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

Town of Greene’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures, alterations, and demolitions in Greene town.

  • Listed exemptions include certain one-story detached accessory structures of no more than 144 square feet and specified finish, equipment, and limited repair work.
  • A permit is good for one year from issuance; an unfinished project may be extended by submitting one-half of the permit cost.
  • Workers' Compensation Law compliance is required before the Town may issue a building permit.

  exempt accessory-structure gross floor area: <= 144 square feet (One-story detached structures associated with listed one- or two-family and townhouse dwellings, for listed similar uses.) · permit duration: 1 year (From date of issue.)

  “A building permit is required for all structures, alterations and demolitions, this includes but is not limited to: new construction, alterations, placement of new structures, movement of existing buildings, storage structures for all hazardous materials, conversions, occupancy changes, electrical alterations, heating systems, gas appliances for heating or decorative use, solid fuel burning appliances, chimney or flue additions or alterations, structural alterations, changes to fire safety and/or life safety features.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  A property owner doing the permitted work themselves in Greene town.

  • The stated exemption concerns proof of insurance, not the underlying building-permit requirement.

  “If you are the owner of the property and doing the work yourself than you do not need to show proof of insurances.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction administered by Greene Code Enforcement within Greene town.

  • The local law provides full administration and enforcement of the State Uniform Code and State Energy Code.

  “Both municipalities have adopted a local law providing for the full administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code).”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land in Greene town governed by the Town of Greene rather than the separately zoned Village of Greene.

  • The Town page distinguishes the Village's zoning from the Town's lack of a zoning law.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size under Town of Greene zoning.

  • The Town has no zoning law; State building-code requirements may still apply.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size under Town of Greene zoning.

  • The Town has no zoning law; septic and subdivision controls may still apply.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• SetbacksNone

  Setbacks under Town of Greene zoning.

  • The Town has no zoning law; other setbacks or separation requirements may apply under non-zoning laws.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage under Town of Greene zoning.

  • The Town has no zoning law; other land-development requirements may apply.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• Building heightNone

  Building-height controls under Town of Greene zoning.

  • The Town has no zoning law; applicable building-code limits remain separate.

  “There is zoning in the Village of Greene but there is no zoning law for the Town of Greene at this time.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured and modular homes in Greene town.

  • Installation or service may separately require licenses under Executive Law Article 21-B, as stated by the Town page.

  “Does the Town and Village allow manufactured and modular homes? Yes.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage-disposal-system installation or repair serving property in Greene town.

  • The Town form refers to the Town of Greene Sewage Disposal Regulation and its sanitary inspector.

  “TOWN OF GREENE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM INSTALLATION OR REPAIR”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Standard and alternative sewage-disposal systems in Greene town.

  • Final inspection must be scheduled before the system is covered.
  • Failure to complete final inspection results in a disapproved system and may require uncovering it for final approval.

  “ALL SYSTEMS MUST BE INSPECTED BEFORE COVERING.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town and Village permit fees administered by Greene Code Enforcement.

  • The Town page identifies the linked schedule as the current fee schedule and says the Town and Village use the same schedule.

  “Above you will find a PDF for the current fee schedule. The Village and Town use the same fee schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in Greene town.

  • Major construction projects require architect- and/or engineer-stamped plans.
  • Town-listed application materials include a site plan, floor plan, elevations, cross sections, plumbing/electrical plans, and applicable health, energy-audit, and stormwater materials.

  “Building plans stamped by a professional architect and/or engineer are required for all major construction projects. Acceptance of plans for any project is determined by quality of submitted documents. Contact Ordinance office if in doubt.”

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Building-construction inspections in Greene town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings in Greene town.
• Septic permit — Installation, alteration, or repair of a sewage-disposal system in Greene town.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Greene town.
• Well permit — Private wells in Greene 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.