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

Town of Schroon’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, demolition, or specified heating-appliance work involving a building or structure in the Town of Schroon.

  • No permit is required for necessary repairs that do not materially affect structural features.
  • Qualifying alterations costing less than $10,000 are exempt only if they meet every listed structural, fire-safety, electrical, and solid-fuel-appliance limitation.
  • Residential storage sheds and other small noncommercial structures under 140 square feet are exempt if not intended for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking.
  • Nonresidential farm buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes are exempt.

  “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 dwelling unit, without first having obtained a permit from the Code Enforcement official.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Premises in the Town of Schroon.

  • Except as otherwise provided within the local law, state law, or the Uniform Code.

  “This local law shall repeal Local Law #2 of 1993 and provide for administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) in the Town of Schroon.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work in the Town of Schroon for which a building permit has been issued.

  • Inspection is required before enclosing or covering work and at completion of each construction stage.
  • The owner, applicant, or agent must notify the inspector that work is ready and schedule the 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 subject to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in the Town of Schroon.

  • A certificate is required before use or occupancy of a new building.
  • For work requiring a building permit, occupation or use more than 30 days after completion requires a certificate.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for a sufficiently complete building or portion and expires after six months unless an earlier date is specified or it is renewed.

  “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 throughout the Town of Schroon, Essex County, New York.

  • The ordinance divides the Town into districts.

  “An ordinance regulating and restricting the location, construction and use of buildings, structures, and the use of land in the Town of Schroon, and for said purposes dividing the Town into districts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts throughout the Town of Schroon.

  • District boundaries are established through attached district or zone maps adopted as part of the ordinance.

  districts: SR-20, R-80, R-40, R-40A, R-20, R-10, B-2, B-2A, B-1, I-1

  “For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the Town of Schroon, the town is hereby divided into the following types of districts or zones:”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings or structures in the General Residential R-20 District in the Town of Schroon.

  • A qualifying R-20, B-2, or I-1 dwelling type may use a 10,000-square-foot lot only if the lot has both off-lot water and sewage disposal systems.

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet (General Residential R-20 District)

  “Buildings or structures shall be on lots of 20,000 or more square feet having a minimum lot width at the building line of 100 feet minimum front yard of 20 feet and a minimum side and rear yards of 15 feet covering a maximum of 20% of a lot.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings or structures in the General Residential R-20 District in the Town of Schroon.

  minimum front yard: >= 20 feet (General Residential R-20 District) · minimum side yard: >= 15 feet (General Residential R-20 District) · minimum rear yard: >= 15 feet (General Residential R-20 District)

  “Buildings or structures shall be on lots of 20,000 or more square feet having a minimum lot width at the building line of 100 feet minimum front yard of 20 feet and a minimum side and rear yards of 15 feet covering a maximum of 20% of a lot.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings or structures in the General Residential R-20 District in the Town of Schroon.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 20 percent (General Residential R-20 District)

  “Buildings or structures shall be on lots of 20,000 or more square feet having a minimum lot width at the building line of 100 feet minimum front yard of 20 feet and a minimum side and rear yards of 15 feet covering a maximum of 20% of a lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential buildings and structures in the Town of Schroon.

  • Listed features including church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, flag poles, certain aerials and supports, and other enumerated structures are excepted subject to the ordinance's conditions.
  • Buildings exceeding the height requirements require a special permit.

  maximum residential height: <= 40 feet (No residential building or structure may exceed 2 1/2 stories or 40 feet in height.)

  “No residential buildings or structure may exceed 2 1/2 stories or 40 feet in height.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems within the Town of Schroon.

  • The Town ordinance uses an Inspection Officer and its Zoning Board of Appeals for specified decisions.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, alter, repair or extend an individual sewage disposal system within the town unless a disposal system building permit has been issued therefore, except that an individual may institute minor repairs, minor alterations or emergency repairs without a permit.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Nonresidential farm buildings in the Town of Schroon.

  • The building must be used directly and solely for agricultural purposes.

  “No permit shall be required for: [...] nonresidential farm buildings, including barns, sheds, poultry houses and other buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Dwelling units rented in whole or part for less than 30 consecutive days throughout the Town of Schroon.

  • A short-term-rental permit must be obtained before use.
  • The owner must submit the enumerated application materials and fee.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer has 30 days to review, inspect, and issue with or without conditions or deny in writing.
  • Permits are valid for three years and are non-transferable.

  short-term rental maximum duration: < 30 consecutive days (Does not include motels, hotels, bed & breakfasts, inns, and campgrounds.) · permit validity: 3 years (Must be renewed thereafter.)

  “This Local Law shall apply throughout the Town of Schroon.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits, certificates of occupancy, temporary certificates, renewals, and fire-safety inspections in the Town of Schroon.

  • The fee schedule is established and changed by Town Board resolution.
  • The current schedule is on file with the Code Enforcement Officer and Town Clerk.

  “A fee schedule shall be established and changed as needed by resolution of the Town Board. Such fees may be charged for the issuance of permits, certificates of occupancy, temporary certificates of occupancy, renewals and for fire safety inspections.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in the Town of Schroon.

  • Applications must contain sufficient information to establish Uniform Code compliance.
  • The application must be signed by the owner or authorized agent and include the listed information, three plan sets, and required fee.
  • Within 20 business days after receiving a complete application, the official must issue it, return it with specified nonconformance, or advise of additional review time and reasons.

  complete application action deadline: <= 20 business days (Official may advise in writing of need for additional specified review time and reasons.)

  “Not later than 20 (twenty) business days after receiving a complete application the Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee shall: (a) issue a building permit; (b) return the application to the applicant specifying in writing area(s) of nonconformance; or (c) advise the applicant in writing of the need for a specified amount of additional time to undertake the review and the reasons therefore.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside the Town of Schroon.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the Town of Schroon.
• Living in an RV — Long-term occupancy in a recreational vehicle on private land in the Town of Schroon.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in the Town of Schroon.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in the Town of Schroon.

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.