwelling unit, sleeping room, inspection, and permit category.
- For one- and two-family homes including accessory structures constructed contemporaneously, the schedule lists $200 for the first 1,500 square feet and $100 for each additional 1,000 square feet or fraction thereof.
- Permit renewals have no fee.
- Building-permit fees include construction inspections required as a result of the permit; additional inspection fees may apply.
- Local authorities may have separate fees or requirements.
publication date: August 2022 · one- and two-family homes fee for first 1,500 square feet: 200 USD (including accessory structures constructed contemporaneously) · one- and two-family homes fee for each additional 1,000 square feet or fraction: per 100 USD (after the first 1,500 square feet) · permit renewal fee: 0 USD
“$ 200 First 1,500 square feet of area $ 100 Each additional 1,000 square feet of area or fraction thereof”
Department of State Administration and Enforcement Fee Schedule ↗Re-checked Sep 12, 2026

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building permitting or code enforcement in Cattaraugus County.
Zoning districts — Countywide publication of zoning districts in Cattaraugus County.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Cattaraugus County.
Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements in Cattaraugus County.
Setbacks — Building and land-use setbacks in Cattaraugus County.

13 more unanswered

Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Off-grid sanitation
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Cattaraugus County, New York

Is Cattaraugus County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Cattaraugus County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: 20 operating mines and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop.

Do you need a building permit in Cattaraugus County, New York?

Cattaraugus County generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Cattaraugus County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (under NY DOH). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Cattaraugus County, New York?

Land in Cattaraugus County runs about $2,954 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Cattaraugus County?

Cattaraugus County gets about 45.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.8% of years.

How remote is Cattaraugus County?

A representative private-land location has about 37,624 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,030,899 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Cattaraugus County, New York