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

Town of Philadelphia’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land occupancy and construction, erection, extension, use, or change in use inside the Town of Philadelphia.

  • The certificate is issued after the use has been approved as complying with the zoning law.
  • A temporary certificate for part of a building may be issued for no more than 30 days and may be renewed for an additional 30 days.

  issuance deadline after compliance approval: <= 10 days

  “No land shall be occupied and no building or structure constructed, erected, extended, used or changed in use until the Zoning Officer issues a certificate of occupancy stating that the building, structure or proposed use complies with the provisions of this law.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York.

  • Uses, buildings, and structures must conform to the district regulations in the Town zoning law.

  “This local law shall be known and may be cited as “The Town of Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York Zoning Law” and shall include this text and the Town of Philadelphia Zoning Map.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Principal structures and accessory structures in all Town zoning districts.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “The maximum amount of lot covered by any principal structure, with its accessory structures, shall not exceed thirty percent (30%).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in all Town zoning districts.

  • For each foot above 35 feet, each side yard must increase by two feet.
  • Silos, other agricultural uses, churches, telecommunication facilities, and similar uses with attached projecting structures are exempt.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (The listed exempt uses.)

  “Maximum building height shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet above ground level. For each foot of height that a building exceeds thirty-five (35) feet, the width of each side yard shall be increased by two (2) feet. Silos, other agricultural uses, churches, telecommunication facilities and similar uses with attached projecting structures are exempt from this regulation.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Permanent recreational-vehicle living quarters in manufactured-home parks inside the Town of Philadelphia.

  “Recreational vehicles shall not be parked permanently as living quarters in any manufactured home park.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured homes in the Agricultural Rural Residential (AR) district inside the Town of Philadelphia.

  • This is the schedule's permitted-use classification; other applicable dimensional and zoning-permit requirements remain applicable.

  “AGRICULTURAL RURAL RESIDENTIAL AR Accessory Uses to Permitted Uses Agricultural operations Bed & Breakfast Family Day Care Group Family Day Care Home Occupation Manufactured Home Modular Home Single-Family dwelling”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  Manufactured-home parks inside the Town of Philadelphia where public water is available.

  • Connection to public water is exclusive unless local authorities determine otherwise.
  • If public water is unavailable, a private supply must be approved by the health authority or other authority having jurisdiction.

  “Where public water is available, connection shall be used exclusively, unless local authorities deem otherwise. If a public water system is not available, the development of a private water supply system shall be approved by the health authority or other authorities having jurisdiction.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Proposed driveways onto roads inside the Town of Philadelphia.

  • The applicable permit is a Town, County, or State permit depending on the road.
  • Driveways must be at least 10 feet from side lot lines; the Town Highway Superintendent may require a larger safety setback.

  minimum side-lot-line setback: >= 10 feet (The Town Highway Superintendent may require a larger setback for safety.)

  “All proposed driveways onto a road shall apply for either a Town, County, or State Permit, whichever is appropriate. All driveways shall be set back from side lot lines a minimum of ten (10) feet.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town zoning applications.

  • The application is incomplete if the application fee is not paid.
  • Large developments or developments with possible negative environmental impacts may require an escrow account for consultant, engineer, or attorney expenses.

  “All applicants are required to pay an application fee to cover the administration expenses of the Town. The application fees are set by resolution of the Town Board. Failure to pay the application fee shall constitute an incomplete application.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning-permit applications.

  • Applications are submitted to the Zoning Officer or Town Clerk.
  • The application requires two copies of a layout or plot plan and the other stated information.

  “Applications for zoning permits shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer of Town Clerk, and shall include: 1. Two (2) copies of a layout or plot plan showing: a. dimensions of the lot to be built upon;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside the Town of Philadelphia.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption and administration inside the Town of Philadelphia.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside the Town of Philadelphia.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the Town of Philadelphia.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside the Town of Philadelphia.

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.