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

Rules another office applies inside Town of Leon

Town of Leon 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 systems inside Leon town, which the Town of Leon official site identifies as being in Cattaraugus County.

  • The Cattaraugus County Environmental Health Division enforces the cited state and county sanitary authorities.

  “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

  Onsite wastewater treatment system repairs or installations inside Leon town.

  • Permit must be issued by the Environmental Health Division before construction.
  • Commercial and other large wastewater systems with a design flow of 1,000 gallons per day or greater also require a NYSDEC SPDES permit and a licensed Professional Engineer.

  large-system design flow: >= 1000 gallons per day (Commercial systems and other large wastewater treatment systems also require a NYSDEC SPDES permit and licensed Professional Engineer.)

  “All onsite wastewater treatment system repairs or installations in Cattaraugus County require a permit issued by the Environmental Health Division prior to construction. Commercial systems and other large wastewater treatment systems (with a design flow of 1000 gallons per day or greater) also require a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit issued by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and require the services of a licensed Professional Engineer.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement onsite wastewater treatment systems inside Leon town.

  • An inspector performs a site investigation.
  • The inspector visits again before the system is covered; a Permit to Operate is issued if construction is satisfactory.
  • For replacement systems or sites with severe space restrictions, an engineering evaluation or design may be necessary.

  “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. For replacement systems, or sites with severe space restrictions, an engineering evaluation or design may be necessary. [...] 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.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Onsite wastewater sanitation for properties inside Leon town.

  • Repairs or installations require an Environmental Health Division permit before construction.
  • Large systems with a design flow of 1,000 gallons per day or greater have additional NYSDEC SPDES and professional-engineer requirements.
  • Construction must be inspected before the system is covered.

  large-system design flow: >= 1000 gallons per day (SPDES permit and licensed Professional Engineer required.)

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

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  County onsite-wastewater construction permits for properties inside Leon town.

  • Applicant or selected contractor must submit the application with payment.
  • An inspector conducts site investigation; replacement systems or severely space-restricted sites may need engineering evaluation or design.
  • The inspector designs the system using current NYS standards and issues the construction permit.
  • The constructed system is inspected before covering; a Permit to Operate issues only if construction is satisfactory.

  “You, or a selected contractor acting as your representative must complete the "Application for an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Construction Permit" and submit it with payment to the Environmental Health Division.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Leon town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Leon town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption and enforcement inside Leon town.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Leon town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Leon 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.