Bolthole Index

Erie County, New York

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Village of Akron, NY

The Village of Akron, New York, in Erie County, requires a building permit from its code enforcement officer before construction, alteration or demolition begins1. The village administers its own zoning under Chapter 1652. Septic systems inside the village are unlawful unless the Erie County Department of Health and the state DEC allow them3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the village code enforcement officer before work starts1
Zoning
Village-run, with residential, business, industrial and land conservation districts24
Septic
Allowed only as Erie County Department of Health and DEC permit; county issues the construction permit35
Public sewer
New homes must connect where a public sewer is available6
RV or trailer living
Sleeping or dwelling in a parked trailer is unlawful in the village except for brief street stops7
Owner-builder
New York homeowners acting as their own contractor deal with form BP-1 or workers' compensation proof8
Permit fees
Set by the village board's fee schedule; dollar amounts not confirmed9

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Akron (village office)

Main village office; ask here for the code enforcement officer, building permit forms and zoning questions

716-542-9636

21 Main Street, Akron, NY 14001

Septic permits

Erie County Department of Health — Division of Environmental Health

Septic (onsite wastewater) construction permits for every address in Erie County, including inside the village

716-961-6800

[email protected]

ECDOH Building, 503 Kensington Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Akron means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Akron, NY?

Yes. Inside the Village of Akron, no one may start work that needs a building permit without first getting one from the code enforcement officer1. The permit covers new construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, relocation and demolition of a building or structure, and installing a solid-fuel heating appliance, chimney or flue in a dwelling1.

The village enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the state Energy Code through Chapter 71 of its code10. A permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 6 months of issuance1. Statewide, local programs may exempt only listed small items, and a permit exemption never excuses work that violates the code11. Ask the village whether a specific shed or fence falls under an exemption.

New York also requires a certificate of occupancy for work done under a building permit12.

Who issues building permits in Akron, and how do you reach them?

The Village of Akron's own code enforcement officer issues building permits inside village limits, not Erie County1. Applications go to that officer on a form adopted by the village board, with construction documents; the application is not accepted without them13. Call the village office at 716-542-9636 or visit 21 Main Street, Akron, NY 14001 and ask for the code enforcement officer14.

Fees follow the fee schedule the village board adopts, and we could not confirm the dollar amounts, so ask the village office before you budget9. Erie County does not run building permits here: the state Uniform Code is enforced by each city, town and village15.

Does Akron have zoning, and what does it mean for lot use?

Yes. The Village of Akron administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 165 of the village code2. Land is divided into R-1 single-family, R-2 two-family, R-3 multifamily, B-1 local business, central business, I-1 limited industrial, I-2 general industrial and land conservation districts2. District lines are drawn on the village zoning map adopted in 19714.

We could not confirm minimum lot size, setbacks, minimum home size, accessory dwellings or tiny home rules for any district, so ask the village office which district your parcel sits in and what it allows before you buy14. Subdividing a lot is regulated under the village's Chapter 142, and we could not confirm its approval steps16. Counties in New York do not have general zoning power, so Erie County cannot answer these questions for you17.

How do septic permits work in the Village of Akron?

The village does not make septic rules. Akron's code makes it unlawful to build or keep a privy, septic tank, cesspool or similar wastewater facility except as the Erie County Department of Health and DEC allow3. For a new home, Erie County requires a licensed design professional to prepare an engineer's report and plans, submitted with an application and a $300 fee18. The Department of Health issues the construction permit once the plans meet its regulations5.

Before a property that uses septic or a private well changes hands in Erie County, a property-transfer certification is required19. Where a public sewer is available, a new home or building used for human occupancy must connect, and owners must connect within 90 days after official notice6. Call the Division of Environmental Health at 716-961-680020.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Akron?

Generally no. Akron's village code makes it unlawful to park or occupy a house trailer or other portable vehicle for dwelling or sleeping purposes, with limited exceptions7. Emergency or temporary stopping on a street, alley or highway is allowed for no more than 1 hour7. A single unoccupied trailer may be kept in a private garage or a rear or side yard in any district, and the village board can order it removed if it becomes objectionable7.

