Bolthole Index

Erie County, New York

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of West Seneca, New York

The Town of West Seneca, New York requires a building permit from its Code Enforcement Official before most construction starts1. The town also has its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 120 of the town code2. Septic permits are a separate matter and run through the Erie County Department of Health, not the town3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Town Code Enforcement Official before work begins1
Zoning
Town zoning ordinance (Chapter 120) divides West Seneca into zoning districts24
Inspections
Required before work is covered and at each stage of construction5
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new building is used or occupied6
Septic permit
Erie County Department of Health issues construction permits for onsite systems3
Floodplain
Development in a special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit7
Permit fees
Set by resolution of the Town Board8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of West Seneca Code Enforcement

Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside the Town of West Seneca

716-558-3242

West Seneca Town Hall 1250 Union Road, Room 210 West Seneca, NY 14224

Septic permits

Erie County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health

Onsite wastewater treatment (septic) construction permits for Erie County, including West Seneca

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in West Seneca, NY?

Yes. Inside the Town of West Seneca, no one may build, enlarge, alter, remove, relocate or demolish a building or structure, or install a solid-fuel heating appliance, chimney or flue, without first getting a building permit from the Code Enforcement Official1. The town's permit rule follows the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, which applies across the state outside New York City9.

Work is inspected before any part is enclosed or covered and at each stage of construction5. A new building cannot be used or occupied until the town issues a certificate of occupancy6. Permit fees are set by resolution of the West Seneca Town Board8.

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

The Town of West Seneca Code Enforcement office issues building permits. The office is in Town Hall at 1250 Union Road, Room 210, West Seneca, NY 14224, and its phone number is 716-558-324210. The town's page states that building, plumbing and electrical permits must be issued by an inspector10.

A permit is issued once the application is complete and the proposed work conforms to the Uniform Code11. Erie County does not run building permits for West Seneca; each town, village and city in the county administers the code itself12.

Does West Seneca have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Yes. West Seneca adopted its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 120 of the town code, and the town is divided into zoning districts24. Your parcel's district decides what you can build, so look up the district on the town's zoning map before you buy.

We did not confirm district-by-district rules on lot size, setbacks, RV use or tiny homes, so ask Town Code Enforcement for the standards that apply to a specific address10. Subdividing land inside West Seneca requires an application for subdivision approval and a filing fee13. Erie County does not set zoning for the town; zoning is handled by each municipality14.

How do septic permits work in West Seneca?

Septic permits for West Seneca come from the Erie County Department of Health, not from the town. A new onsite wastewater system needs a design professional's engineer's report and plans, submitted with an Application for a Construction Permit315. Once the county determines the plans meet Health Department regulations, it issues the construction permit16.

The town's sewer chapter has private sewage-disposal provisions, but we could not confirm who administers them or whether a lot must tie into public sewer. Ask Town Code Enforcement whether your address has sewer available before planning a septic system10. The Erie County Department of Health can be reached at 716-961-680015.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in West Seneca?

We could not confirm a West Seneca rule on living in an RV or tiny home on a lot. Because the town has its own zoning and requires building permits, do not assume either is allowed on a residential parcel21. Ask Town Code Enforcement at 716-558-3242 for the answer for your zoning district before you buy10.

Building a home in West Seneca: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district under Chapter 120 with Town Code Enforcement4.
  2. Check whether the parcel lies in a special flood hazard area; development there needs a floodplain development permit7.
  3. If you are dividing land, apply for subdivision approval first13.
  4. If the home needs a septic system, have a design professional prepare plans and apply to the Erie County Department of Health for a construction permit3.
  5. Apply for a building permit from the Code Enforcement Official1.
  6. Schedule inspections before work is covered and at each stage5.
  7. Get a certificate of occupancy before moving in6.

What to check before you buy land in West Seneca

Check the flood map first, because a special flood hazard area adds a floodplain development permit to the process7. Check sewer availability and septic approval with the Erie County Department of Health15. Budget for taxes as well: Erie County's effective property tax rate is 2.1%17, and the county's median property tax bill is $4,525 a year18. For land outside West Seneca, see the Erie County page, because each town and village in the county sets its own rules.

Watch-outs

  • Inside West Seneca, the town's Code Enforcement office issues building permits, but septic permits come from the Erie County Department of Health13.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption, RV or tiny-home rule, or private well rule for West Seneca; ask Town Code Enforcement at 716-558-324210.
  • The town's website is westseneca.gov; the similar westseneca.net address no longer shows town information, so use the .gov address for permit forms and contacts10.

