Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of New Baltimore, New York
Town of New Baltimore is a town in Greene County, New York. Town of New Baltimore adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of New Baltimore’s rules apply, not the county’s. 12 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 New Baltimore
Town of New Baltimore’s own rules
Building code adoptedAdopted
Construction inside New Baltimore town limits; certificates are issued under the Uniform Code and Energy Code as administered by the town building inspector.
The town code defines the energy code as the state energy conservation construction code.
The Uniform Code is applied by the town building inspector; the chapter states the code applies regardless of use or occupancy.
“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 the town of new baltimore.”
InspectionsRequired
Buildings, structures and work covered by a town building permit inside New Baltimore town.
Inspection is required before a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is issued.
Special inspection reports and flood hazard certifications may also be required before issuance (section 32-7c).
“the building inspector shall inspect the building, structure or work prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Permitted construction and change of use inside New Baltimore town limits.
A temporary certificate may be issued for occupancy before completion, subject to safety findings and limited extensions (section 32-7e).
Under zoning section 112-37, a certificate of occupancy is issued when site-plan improvements are installed and approved by the building inspector.
“a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit”
Local zoningPresent
Land inside New Baltimore town limits; the town adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 112 Zoning of the Town Code.
Zoning districts and map are set in Chapter 112 of the town code; the adopted zoning map is a separate document on the town website.
Chapter 112 has a planned development district article, special use permits, site plan review and variances, all administered locally.
“the zoning districts established by this chapter shall be as follows”
Zoning districtsPublished
Land inside New Baltimore town limits; districts are RA rural residential/agricultural, HR hamlet residential, D developmental, DMR development/multifamily residential, and IND industrial.
Hamlet residential boundaries are described in section 112-8 by reference to geographic lines.
The official zoning map is adopted by the town board and is posted as a separate PDF on the town website (2016 adopted map).
“the zoning districts established by this chapter shall be as follows”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Single-family residential subdivision lots in the RA rural residential/agricultural district inside New Baltimore town (conventional subdivisions).
Conservation subdivisions in the RA district have no minimum lot size, except as required to meet state health setbacks for wells and septic systems, per section 112-11(b)(1).
Section 112-11(a): the maximum density is gross acreage divided by the density in the dimensional table; the result is a maximum, not a guarantee.
Dimensional table footnotes state that without public water or sewer the minimum lot size is 2 acres; the table text was garbled and was not used for other districts.
minimum lot size: >= 2 acres (conservation subdivisions have no minimum lot size, except state health setbacks for wells and septic systems)
“minimum lot sizes for conventional subdivisions in the ra district shall be 2 acres.”
Septic permitRequired
New septic tanks, tile fields, seepage pits, privies and other sewage disposal, and any structure for human occupancy, inside New Baltimore town.
Application is made on town clerk forms with a plot plan showing the disposal system location.
Septic permit application fee is set by the town board.
For subdivisions, temporary residences or other premises requiring New York State Department of Health approval, that approval must be on file with the town clerk before the application is accepted.
Section 87-2 was amended 8-20-1991 by Local Law No. 2-1991.
“no installation of a septic tank, tile field, seepage pit, chemical toilet, privy, pipe or other means for the disposal or discharge of sewage or sink wastes shall be begun”
Septic inspectionRequired
Private wastewater disposal systems inside New Baltimore town.
The permit does not take effect until the installation is complete and accepted by the superintendent.
Section 87-17 contains further inspection language on the permit and the completed system that was not fully extracted.
“a permit for a private wastewater disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent.”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Buildings on land where no public sanitary or combined sewer is available inside New Baltimore town.
A private wastewater disposal system is required, built under a written permit from the superintendent.
The system must comply with NYSDEC recommendations and be operated in a sanitary manner.
Once a public sewer becomes available, a direct connection must be made within 90 days.
“where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under provisions of § 87-16d, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater disposal system complying with provisions of this section”
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
Buildings used for human occupancy on a street with a public sanitary or combined sewer inside New Baltimore town.
Connection is required within 90 days after official notice if the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.
The town board may vary the connection requirement on a finding of practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship.
No public water connection rule was found in the pages opened; water is unknown.
distance to public sewer: <= 100 feet (town board may vary connection on a finding of practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship)
“provided that said public sewer is within one hundred (100) feet of the property line.”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Division of land into lots inside New Baltimore town; the Planning Board reviews subdivisions under Chapter 115 Subdivision Regulations.
Minor and major subdivision procedures apply, with concept plan, application and fees.
Subdivision standards are minimum requirements and the Planning Board may waive them only under the circumstances stated in the chapter.
Chapter 112 section 112-47 cross-references subdivision review in planned development districts.
“the regulations, standards and procedures contained herein are developed to ensure that the land to be subdivided is suitable for building purposes”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Any development inside an area of special flood hazard shown on the flood insurance rate map in New Baltimore town.
Permit application goes to the building inspector as local administrator, with plans drawn to scale.
Application fee is set by town board resolution, plus reimbursement of review costs; the administrator may require a deposit of up to $500.00.
Stop-work orders apply to development without a valid permit.
Parcels outside the special flood hazard area are not covered by this section.
“it shall be unlawful to undertake any development in an area of special flood hazard, as shown on the flood insurance rate map enumerated in §483b., without a valid floodplain development permit.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of New Baltimore or Greene County directly.
Building permit — Whether new residential construction inside New Baltimore town needs a building permit.
Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner may build or do work on an owner-occupied home without a licensed contractor inside New Baltimore town.
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside New Baltimore town.
Setbacks — Setbacks for principal buildings in New Baltimore town districts (RA and HR).
Lot coverage — Maximum percent lot coverage by district inside New Baltimore town.
10 more unanswered
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Well permit
Agricultural exemption
Short-term rentals
Permit fees
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 New Baltimore 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 New Baltimore means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