We could not confirm a tiny home or manufactured home rule in the zoning chapter; ask the village office before buying a lot for either14. Statewide, a manufactured home still needs a building permit and a certificate of occupancy21.

Building a home in the Village of Akron: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the village office which zoning district the parcel is in and what it allows14.
  2. Check whether a public sewer serves the lot; if so, plan to connect6. If not, start the Erie County Department of Health septic permit, which needs a design professional18.
  3. Get the building permit application and construction documents requirements from the code enforcement officer13.
  4. If you act as your own contractor, ask about form BP-1 or workers' compensation proof8.
  5. Begin work within 6 months of the permit issuing1; keep work exposed until inspected22.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in12.

What stays with Erie County, and what to check before you buy in Akron

Septic permits, property-transfer inspections and private wells for addresses in the village stay with the Erie County Department of Health3. For land outside village limits, use the Erie County page instead, because the village's rules end at its boundary.

Before you buy, ask the village whether the lot is in a mapped flood hazard area: new or substantially improved structures there need a local floodplain development permit23. If the lot fronts a state highway, a driveway needs a New York State Department of Transportation permit24. Erie County's effective property tax rate is 2.1%, with a median bill of $4,525 a year2526.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the village's minimum lot size, setbacks, accessory dwelling or tiny home rules, so ask the Village of Akron office at 716-542-9636 before you buy14.
  • A septic permit from the Erie County Department of Health does not replace the village building permit, and the building permit does not cover septic3.
  • Building permit fee amounts are set by the village board's fee schedule and we could not confirm them9.

Sources

  1. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 71 Building Construction and Fire Prevention, Article I (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 165 Zoning, Article VI Districts, § 165-24 Establishment (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 122 Sewers, Article II Use of Public Sewer Required (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 165 Zoning, table of contents (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  5. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 122 Sewers, Article II Use of Public Sewer Required (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 71 Building Construction and Fire Prevention, Article I (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  8. Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Government Issued Permits, Licenses and Contracts, quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 71 Building Construction and Fire Prevention, Article I (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 71 Building Construction and Fire Prevention, Article I (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  11. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Akron Code, Chapter 71 Building Construction and Fire Prevention, Article I (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Akron (village office) (www4.erie.gov)
  15. Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code: What Elected Officials Need to Know, quoted and re-checked
  16. Village of Akron, NY code of ordinances, table of contents (eCode360) (Village of Akron), quoted and re-checked
  17. documents.dps.ny.gov (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. Erie County Department of Health — Division of Environmental Health (www3.erie.gov)
  21. Division of Building Standards and Codes Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  22. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Floodplain Management - NYSDEC (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Akron

Village of Akron’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of a building or structure inside Akron village, and installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit

    • Permit comes from the code enforcement officer; work may not begin before the permit issues.
    • Permit becomes invalid unless work starts within six months of issuance; permits expire after 12 months and can be extended up to a total of 12 more months.
    • Applies to work that must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code (§ 71-1.1 a).

    permit commencement deadline after issuance: 6 months (permit invalid unless authorized work commenced within six months)

    “no person shall commence any work for which a building permit is required without first having obtained a building permit from the code enforcement officer.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    All buildings, structures and premises inside Akron village limits

    • Village administers and enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the state Energy Code through Chapter 71 (§ 71-1.1).
    • Adopted under Municipal Home Rule Law § 10 with local amendments (amended 11-13-2006 by L.L. No. 6-2006).
    “sections 71-1, 71-1.1, 71-3, 71-4, 71-5 and 71-6 provide for the administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (the uniform code)”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Akron village limits; the village administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Chapter 165, Zoning)

    • Village divides land into R-1 single-family, R-2 two-family, R-3 multifamily, B-1 local business, CBD central business, I-1 limited industrial, I-2 general industrial and L-C land conservation districts (§ 165-24).
    “for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the village of akron, the village is hereby divided into the following types of districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Akron village limits

