Bolthole Index

Erie County, New York

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Eden, New York

The Town of Eden, New York (Erie County) requires a building permit for work that must conform to the state Uniform Code, and the town's Code Enforcement Department handles it12. Eden also has its own zoning chapter3. Septic permits for lots in Eden come from the Erie County Department of Health, not the town4. We could not confirm Eden's rules on RVs or tiny homes.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for work that must conform to the Uniform Code; small detached sheds have an exemption1
Who issues building permits
Town of Eden Code Enforcement Department52
Zoning
Yes, Eden's own Chapter 225 zoning3
Septic
Erie County Department of Health construction permit, plans by a design professional46
Accessory dwelling units
Permitted in the AP, RR, MFR and R2 districts7
Owner-builder
State rules allow a qualifying homeowner to be the contractor of record; Eden's own rule not confirmed8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Eden Code Enforcement Department

Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside the Town of Eden; the town's Building Permit Center page lists the permit categories

716-992-3408

2795 East Church Street, Eden, New York 14057

Septic permits

Erie County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health

Septic (onsite wastewater treatment system) construction permits for every address in Erie County, including Eden

716-961-6800

[email protected]

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 Town of Eden means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Eden, NY have zoning, and what does it mean for building?

Yes. The Town of Eden adopted its own zoning chapter, Chapter 225, through the Town Board3. The town's use table publishes the PK, AP, RR, MFR, R2 and LI districts, and the ordinance also identifies MU-1 and MU-2 districts9. Which district a parcel sits in decides what you can build, so look up the parcel on the town's zoning map first.

Accessory dwelling units are permitted in the AP, RR, MFR and R2 districts and not permitted in PK or LI, subject to § 225-147. Short-term rentals are permitted in PK, AP, RR and R2 and not in MFR or LI10.

We could not confirm Eden's minimum lot sizes, setbacks, height limits, minimum dwelling size, or whether an RV or tiny home may be lived in on a lot. Ask the Code Enforcement Department before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Eden, NY, and who issues it?

Yes. Eden requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the Uniform Code or the Energy Code, and work may not begin until the town has issued the permit1. One exemption is a one-story detached tool shed, playhouse or similar structure of 144 square feet or less at a one- or two-family home1.

The Town of Eden's Code Enforcement Department issues the permit2. The application is in writing on a form the Code Enforcement Officer accepts, signed by the owner or an authorized agent5. Work must stay exposed until the Code Enforcement Officer inspects it11, and a certificate of occupancy is required for any work covered by a building permit12.

A homeowner who is the contractor of record on an owner-occupied one- to four-family home may be able to file state form BP-1, but not for new construction of a primary or secondary residence, and not if paid workers put in 40 or more hours in any week8. We could not confirm an Eden-specific owner-builder rule or the town's current permit fee schedule; ask the Code Enforcement Department.

How do septic permits work in Eden, NY?

Septic permits for lots in Eden come from the Erie County Department of Health, not from the town4. A new home that needs a septic system requires a licensed design professional, who prepares the engineer's report and plans, plus an application and a $300 fee13. The county issues the construction permit after reviewing the plans14. Contact the15 office for the application.

Selling or buying a property on septic or a private well triggers a county Property Transfer Certification before title transfers16.

Soils matter too: only about 0.3% of Erie County's soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system rather than a simple trench17. We could not confirm a private-well permit rule for Eden.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Eden, NY?

We could not confirm it. We did not find an RV-occupancy, temporary-camping or tiny-home provision in Eden's zoning materials, so do not assume any of these is allowed on a vacant lot. Because Eden has its own zoning and its own Code Enforcement Department, the answer for a given parcel comes from the town, not the county3. Call the Code Enforcement Department at the town's main number with the parcel address and ask by name: RV occupancy, temporary camping, and tiny home.

A manufactured home is treated as building work: New York requires a building permit and a certificate of occupancy for its installation18.

Building a home in Eden, NY: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district with the Town of Eden and ask what the district allows9.
  2. If you are dividing land, ask about the town's subdivision review under Chapter 184 first19.
  3. Hire a licensed design professional and apply to the Erie County Department of Health for the septic construction permit13.
  4. Apply to the Code Enforcement Department for the building permit on the town's form5.
  5. Keep work exposed for inspection and call the Code Enforcement Officer when each stage is ready11.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in12.

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

The Town handles building permits and zoning inside Eden, while septic permits stay with the Erie County Department of Health4. For land outside Eden, see the Erie County page.

If the lot connects to a county sanitary sewer district instead of septic, a written permit from the district is required20. A driveway onto a state highway needs a NYSDOT permit21. We could not confirm Eden's rules for driveways on town roads, floodplain permits or private wells.

