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

Town of Keene’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, movement, demolition, conversion, occupancy change, plumbing installation, and heating-equipment installation within Keene town.

  • Listed exemptions include certain detached accessory structures of no more than 144 square feet, certain playground equipment, shallow above-ground pools, certain fences, certain retaining walls, temporary sets, certain awnings and partitions, portable listed equipment, replacements that preserve listing/specifications, and ordinary repairs subject to stated exclusions.

  “No person, firm or corporation shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, movement, demolition, conversion or change in the nature of occupancy of any building or structure; or install plumbing or heating equipment; or cause the same to be done, without first having applied for and obtained a permit from the Code Enforcement Official of the Town.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Completion of new home construction within Keene town.

  • Applies upon completion of new home construction.

  “A Certificate of Occupancy is required upon completion of new home construction.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic work within Keene town.

  • The Town application separately identifies septic permits and fees.

  “Town of Keene Building & Fire Codes Department [...] Note 2: Permits and fees are required for septic, fuel burning devices and Chimneys.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic work within Keene town.

  • A permit and fee are required.

  “Note 2: Permits and fees are required for septic, fuel burning devices and Chimneys.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-lot sewage disposal systems within Keene town.

  • On-site sewage tile fields, seepage pits, septic tanks, and holding tanks have a 100-foot shoreline restriction. Systems must comply with applicable Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation standards; the more restrictive requirement prevails in a conflict.

  shoreline setback for sewage tile field, seepage pit, septic tank, or holding tank: >= 100 feet (Measured from the normal annual high water mark of the water body.)

  “No on-site sewage tile field or seepage pit shall be located within one hundred (100) feet of any shoreline and no septic or other holding tank shall be located within one hundred (100) feet of any shoreline, as measured from the normal annual high water mark of the water body.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land within Keene town.

  • A minor division has no more than six lots, no new streets or roads other than private drives, no extension of municipal facilities, no Critical Environmental Area, and no adverse impact on the remainder or adjoining properties. A major division is a division not classified as minor.

  maximum lots for minor division: <= 6 lots (Also subject to the definition's road, municipal-facility, Critical Environmental Area, and impact conditions.)

  “Any division of a parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, parcels or sites, whether adjoining or not, for the purpose of sale, lease, license or any form of separate ownership or occupancy save by devise.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways entering a town, county, or state road within Keene town.

  • The applicant must obtain the access permit required by the road's responsible authority. New road or driveway connections to public highways are subject to sight-distance, intersection-angle, drainage, culvert, width, grade, alignment, and visibility standards.

  “Any access permits necessary from the County of Essex, Town of Keene or State of New York as a result of access causing entry to a state, town or county highway shall be obtained by the applicant to compliance with the terms of this section.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications within Keene town.

  • The cited fee is non-refundable. Additional fee schedules may apply by work type.

  building permit application fee: 40 USD (Non-refundable permit application fee.)

  “NON-REFUNDABLE PERMIT APPLICATION FEE......$40.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications within Keene town.

  • The application directs applicants to obtain a permit from the Town Code Enforcement Official before specified work begins.

  “Responsibility for obtaining a building permit, any required inspections and any necessary certificates upon completion shall be that of the owner of record.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction within Keene town.
• Inspections — Building work within Keene town.
• Local zoning — Land within Keene town, Essex County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Land within Keene town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings within Keene town.

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.