Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Catskill, New York
Town of Catskill is a town in Greene County, New York. Town of Catskill adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Catskill’s rules apply, not the county’s. 7 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 29, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Greene County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Catskill
Town of Catskill’s own rules
Building permitRequired
New construction, enlargement, alteration, relocation or demolition of buildings and structures inside Catskill town limits that must conform to the uniform code or energy code
Work may not start until the code enforcement officer issues a building permit (Chapter 87, § 87-4), as quoted on the town FAQ.
Exempt categories include one-story detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses of 144 square feet or less associated with one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses; above-ground pools under 24 inches deep; fences not enclosing a pool; retaining walls (unless supporting a surcharge or impounding class I, II or IIIA liquids); painting, tiling, carpeting and similar finish work; and certain repairs that do not affect structure, egress or fire protection.
Fences 6 1/2 feet or higher are treated as buildings and need a building permit and setback compliance, per the town FAQ.
Town FAQ also states that all in-ground, above-ground and inflatable pools holding more than 24 inches of water need a building permit and electrical inspection.
exempt tool/storage shed gross floor area: <= 144 sq ft (one-story detached structures for one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses or similar uses)
“a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the uniform code and/or the energy code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Required — Placement of a manufactured home on privately owned property or in a mobile home park inside Catskill town limits
“the placement of a manufactured home requires a building permit.”
Building code adoptedAdopted
All buildings and structures inside Catskill town limits
The town's Chapter 87 administers and enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code in the town; the state codes themselves are not restated here.
“this chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (the uniform code) and the state energy conservation construction code (the energy code) in this town.”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Work that is the subject of a building permit, and conversions to a new use or occupancy classification, inside Catskill town limits
Certificate issued by the code enforcement officer only if the work was completed in accordance with the uniform code and energy code (Chapter 87, § 87-7b).
Occupancy of a building for which a permit was issued is allowed only after a certificate is issued.
“a certificate of occupancy/certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit and for all structures or buildings, or portions thereof, which are converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another.”
Local zoningPresent
Land inside Catskill town limits: the town's own zoning ordinance (Chapter 160, Zoning) administered by the town
The town FAQ points residents to Chapter 160 for permitted uses in all zones; district-level terms were not read in this pass.
Commercial new businesses or changes in use require Planning Board site plan approval per the town FAQ.
“the permitted uses for all zones can be found by clicking on the town code button and navigating to chapter 160 - zoning.”
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
New homes inside Catskill town limits where public sewer is available
Connection to public sewer is required under Chapter 132, § 132-13; where public sewer is unavailable, private wastewater disposal applies (§ 132-21).
The distance or availability threshold in § 132-13 and forbearance terms in § 132-14 were not read in this pass.
Public water connection rule was not established.
“§ 132-13 connection to public sewer required.”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Land divisions into subdivisions inside Catskill town limits
Subdivisions must be reviewed by the Planning Board before they are filed with the Greene County Clerk.
Subdivision law is Chapter 140 of the town code, per the town FAQ.
Effective date is the one the town FAQ states; the law itself was not opened.
“all subdivisions are required to be reviewed by the planning board before they can be filed with the greene county clerk's office.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Catskill or Greene County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Catskill town limits
Inspections — Construction inspections inside Catskill town limits
Zoning districts — Zoning district map and list for Catskill town
Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwelling in the main residential district inside Catskill town limits
Minimum lot size — Single-family residential district lots inside Catskill town limits
17 more unanswered
Setbacks
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals
Permit fees
Permit process
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 Catskill publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Greene County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Catskill means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
