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

Town of Pinckney’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

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

  • The zoning law applies to uses and structures as specified by its zoning districts and permit provisions.

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

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Pinckney.

  • The zoning map is incorporated by reference and is filed in the Town Clerk's office.

  districts: H – Hamlet; RR – Rural Residential; F – Forest Resources

  “For the purpose of this law, the Town of Pinckney is hereby divided into the following zones: H – Hamlet: [...] RR – Rural Residential: [...] F – Forest Resources:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational camping vehicles on land inside Pinckney.

  • A zoning permit is required for siting a recreational camping vehicle for occupancy for more than 14 days in a calendar year, whether continual or not.

  occupancy threshold: > 14 days in a calendar year (Whether on a continual basis or not.)

  “Siting of a recreational camping vehicle for occupancy for more than 14 days in a calendar year, whether on a continual basis or not.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds and camping units inside Pinckney.

  • Class A and Class B campgrounds require site-plan approval.
  • Camping units are temporary living quarters for recreation, education, or vacation purposes.

  “Campground, Class A S (see note 1) S (see note 1) S (see note 1) Campground, Class B S S S”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable

  Agricultural uses and timber management inside Pinckney under the zoning-permit rule.

  • The stated exception concerns the zoning permit requirement.

  “A zoning permit shall not be required for: [...] Agricultural uses and timber management.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots filed after the effective date of the Town of Pinckney Subdivision Control Law.

  • A lot must be included in a planning-board-approved and county-clerk-filed plat, or have been exempt when filed, before a zoning permit or certificate of compliance may issue.

  “No zoning permit or certificate of compliance shall be issued for any use or structure on any lot which has been filed in the office of the county clerk after the effective date of the Town of Pinckney Subdivision Control Law, unless such lot is included in a plat which has been approved by the planning board and filed with the office of the county clerk, or was exempt from said regulations at the time of filing.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway installation inside Pinckney.

  • The applicant must contact the entity controlling the right-of-way before installation.

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

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Pinckney zoning permits and site-plan approvals.

  • The amount is set by Town Board resolution and payment in full is required before issuance.

  “A fee as determined by town board resolution shall be paid for each application for a zoning permit and site plan approval. No permit shall be issued until full payment has been received by the town clerk.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applications for Pinckney zoning permits.

  • Applications are submitted to the zoning officer or Town Clerk and include three copies of a layout or plot plan and other needed information.
  • The zoning officer has 15 days after receipt of a completed application and payment of all fees to approve or disapprove.

  zoning officer action period: <= 15 days (After receipt of a completed application and payment of all fees.)

  “The zoning officer shall take action to approve or disapprove the application within 15 days of the receipt of a completed application by the zoning officer and the payment of all fees.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Pinckney

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

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Pinckney that is required to conform to the New York Uniform Code.

  • Certain exceptions are permitted under the state code-enforcement framework.
  • Pinckney's official land-use application states that an approved Town land-use permit is needed to obtain a Lewis County building permit for a structure.

  “Building permits must be required for any work which is required to conform to the Uniform Code. Certain exceptions are permitted.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside the Town of Pinckney, which is outside New York City.

  • The Uniform Code is statewide except in New York City.

  “The Uniform Code is automatically in effect in each city, town, and village in the State (except New York City) by directive of the State Legislature.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction work subject to the New York Uniform Code inside Pinckney.

  • Permit holders must keep work accessible and exposed until it is inspected and accepted by the municipality.

  “Inspections of certain specified elements of the construction process must be required. Building permits holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the municipality.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings in Pinckney for work requiring a building permit and buildings changing general occupancy classification.

  • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is required for all work for which a building permit was required and when the general occupancy classification changes.

  “A certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance must be required (1) for all work for which a building permit was required and (2) whenever the general occupancy classification of a building is changed.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Pinckney Hamlet, Rural Residential, and Forest zones.

  • All uses, except those specifically exempted by the law, must meet the stated frontage, depth, and setback requirements for their zone.

  Hamlet minimum lot frontage: 200 ft · Hamlet minimum lot depth: 200 ft · Rural Residential minimum lot frontage: 200 ft · Rural Residential minimum lot depth: 200 ft · Forest minimum lot frontage: 400 ft · Forest minimum lot depth: 400 ft

  “Lot frontage minimum 200' 200' 400' Lot depth minimum 200' 200' 400'”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Uses in Pinckney Hamlet, Rural Residential, and Forest zones.

  • All uses except those specifically exempted by the law must meet the applicable zone requirements.

  minimum road-centerline setback: 60 ft (Hamlet, Rural Residential, and Forest zones) · minimum side and rear lot-line setback: 25 ft (Hamlet, Rural Residential, and Forest zones)

  “Setback minimum: from centerline of roads 60' 60' 60' from side and rear lot lines 25' 25' 25'”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built work inside Pinckney.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Pinckney.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Pinckney.
• Building height — Principal residential structures inside Pinckney.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Pinckney.

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.