Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Salamanca, New York

Salamanca’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside the City of Salamanca, Cattaraugus County

  • Zoning law enacted by the Common Council under General City Law and Municipal Home Rule Law
  • Administered by a zoning officer; special uses need planning commission approval; zoning board of appeals handles boundary questions

  “a law establishing a comprehensive zoning plan for the city of salamanca by dividing the territory thereof into certain zoning use districts and prescribing regulations and standards for buildings and other structures and the use of land therein.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning use districts in the City of Salamanca

  • Ten districts: AC, R1, R2, MH, B1, B2, B3, WC, I1, I2
  • Boundaries are on the city's zoning map kept by the zoning officer; the city site links a zoning map

  “the city of salamanca establishes the following zoning use districts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. agricultural-conservation (ac) single-family residential (r1) single-family/general residential (r2) mobile home (mh) city center (b1) general commercial (b2) neighborhood commercial (b3)”

• Building heightSpecified

  Waterfront conservation (WC) district, Salamanca city (passage is the last text of the district section before section 4.8)

  • Heights for R1, R2 and AC are in the density control table, which was not located in readable text

  maximum building height: <= 25 feet

  “height limitation: no buildings shall exceed a maximum height of twenty five feet (25') in this use district.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles as living quarters inside Salamanca city

  • Definition of camping unit says these are allowed in campgrounds only
  • Section 3.1.5 deems any use not specifically permitted to be prohibited
  • Did not locate a specific campground or RV-park use section

  “camping unit- any tent, trailer, cabin, lean-to, recreational vehicle, or similar structure established or maintained and operated only as temporary living-quarters for recreation, education or vacation purposes. these are allowed in camp grounds only.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent, trailer or RV camping inside Salamanca city

  • Camping units allowed in campgrounds only per the definition
  • Did not locate a specific campground use section

  “camping unit- any tent, trailer, cabin, lean-to, recreational vehicle, or similar structure established or maintained and operated only as temporary living-quarters for recreation, education or vacation purposes. these are allowed in camp grounds only.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and modular homes inside Salamanca city, mobile home (MH) district

  • Mobile homes, mobile home parks and modular homes are special permitted uses in the MH district and need a special use permit approved by the planning commission
  • Site plan review required under Article 8
  • City site lists a separate modular or mobile home permit form
  • Treatment in other districts not confirmed

  “the following uses may be permitted in the mh district consistent with the provisions of this law and provided that a special use permit is approved by the planning commission: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. mobile home parks. mobile homes. modular homes. home occupations.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits in Salamanca city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Salamanca city
• Building code adopted — Building code in Salamanca city
• Inspections — Building inspections in Salamanca city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Salamanca city

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.