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

Town of Croghan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures for which a Lewis County building permit is sought inside the Town of Croghan.

  • An approved Town of Croghan Land Use Permit is needed before obtaining the County building permit.
  • parameters apply to 'most all construction' rather than an enumerated exhaustive list.

  “You will need an approved Town of Croghan Land Use Permit (from this office) in order to obtain a Lewis County Building Permit (for the structure).”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Geothermal energy systems inside the Town of Croghan.

  • The system must be certified by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.

  “Geothermal energy systems shall be certified by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., and shall meet the requirements of the New York State Building Code as adopted by the Town of Croghan.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Site improvements governed by the Town of Croghan Zoning Law.

  • Inspection is coordinated with the Town Board and other officials and agencies as appropriate.

  “If appointed, the Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for the overall Inspection of site improvements including coordination with the Town Board and other officials and agencies, as appropriate.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New land-use activities inside the Town requiring site-plan review under the Town Zoning Law.

  • Town Board site-plan approval, a zoning permit, and compliance with all conditions and restrictions imposed on site-plan approval are required.

  “No zoning permit special use permit or certificate of occupancy shall be Issued by the County, except upon authorization and determination of the Town Board that construction is In conformity with an approved site plan.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Croghan, Lewis County, New York.

  • The county page identifies a Town of Croghan Zoning Law, including a CAESS amendment adopted October 22, 2025.

  “This law shall be known as "The Town of Croghan Zoning Law".”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Individual manufactured-home sites in a manufactured-home park inside the Town of Croghan.

  • For innovative park design with 10 or more homes providing clustering and specified amenities, an exception may be granted, but the site may not be smaller than 7,500 square feet.

  minimum manufactured-home site size: >= 10000 square feet (May be reduced to no less than 7,500 square feet under the stated special-case exception.) · minimum site width: >= 75 feet · minimum site depth: >= 100 feet

  “Minimum site size shall be 10,000 square feet A. Exceptions to the minimum site size requirement may be granted in special cases where innovative park design for manufactured home parks of 10 or more manufactured homes provides clustering and allows for wide roads, a greater amount of usable recreation area, and/or open space. In no case, however, shall the site size be less than 7,500 square feet 2. Minimum site width shall be 75 feet and 3. Minimum site depth shall be 100 feet”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Manufactured-home parks inside the Town of Croghan.

  • The sewage system must be designed by an appropriately licensed engineering firm, approved by the Town Engineer, and comply with NYSDOH standards and/or Appendix 75-A plus other applicable County, State, and Federal requirements.

  “An approved sewage system shall be provided in all-manufactured home parks for the conveying, disposing, and treatment of sewage from manufactured homes, service buildings, and other accessory facilities. Such system must be designed by an appropriately licensed engineering firm. Such design must then be approved by the Town Engineer. Any sewage system must be constructed and maintained in accordance with the New York State Department of Health standards and/or Appendix 75-A, as well as all other applicable County, State, and/or Federal requirements.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Manufactured-home parks inside the Town of Croghan.

  • Public-water connection is mandatory where public water is available unless the Town Board decides otherwise.
  • If public water is unavailable, a private supply must be designed by an appropriately licensed engineering firm and approved by the Town Engineer and New York State Department of Health.

  “Where public water is available, connection to it shall be mandatory unless the Town Board deems otherwise. If a public water system is not available, the development of a private water supply system shall be designed by an appropriately licensed engineering firm. Such design must then be approved by the Town Engineer and approved by the New York State Department of Health.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways associated with Town of Croghan zoning-permit projects.

  • The applicant is responsible for contacting the entity controlling the right-of-way before installation; the available source does not state that every driveway needs a Town permit.

  “Driveways may be subject to regulation; applicant is responsible to contact entity that controls Right of Way prior to installation.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Croghan zoning and land-use permit applications administered by Lewis County as an accommodation to the Town.

  • The schedule covers zoning and land-use permits only; Town law determines regulations and fees.
  • A zoning official's attendance at a Town Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, or Planning Board meeting incurs a $25 per-hour charge.

  principal structure permit fee: 50 USD · multifamily dwelling permit fee: per 15 USD per living unit (Plus $50.) · agricultural structure permit fee: 25 USD (Where required by town law.)

  “Principal Structure $50.00 Multi-family dwelling $15.00 per living unit plus $50.00 Agricultural structure (new and new additions) $25.00 (Where required by town law)”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Croghan site-plan review and zoning-permit applications.

  • The application must be filed with the Town Clerk with the fee determined by Town Board resolution.
  • The Town Board may waive portions of requirements subject to appropriate conditions when unnecessary.

  “To apply for site plan review and zoning permit, an applicant shall complete a site plan application form and file it with the Town Clerk together with the application fee, as determined by resolution of the Town Board.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside the Town of Croghan.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside the Town of Croghan.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside the Town of Croghan.
• Lot coverage — Land inside the Town of Croghan.
• Building height — Buildings inside the Town of Croghan.

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.