Sources

  1. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 55: Building Code Administration and Enforcement (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 120: Zoning (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic and Onsite Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 120: Zoning (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 55: Building Code Administration and Enforcement (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 55: Building Code Administration and Enforcement (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 77: Flood Damage Prevention (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 55: Building Code Administration and Enforcement (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  9. Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code: What Elected Officials Need to Know, quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of West Seneca Code Enforcement (westseneca.gov)
  11. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 55: Building Code Administration and Enforcement (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  12. NYS Department of State - Building Standards and Codes (2026 county census)
  13. Town of West Seneca, NY, Chapter 103: Subdivision of Land (Town of West Seneca), quoted and re-checked
  14. Municipal Planning Grant Program, 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. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  18. 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 West Seneca

Town of West Seneca’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, demolition, or solid-fuel appliance/chimney/flue installation for buildings or structures inside the Town of West Seneca.

    • Except as hereinafter provided.
    • Permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Official before work begins.
    “Except as hereinafter provided, no person, firm, corporation, association or partnership shall commence the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, or install a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any building or structure without first having obtained a permit from the Code Enforcement Official.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work inside West Seneca for which a building permit has been issued.

    • Inspection is required before enclosing or covering work and at completion of each construction stage.
    • Owner, applicant, or agent must inform the inspector and schedule inspection.
    “Work for which a building permit has been issued hereunder shall be inspected for approval prior to enclosing or covering any portion thereof and upon completion of each stage of construction, including but not limited to building location, site preparation, excavation, foundation, framing, superstructure, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings erected subject to the Uniform Code, and altered, enlarged, extended, or changed-occupancy buildings, inside West Seneca.

    • A temporary certificate may be issued for a sufficiently complete building or designated portion.
    • Temporary certificate expires after six months or an earlier specified date; it may be renewed at the Code Enforcement Official's discretion and upon the additional specified fee.
    “No building erected subject to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code shall be used or occupied, except to the extent authorized hereunder, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the Town of West Seneca.

    • Chapter 120 was adopted by the Town Board; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “This chapter shall be known as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Town of West Seneca" and shall constitute Chapter 120 of the Code of the Town of West Seneca.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside West Seneca.

    • The published zoning chapter includes residential districts R-90, R-75, R-65, R-90A, R-75A, R-65A, R-50, R-100A, and R-60A, as well as C-1, C-2, M-1, and M-2 districts.
    “The Town of West Seneca is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside West Seneca.

    • The chapter provides a preapplication procedure, an application for subdivision approval and filing fee, and procedures for conditional preliminary-layout approval, improvement-plan approval, and final plat approval.
    “§ 103-4 Application for subdivision approval; filing fee.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction, location, extension, conversion, alteration, excavation, or filling in a special flood-hazard area inside West Seneca.

    • Full compliance with Chapter 77 and other applicable regulations is required.
    • Each day of noncompliance is a separate offense; conviction may result in a fine up to $250, imprisonment up to 15 days, or both.

    maximum fine: <= 250 USD (upon conviction for violation of Chapter 77) · maximum imprisonment: <= 15 days (upon conviction for violation of Chapter 77)

    “It shall be unlawful to undertake any development in an area of special flood hazard, as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map enumerated in § 77-6, without a valid floodplain development permit.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits, certificates of occupancy, temporary certificates of occupancy, and fire-safety inspections inside West Seneca.

    • Fee schedule is established and changed as needed by Town Board resolution.
    “A fee schedule shall be established, and changed as needed, by resolution of the West Seneca Town Board. Such fees may be charged for the issuance of permits, certificates of occupancy, temporary certificates of occupancy, and for fire safety inspections.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside West Seneca.

    • Application documents must permit a determination of conformity with the Uniform Code and Town Zoning Ordinance.
    • A permit issues after the application is complete and proposed work conforms to the Uniform Code; permit authority may be limited by conditions.
    “A permit will be issued when the application has been determined to be complete and when the proposed work has been determined to conform to the requirements of the Uniform Code. The authority conferred by such permit may be limited by conditions, if any, contained therein.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside West Seneca.
  • Minimum dwelling size — One- and two-family dwellings inside West Seneca.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential dwellings inside West Seneca.
  • Setbacks — One- and two-family dwellings inside West Seneca.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside West Seneca.
15 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Town of West Seneca publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Erie County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Erie County: county rules, score and offices