    • District boundaries are shown on the zoning map adopted 4-12-1971 and incorporated by § 165-25.
    • Districts are R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, CBD, I-1, I-2 and L-C (§ 165-28 through § 165-35).
    “said districts are bounded as shown on a map entitled "zoning map of the village of akron," adopted 4-12-1971”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Parking or occupying a house trailer or other portable vehicle for dwelling or sleeping purposes inside Akron village

    • Dwelling or sleeping occupancy is unlawful except as follows (§ 71-2).
    • Emergency or temporary stopping or parking on any street, alley or highway is permitted for not longer than one hour.
    • A single unoccupied trailer may be parked in a private garage or in a rear or side yard in any district; the village board may order its removal if parking becomes objectionable.
    • Chapter 165 zoning has no separate RV rule located in this research.

    temporary street stopping or parking limit: <= 1 hour (emergency or temporary stopping or parking only)

    “a. emergency or temporary stopping or parking shall be permitted on any street, alley or highway for not longer than one hour”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other on-site wastewater facilities inside Akron village

    • Construction or maintenance of such facilities is unlawful unless allowed by the Erie County health department and NYS DEC (§ 122-5).
    • Unsanitary deposit of waste and discharge of untreated wastes to natural outlets are prohibited except as provided by codes or treatment (§ 122-3, § 122-4).
    “except as allowed by the erie county health department and dec, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of wastewater.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New homes and buildings used for human occupancy inside Akron village, where a public sanitary sewer is available

    • Owner must install wastewater facilities at own expense and connect directly to the public sanitary sewer.
    • Owners must connect within 90 days after the date of official notice (§ 122-6).
    • Does not apply to a person served by a privately constructed, owned, operated and maintained wastewater treatment facility that discharges to a natural outlet (§ 122-6).
    • Village board held a public hearing on Local Law #1 for 2025 updating Chapter 122 connection rules (per a Feb 24 2025 village agenda found in search, not opened); current text needs checking.

    connection deadline after official notice: 90 days (after the date of official notice to connect)

    “owners shall connect within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Akron village

    • Chapter 142 (Subdivision of Land; Street Construction; Site Plan Review), §§ 142-1 to 142-26, governs subdivision; its text was not opened, so approval steps are unknown.
    “chapter 142 subdivision of land; street construction; site plan review (§ 142-1 &ndash; § 142-26)”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Any building permit or inspection under Chapter 71 inside Akron village

    • Fees are set by the village board of trustees' fee schedule, which is not reproduced on the code page; dollar amounts were not found.
    • Building permit fee also applies to extensions of expired permits (§ 71-3 b).
    “fees for any permit or inspection under §§ 71-1, 71-1.1, 71-3, 71-4, 71-5 and 71-6 shall be paid in accordance with the fee schedule as adopted by the village board of trustees.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit applications inside Akron village

    • Application goes to the code enforcement officer on a form adopted by village board resolution, with construction documents meeting requirements adopted by resolution; the application is not accepted without them (§ 71-1.1 b-c).
    • The form and document requirements are adopted by resolution and were not on the code page, so the process is only partly published.
    “building permit applications will be submitted to the code enforcement officer on a form adopted by resolution of the village board of trustees.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Akron

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

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other wastewater disposal facilities inside Akron village; Erie County Department of Health and NYS DEC are the permitting bodies the village code defers to

    • The village code bars such facilities except as allowed by the Erie County health department and DEC (§ 122-5).
    • Village is not the septic rule-maker; the county and state set the rules. Erie County is the county scope here, but the code text does not list the health department's service-area map.
    “except as allowed by the erie county health department and dec, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of wastewater.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Akron or Erie County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Akron village
  • Inspections — Inspections of work in Akron village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Akron village
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 single-family district of Akron village
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in the R-1 single-family district of Akron village
14 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Akron publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Erie County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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