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

Town of Conewango’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Construction and installation inside the Town of Conewango.

  • A one-story detached tool-storage, playhouse, or similar structure associated with listed dwelling types is exempt only where gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet.
  • Construction started before issuance of a building permit is subject to double the original permit fee plus legal fees.

  exempt detached-structure maximum gross floor area: <= 144 sq ft (One-story detached tool-storage, playhouse, or similar structure associated with listed dwellings.)

  “No permit shall be required for a construction or installation of a one-story, detached structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or multiple single-family dwellings which are used for tool storage, playhouses or similar uses, provided that the gross floor area does not exceed 144 sg. ft. of the original permit fee will be charged to renew permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building work inside the Town of Conewango.

  • The county annex identifies the responsible agency as local code enforcement and identifies the code citation as 2008-1.

  “Building Code Yes 2008-1 Local Code Enforcement Yes Yes - Comments: None”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings inside Conewango town.

  • The building must be solely used to raise animals or grow or store agricultural or horticultural products by a farmer engaged in a farming operation.
  • The owner must contact the Town Assessor to receive an Agricultural Exemption.

  “Agricultural buildings ........No permits needed; however, the owner must contact the Town Assessor to receive an Agricultural Exemption.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-code permits and related listed Town services.

  • The Town page lists a $50 minimum construction charge over 144 square feet and a stated per-square-foot charge for new single-family dwellings.
  • Construction started before issuance incurs double the original permit fee plus legal fees.

  minimum construction charge over 144 square feet: 50 USD · new residential single-family dwelling fee: per 0.15 USD per sq ft (Total first- and second-floor living space.)

  “Minimum Charge for construction over 144 sq. feet ...............................................$50.00 New residential single-family dwelling .........................................................0.15 per sq.ft”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-code permit applications inside Conewango town.

  • The Town provides a New Residential Building Permit form and identifies the Code Enforcement Officer; the opened page does not publish a complete application-review process.

  “Tim Poitras Jr. - Code Enforcement Officer Available by Appointment (716) 499-8225 Building Code Forms New Residential Building Permit Unified Solar Permit Fireworks Display Complaint Form Certificate of Occupancy”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Conewango

Town of Conewango 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 (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Conewango town, which is in Cattaraugus County.

  • The Environmental Health Division regulates systems in Cattaraugus County under New York standards and specifications in force when constructed.

  “Onsite wastewater treatment systems in Cattaraugus County are regulated by the Environmental Health Division in accordance with NYS standards and specifications (10NYCRR Appendix 75-A: Wastewater Treatment Standards - Residential Onsite Systems) in effect at the time of their construction.”

• Septic permitRequired

  All onsite wastewater-treatment-system repairs or installations inside Conewango town.

  • Commercial and other systems with design flow of 1,000 gallons per day or greater also require a NYSDEC SPDES permit and a licensed professional engineer.
  • Permit must be issued before construction.

  additional-SPDES threshold: >= 1000 gallons per day (Commercial systems and other large wastewater treatment systems.)

  “All onsite wastewater treatment system repairs or installations in Cattaraugus County require a permit issued by the Environmental Health Division prior to construction.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or repaired onsite wastewater-treatment systems inside Conewango town.

  • Inspection occurs after construction and before the system is covered or placed in operation.
  • A Permit to Operate is issued if construction is satisfactory.

  “Once the system is constructed, the inspector will visit the site again to inspect the work before it is covered. If the construction is satisfactory, a "Permit to Operate an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System" will be issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Conewango town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Conewango town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of completed buildings inside Conewango town.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Conewango town.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Conewango town where public water or sewer may be available.

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.