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

Town of Chatham’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work within Chatham that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including residential construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, demolition, and specified solid-fuel appliances.

  • The work must conform to the Uniform Code and/or Energy Code.
  • No person may commence covered work before obtaining a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer.

  “A building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof and the installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises in the Town of Chatham.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law, or Chapter 124.

  “This chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (the Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (the Energy Code) in this Town.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Elements of permitted construction in the Town of Chatham where applicable.

  • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • The permit holder must notify the Code Enforcement Officer when an inspectable work element is ready.

  “Work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer or by an inspector authorized by the Code Enforcement Officer. The permit holder shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer when any element of work described in Subsection B of this section is ready for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work subject to a building permit and structures or portions converted to another use or occupancy classification in the Town of Chatham.

  • Use or occupancy may be granted only by a certificate of occupancy/certificate of compliance.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer or authorized inspector must inspect before issuance.

  “A certificate of occupancy/certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit and for all structures, buildings, or portions thereof which are converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the Town of Chatham, Columbia County, New York.

  • Chapter 180 has subsequent amendments noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Chatham 7-2-1972; amended in its entirety 3-10-1988 by L.L. No. 1-1988. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings in residential districts in the Town of Chatham.

  • The manufactured home must be affixed to a permanent foundation.
  • It must conform with identical development, aesthetic, and architectural standards applicable to conventional site-built single-family dwellings in that residential district.

  “A manufactured home that is affixed to a permanent foundation and conforms with the identical development specification and standards, including general aesthetic and architectural standards, applicable to conventional, site-built single-family dwellings in the residential district in which the manufactured home is to be sited, shall be deemed to be a conforming single family dwelling for purposes of the applicable local zoning regulations identified in Chapter 180.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land in the Town of Chatham.

  • The Town's Chapter 170, Subdivision of Land, was amended by the cited local law.
  • The cited amendment establishes a mechanism for single-lot exemptions rather than eliminating subdivision regulation.

  “The Planning Board is authorized to approve single lot exemptions according to the rules and procedures set forth in Chapter § 170 Subdivision of Land and within the limitations described within this section.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in the Town of Chatham.

  • Applications must be in writing on an acceptable form.
  • They must be signed by the property owner or authorized agent.
  • The application must include the information and documentation specified by § 124-4B.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer. The application shall be signed by the owner of the property where the work is to be performed or an authorized agent of the owner.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction within the Town of Chatham.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Town zoning districts.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in the Town of Chatham.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in the Town of Chatham.
• Septic permit — On-site septic systems within the Town of Chatham.

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.