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

Town of Johnstown’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or structure constructed under the town zoning process inside Johnstown town.

  • A building permit and certificate of occupancy must be issued pursuant to the Building Code before the building or structure can be occupied.

  “building permit and certificate of occupancy must also be issued”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Johnstown, Fulton County, New York.

  • Town zoning is administered and enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer together with the Town Board, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals according to the applicable jurisdiction.

  “Compliance with this chapter shall be enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Johnstown town.

  • Uses must conform with the listed district intent and purpose.
  • The zoning map is part of Chapter 84.

  districts: R-1, R-2, RPO, RA, AUZ, C-1, C-2, CID, M-1, HM

  “The following zoning districts are hereby enumerated for the Town of Johnstown. All allowable uses as permitted for each district and defined in this code shall conform with the following intent and purpose of each zoning district in the Town:”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Residential One and R-A Residential Agriculture districts inside Johnstown town.

  • The table states that more restrictive area and height requirements may apply to property within the Adirondack Park pursuant to the Adirondack Park Agency Act.
  • Public-sewer lot-size figures apply where public sewer is available.

  R-1 minimum lot size: 1.5 acres · R-1 minimum lot size with public sewer: 20000 square feet · R-A minimum lot size: 1 acre · R-A minimum lot size with public sewer: 20000 square feet

  “Minimum lot size (sq. ft.)21.5 acres 1 acre 30,000 1 acre”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Residential One and R-A Residential Agriculture districts inside Johnstown town.

  • The table states that more restrictive area and height requirements may apply to property within the Adirondack Park pursuant to the Adirondack Park Agency Act.

  R-1 maximum building height: 35 feet · R-A maximum building height: 50 feet

  “Maximum height of building (feet)235 35 35 50”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Applications and permits required or contemplated by the Town of Johnstown zoning chapter.

  • The Town Board may establish and amend the fee schedule by resolution.
  • Fees are payable to the Town Clerk at application or, as appropriate, permit issuance.
  • A reviewing board may require consultant-cost deposits, may require additional deposits during review, and must return remaining deposits at the end of the process.

  “The Town Board, by resolution, shall establish and amend (from time to time) a schedule of fees for the applications and permits required or contemplated by this chapter. The current schedule shall be on file with the Code Enforcement Officer and with the Town Clerk.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications for development or land-use activity inside Johnstown town.

  • A zoning permit is required before development or land-use activity unless exempt under the chapter or the cited subdivision chapter.
  • The applicant files with the Code Enforcement Officer with the appropriate fee and two plot plans.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer must notify the applicant within 10 working days of additional information needed; otherwise the application is complete as filed.
  • After a completed application, determination is due no later than 10 working days; special approvals may be required before a permit is granted.

  additional-information notice: <= 10 working days (After the Code Enforcement Officer's personal receipt and signature on the application.) · completed-application determination: <= 10 working days (After receiving a completed application.)

  “General provisions. No person shall undertake any development or commence any land use activity without first applying for, and obtaining, a zoning permit from the Code Enforcement Officer unless otherwise exempt pursuant to this chapter and/or Chapter 84, Subdivision of Land, of this Code.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Johnstown town.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Johnstown town.
• Building code adopted — Building-code administration inside Johnstown town.
• Inspections — Building-code inspections inside Johnstown town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Johnstown 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.