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

Town of Oxford’s own rules

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The ordinance states that locations and boundaries are established from the Town of Oxford Zoning Map dated 1993.
  • Additional planned districts may be established by amendment to the Zoning Map.

  “For the purpose of this ordinance, the Town of Oxford is divided into the following districts:”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One- or two-family dwellings in A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Residential districts inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The published zoning schedule identifies 43,560 square feet for one- or two-family dwellings and separately lists A-1 and R-1.

  minimum lot size: >= 43560 square feet (one- or two-family dwelling in A-1 or R-1)

  “Minimum lot size: 43,560 square feet (one acre)”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Farmhouse and farm-building development in the A-1 Agricultural District inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The farm-building side-line setback applies provided it does not create a health or safety hazard.

  farm house setback from road right-of-way: >= 40 feet · farm building setback from road right-of-way: >= 75 feet · farm building sideline setback: >= 75 feet (as long as it does not create a health or safety hazard)

  “The farm house dwelling shall have a minimum setback of 40’ from the edge of road right-of-way. Farm buildings shall be a minimum of 75’ from the edge of the road right-of-way and 75’ from the sideline as long as it does not create a health or safety hazard.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One- or two-family dwellings in A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Residential districts inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The published Schedule A identifies a maximum height of 2-1/2 stories and 35 feet for the listed dwelling rows.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (one- or two-family dwelling in A-1 or R-1) · maximum building height: <= 2-1/2 stories (one- or two-family dwelling in A-1 or R-1)

  “One or two family dwelling 43,560/du* 135 15 2-1/2 35 40 20 50 50”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campground occupancy inside the Town of Oxford.

  • Campgrounds may be located only in A-1 Agricultural or RR-2 Residential/Recreational districts.
  • A lot may not be occupied by the same person or group more than two consecutive weeks.
  • A campground may operate only March 1 through November 15.

  maximum consecutive occupancy: <= 2 weeks (same person or group) · campground operating season: March 1 through November 15

  “A lot is not to be occupied by the same person or group for more than two consecutive weeks at a time.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes in the A-1 Agricultural District inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The lot must contain at least 30,000 square feet.

  minimum lot size: >= 30000 square feet (mobile home in A-1 Agricultural District)

  “Mobile home, on a lot having a minimum of 30,000 square feet”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside the Town of Oxford.

  • The regulations were adopted by the Planning Board and approved by the Oxford Board on June 6, 1988, and amended September 12, 1994 and July 11, 2007.
  • Final subdivision plat approval is subject to the regulations' required process and filing.

  “these regulations which shall be known as, and which may be cited as the "Town of Oxford Subdivision Regulations" have been adopted by the Planning Board and approved by the Oxford Board on 6-6-88, amended 9-12-94, amended 7-11-2007.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways for drive-in restaurants, refreshment stands, and auto washes inside the Town of Oxford.

  • For drive-in restaurants or refreshment stands, the number and location of driveways are subject to Planning Board review and approval.
  • For auto washes, the number and location of driveways are subject to Board of Appeals review and approval.

  “Ingress and egress shall be so designed as to minimize traffic congestion, and for this purpose, the number and location of driveways shall be subject to review and approval of the Planning Board.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside the Town of Oxford.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside the Town of Oxford.
• Lot coverage — Residential development inside the Town of Oxford.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside the Town of Oxford.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside the Town of Oxford.

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.