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

Town of Sterling’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures and changes in land or building use inside Sterling town.

  • General maintenance, painting, clearing woodlands, landscaping, tilling soil, raising animals, fences, terraces, steps, and small storage sheds or similar features under 144 square feet do not require a permit, but must comply with the regulations.

  “No structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, extended or moved; and there shall be no change in land or building usage, until a Zoning/Building Permit has been secured from the CEO.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a Sterling zoning/building permit.

  • The applicant must notify the CEO when permitted work is complete; the permit is not permanently effective until inspection and approval.

  “No permit shall be considered completed or permanently effective until the CEO has inspected the work, occupancy or use and has approved such as being in compliance with the provisions of these Regulations and any applicable county, state, and federal codes.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings erected, altered, extended, or changed in use inside Sterling town.

  “No building hereafter erected, altered or extended shall be used until a Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance has been issued by the CEO stating that the buildings or proposed use thereof complies with the provisions of these Land Use Regulations.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Sterling, Cayuga County, New York.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Town of Sterling Zoning Map, certified by the Town Clerk and included in Appendix A2.

  “The regulations for each district pertaining to minimum lot size, minimum lot width, minimum setback, and maximum height shall be specified in this section, subject to the further provisions of Article IV and Article V, with the exception of flag lots which are specified in Article 7-6.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Sterling town.

  • The zoning map is certified by the Town Clerk, accompanies the regulations, and is in Appendix A2 and the Town Clerk's office.

  “A/R 2 acres 200’ 105’ 113’ 20’ 35’ 35’ 35% H 40,000 Sq. ft. 100’ 75’ 83’ 20’ 35’ 35’ 35% W 40,000 Sq. ft. 100’ 75’ 83’ 20’ 35’ 35’ 35% PDD*”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Sterling town.

  • Flag lots are separately regulated in Article VII § 7-6; PDD controls may supersede underlying district controls after approval.

  “The regulations for each district pertaining to minimum lot size, minimum lot width, minimum setback, and maximum height shall be specified in this section, subject to the further provisions of Article IV and Article V, with the exception of flag lots which are specified in Article 7-6.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Sterling town.

  • Flag lots are separately regulated in Article VII § 7-6.

  “The regulations for each district pertaining to minimum lot size, minimum lot width, minimum setback, and maximum height shall be specified in this section, subject to the further provisions of Article IV and Article V, with the exception of flag lots which are specified in Article 7-6.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Sterling town.

  • Farm buildings, church spires, chimneys, wind-power facilities, and other structures above the roof not devoted to human occupancy are excepted from maximum-height regulations.

  “Maximum height regulations shall not apply to farm buildings, church spires, chimneys, wind power facilities, or other structures built above the roof and not devoted to human occupancy.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Residential designed manufactured homes inside Sterling town.

  • The home must be on a permanent foundation, comply with manufacturer instructions or ANSI Code A225.1-1994 if unavailable, and be installed parallel to the road.

  minimum roof pitch: 4/12

  “Shall be installed in conformity with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. When the manufacturer’s installation instructions are not available, the home shall be installed in conformance with ANSI Code A225.1-1994. A licensed NYS engineer or architect, stamped plans for installation are also accepted; and 7. Must be installed lengthwise parallel to the road.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New uses or construction inside Sterling town using on-site sewage or waste disposal.

  • The Town will not issue the zoning/building permit until the Cayuga County Health Department issues a certificate of approval.

  “A permit for any new use or construction which will involve the on-site disposal of sewage or waste, or a change in use or alteration which will result in an increased volume of sewage or waste to be disposed of on the site, or which will require a new or modified water supply, shall not be issued until a certificate of approval has been issued by the Cayuga County Health Department.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction proposed in designated Flood Hazard Areas within Sterling town.

  • The CEO reviews applications and requires flood-resistant design, materials and practices, adequate drainage, and utility siting minimizing flood damage.

  “In reviewing all applications for construction in FHA within the Town, the CEO shall require that any such proposed construction shall: 1. Be designed and anchored to prevent the flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure or portions of the structure due to flooding;”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning/building permit applications inside Sterling town.

  • Applications must be in writing by the owner, tenant, vendee under contract, or authorized agent on a Town form and filed with the CEO; grants or refusals occur within 15 days after filing unless otherwise provided.

  decision period: <= 15 days (Except as otherwise provided in the regulations)

  “Zoning/Building Permits shall be granted or refused within fifteen (15) days after the written application has been filed with the CEO, except as provided elsewhere therein.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Sterling

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction administered by the Town Code Enforcement Officer inside Sterling town.

  • The Town CEO administers and enforces the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code together with the Town regulations.

  “Administer and enforce all the provisions of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the provisions of these Regulations”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  New uses or construction inside Sterling town involving on-site sewage or waste disposal, or changes increasing disposal volume.

  • A Town zoning/building permit is not issued until Cayuga County Health Department approval is issued.

  “A permit for any new use or construction which will involve the on-site disposal of sewage or waste, or a change in use or alteration which will result in an increased volume of sewage or waste to be disposed of on the site, or which will require a new or modified water supply, shall not be issued until a certificate of approval has been issued by the Cayuga County Health Department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Sterling town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Sterling town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Sterling town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Sterling town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Sterling 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.