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

Town of East Otto’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the Town of East Otto, Cattaraugus County, New York.

  • The ordinance regulates location, size, and use of buildings, structures, and land.

  “following ordinances regulating and restricting the location, size and use of buildings and other structures and the use of land in the Town of East Otto.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in East Otto town.

  • District boundaries are established by the incorporated Zoning District Map dated June 8, 1983.

  “A-1 - Agricultural Forestry District R-1 - Residential District B-1 - Business District M-1 - Industrial District F-1 - Special/Floodway F-2 - Floodway Fringe District”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Mobile homes in every East Otto zoning district where such homes may locate.

  • The minimum applies with the other §9.14(B) mobile-home conditions.

  minimum area: >= 600 square feet (Mobile homes.)

  “The mobile home shall contain a minimum area of 600 square feet.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles or trailers located and used in East Otto town.

  • A 14-day permit from the Town Code Enforcement Officer is required.
  • Renewal is discretionary.
  • Unlimited owner-property storage is allowed only where no residence, storage, business, or other use is made of the vehicle or trailer.

  permit duration: 14 days (May be renewed at the Code Enforcement Officer's discretion.)

  “Recreation vehicles or trailers may be located and used in the Town with a 14 day permit obtained from the Town Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile or manufactured homes in East Otto town.

  • The home must be a principal use on a district-compliant lot, have at least 600 square feet, obtain County Health Department plan approval, meet district-location requirements, and use a permanent foundation with skirting or solid screening.

  minimum mobile-home area: >= 600 square feet

  “The mobile home shall be placed on a permanent type foundation with skirting or solid type material screening the space between the mobile home floor and ground.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Water-supply and sewage-disposal installations in East Otto town.

  • Installations must conform with New York State Department of Health and local county health department regulations.
  • A plot plan cannot be approved unless conformity is certified on the plans.

  “No plot plan shall be approved by the Building Inspector in any District unless such conformity is certified on the plans.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural land uses and directly incidental nonresidential agricultural buildings in East Otto agricultural districts.

  • Setback and yard requirements still apply.
  • A building permit for any structure remains required under the Town building code.

  “no zoning certificate shall be required for any such use or nonresidential building.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats in East Otto town.

  • The Planning Board approves plats under adopted subdivision regulations and subsequent amendments.
  • The zoning ordinance defines a subdivision as division into two or more lots, blocks, or sites, but exempts lots ten acres or larger from plat filing under these regulations.

  “Approve subdivision plats: 1. According to the provisions set forth in the Town of East Otto Subdivision Regulations, as adopted 4/4/72 (including subsequent amendments).”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in East Otto F-1 Special Floodway and F-2 Floodway Fringe districts.

  • F-2 is subject to the adjacent-zone's most restrictive regulations plus Local Law Number One, 1988, Flood Damage Prevention.
  • F-1 references that local law for supplementary regulations.

  “Subject to most restrictive regulations in zone adjacent to it on zoning map plus supplementary Local Law Number One, 1988, Flood Damage Prevention.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Tourist-home use in the Agricultural and R-1 Residential districts of East Otto town.

  • The Schedule A table places tourist homes in the special-use column requiring Planning Board approval.

  “Permitted Uses Special Uses, Requiring Planning Board Approval”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning and building permit applications in East Otto town.

  • Applications require two plot-plan copies with stated information.
  • Water and sewage conformity must be certified on the plans.
  • Other reviews and actions called for by the ordinance must be complete.

  “There shall be submitted with all application for permits, two copies of the layout or plot plan drawn to scale”

Rules another office applies inside Town of East Otto

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Uniform-Code construction work inside East Otto town.

  • Inspections apply to specified construction elements.
  • 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.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Residential District in East Otto town.

  • The front setback is measured from the road centerline.
  • Along specified highways, residential or accessory buildings must also be at least 75 feet from the right-of-way line.

  minimum setback from centerline to nearest building: 100 feet (R-1 Residential District.) · minimum side yard each side: >= 15 feet (R-1 Residential District.) · minimum rear yard: 25 feet (R-1 Residential District.)

  “Residential 40 ft. Total 25 ft. SO ft. 25 ft. 25% R-1 15 ft. min.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Residential District in East Otto town.

  maximum percent lot coverage: <= 25 percent (R-1 Residential District.)

  “Residential 40 ft. Total 25 ft. SO ft. 25 ft. 25% R-1 15 ft. min.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Residential District in East Otto town.

  • The schedule distinguishes dwelling and non-dwelling maximum height.

  maximum dwelling height: <= 25 feet (R-1 Residential District.) · maximum non-dwelling height: <= 50 feet (R-1 Residential District.)

  “Residential 40 ft. Total 25 ft. SO ft. 25 ft. 25% R-1 15 ft. min.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in East Otto town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside East Otto town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside East Otto town.
• Septic permit — On-site septic systems inside East Otto town.
• Septic inspection — On-site septic systems inside East Otto 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.