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

Town of Lorraine’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures, additions, decks, footprint changes, pools, and accessory structures in Lorraine town.

  • The Town application refers to Local Law #1 of 2014, the Lorraine Development Law.
  • conditions may be followed by the Jefferson County permit process after approval by the Lorraine Development Officer.

  “The Town of Lorraine requires a building permit for the construction of new structures, additions, decks, changing the footprint of an existing structure or installing a pool or installing/building an accessory structure.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the Town of Lorraine, Jefferson County, New York.

  • The Town Zoning Board of Appeals considers variances, temporary permits, special-use permits, and Development Law interpretations.

  “The Zoning Board of Appeals hears requests for area variances, use variances, temporary permits, special use permits and interpretations of the Development Law.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Lorraine town.

  district: Rural (R) · district: Commercial (C) · district: Hamlet (H)

  “There are three districts in the Town of Lorraine; Rural (R), Commercial (C), and Hamlet (H)”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Lorraine

Town of Lorraine does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction within Lorraine town subject to the Jefferson County Uniform Code permit process.

  • Town Form #22 directs applicants, after Town Development Officer approval, to proceed with the Jefferson County permit process.

  “New York State has adopted the 2025 Uniform Code of New York State and the 2025 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State, based on the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) books with New York State specific amendments included.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction in Lorraine town proceeding through the Jefferson County building-permit process.

  • The permit holder must notify the inspector when ready at the intervals specified on the building permit.

  “Once your Permit has been issued and construction has begun, your inspector will make periodic inspections at your site to inspect the work as it progresses.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of septic systems in Lorraine town under the Jefferson County building-permit process.

  • Town Development Officer approval precedes the Jefferson County permit process.

  “A Jefferson County Uniform Code Building Permit is required for: most types of new residential and commercial construction including alterations, conversions and renovations to existing structures. the installation of all mobile and modular units, all wood stoves - fireplaces and inserts, all heating units, all pools, all electrical work and the installation of all septic systems.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Lorraine town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Lorraine town.
• Lot coverage — Lots in Lorraine town.
• Building height — Ordinary buildings in Lorraine town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Lorraine 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.