Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Oakfield, New York

Village of Oakfield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings and listed projects inside Oakfield village

  • Ordinary repairs with like material, grade-level patios, roofing/siding without structural change, gutters, and window/door replacement in existing openings need no permit.
  • Work may not start before permit is received except in an emergency.

  “generally, permits are required for: • construction of a new building.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Oakfield village; village enforces the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code

  “to ensure the requirements of the new york state uniform fire prevention & building code have been satisfied.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Oakfield village

  • Electrical work is inspected by a third-party agency approved by the village.
  • Inspections are ordered by calling the building inspector the day prior.

  “in the village of oakfield, the village inspectors perform all inspections except electrical.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Permitted projects inside Oakfield village before occupancy or use

  • Guide describes the requirement as arising under state law.

  “such a certificate is required by state law before a permitted project may be occupied or put into use.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Oakfield village

  • Copy on the village's own site is amended through Sept 14, 2015; an eCode360 version exists but was not opened.

  “this local law shall be known as the "zoning law of the village of oakfield".”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Oakfield village zoning districts: R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, Industrial, PUD

  • District list taken from the table of contents; the zoning map itself was not viewed.

  “the village of oakfield is hereby divided into the following zoning districts which are shown, defined and bounded on the zoning map accompanying this zoning law”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  One-family dwellings in all districts inside Oakfield village

  • Excludes garage; two-family 750 sq ft per unit; multifamily by bedroom count.
  • One- and two-family dwellings on individual lots must be at least 18 ft wide.

  minimum enclosed living area, one-family: >= 750 sq ft · minimum outside width: >= 18 ft (smaller additions allowed if overall unit is 18 ft wide)

  “one (1) family dwellings shall have a minimum enclosed living area (not including garage but also not limited to only habitable floor area) of at least seven hundred and fifty (750) square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings on existing lots of record (at least 50 ft wide and 6,000 sq ft) inside Oakfield village

  • District-specific setbacks in Zoning Schedule A not read.

  front yard: >= 20 ft · side yard: >= 8 ft · rear yard: >= 35 ft

  “the minimum yard requirements for single family dwelling on existing lots shall be as follows: 41 1. 2. 3. section 306 front twenty (20) feet. side eight (8) feet rear thirty-five (35) feet”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory apartments inside Oakfield village

  • Requires a planning board special use permit under section 208.
  • Section 518 general provisions not read.

  “an applicant shall apply to the planning board for a special use permit in compliance with section 208, to establish an accessory apartment in the”

• Permit processPublished

  Residential building permits inside Oakfield village

  • Application needs building and zoning application, site plan, construction drawing and proof of insurance.
  • Projects of $20,000 or more generally need a licensed architect or engineer seal; authority may override.
  • Typical review about 10 business days, first come first served.

  typical review time: 10 business days

  “a property owner or agent (contractor), may apply for a building permit at the village of oakfield office.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Oakfield or Genesee County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Oakfield village
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Oakfield village
• Building height — Residential districts inside Oakfield village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Oakfield village
• Camping on your land — Camping inside Oakfield village

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.