Taxes are county-level figures: Erie County's effective property tax rate is 2.1% and the median bill is $4,525 a year2223.

Watch-outs

  • Eden's rules for RVs, tiny homes, lot size, setbacks and building height were not confirmed, so ask the Code Enforcement Department before relying on any of them9.
  • The septic permit comes from Erie County, not the town, and a licensed design professional must prepare the plans13.
  • Zoning districts differ across Eden, so an accessory dwelling or short-term rental that is allowed in one district may be barred in another7.

Sources

  1. Chapter 110 Fire Prevention and Building Construction - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Eden Code Enforcement Department (edenny.gov)
  3. Chapter 225 Zoning - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health Permits, Applications & Forms - Erie County (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 110 Fire Prevention and Building Construction - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  6. Environmental Health Permits, Applications & Forms - Erie County (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV Use Regulations - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  8. Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Government Issued Permits, Licenses and Contracts, quoted and re-checked
  9. Article IV Use Regulations - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article IV Use Regulations - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 110 construction inspections and certificates - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 110 construction inspections and certificates - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  13. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  14. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  15. Erie County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health (www3.erie.gov)
  16. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Division of Building Standards and Codes Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 184 Subdivision of Land - Town of Eden, NY (Town of Eden), quoted and re-checked
  20. Sanitary Sewer Connection Permits, quoted and re-checked
  21. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. 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 Town of Eden

Town of Eden’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work in Eden that must conform to the Uniform Code and/or Energy Code.

    • The listed exemptions in § 110-4B apply, including certain detached one-story structures of no more than 144 square feet and specified minor work.
    • Work may not commence until the Town has issued the permit.

    exempt detached structure gross floor area: <= 144 square feet (One-story detached structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses and used for tool/storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses.)

    “Building permits required. Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this section, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

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

    • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, Energy Code, other state law, or Chapter 110.
    “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

    Permitted construction work in Eden, where applicable.

    • Permit holder must notify the Code Enforcement Officer when an element is ready for inspection.
    • Remote inspection may be used at the authorized official's discretion; an in-person inspection is required if it does not provide sufficient information.
    “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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Work subject to a building permit and structures or portions converted to another use or occupancy classification in Eden.

    • Use or occupancy is granted only by a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.
    • The Town must inspect before issuance.
    “A certificate of occupancy or 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 inside the Town of Eden.

    • Chapter 225 was adopted by the Town Board and has amendments noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Eden 5-11-1977 by L.L. No. 1-1977. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts within Eden.

    • The use table publishes PK, AP, RR, MFR, R2, and LI district columns; the ordinance also identifies MU-1 and MU-2 districts.
    “Table IV-1: Table of Permitted Uses [...] | PK | AP | RR | MFR | R2 | LI | Regulatory Reference”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in AP, RR, MFR, and R2 zoning districts in Eden.

    • The use table marks ADUs permitted in AP, RR, MFR, and R2 and not permitted in PK and LI.
    • Applicable § 225-14 requirements govern.
    “Accessory dwelling units (ADU) | — | P | P | P | P | — | § 225-14”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater treatment systems on land inside Eden.

    • Applications identify Erie County Department of Health plan approval and design-professional preparation.
    “Construction Compliance Certificate Form Onsite Wastewater Treatment System – form to be completed by design professionals only that certifies construction of an onsite wastewater treatment system was done in accordance with plans approved by the Erie County Department of Health”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Residential or commercial lots in Eden proposing an onsite wastewater treatment system.

    • Application is for a system prepared by a design professional.
    “Construction Permit for an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Application - application for a Construction Permit for an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System for Residential or Commercial Lots Prepared by a Design Professional”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Eden.

    • Chapter 184 contains application procedure and approval-process provisions, including minor subdivision review, preliminary plats, and final subdivision plats.
    “Article III Application Procedure and Approval Process”
  • Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

    Short-term rental/AirBnB uses in PK, AP, RR, and R2 zoning districts in Eden.

    • Use table marks the use permitted in PK, AP, RR, and R2, and not permitted in MFR and LI.
    • The table cites § 225-15B for regulatory requirements.
    “Short-term rental/AirBnB | P | P | P | — | P | — | § 225-15B”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications in Eden.

    • Application must be in writing on a form provided by or acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer and signed by the owner or authorized agent.
    • Construction documents must be accepted and the building permit issued before work begins.
    “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 Eden or Erie County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction in Eden.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential dwellings in Eden.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots in Eden.
  • Setbacks — Development in Eden zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Development in Eden zoning districts.
13 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees

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 Town of Eden publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Erie County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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