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

Town of Leicester’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work covered by the Town of Leicester building-permit application, including new buildings, additions, alterations, demolition, and listed installations.

  • The work may not commence before permit issuance.
  • The permit is effective for six months; for good cause the Code Enforcement Officer may allow up to two extensions of no more than three months each.

  permit term: 6 months (Maximum two good-cause extensions, each not exceeding three months.)

  “The work covered by this application shall not be commenced before the issuance of a Building Permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings covered by the Town of Leicester building-permit application.

  • No building may be occupied or used in whole or part until the Code Enforcement Officer grants a certificate of occupancy.

  “No building shall be occupied or used in whole or part for any purpose until a Certificate of Occupancy shall have been granted by the Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the Town of Leicester, Livingston County, outside the corporate limits of the Village of Leicester.

  • The town zoning code expressly excludes land inside the Village of Leicester.

  “Except as herein provided, no Building or land in the Town of Leicester, outside the corporate limits of the Village of Leicester shall be used or occupied nor shall any Building or part thereof be erected, moved or altered unless in conformity with the regulations of this Code.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plans in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Standards and procedures are specified in the Town of Leicester Subdivision Law.

  “Subdivision Plan review is required. Standards and procedures are specified in the Town of Leicester Subdivision Law.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town zoning permits and applications in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Fees are according to the Town Board-adopted and amended fee schedule in effect at the time of application.
  • The schedule is posted at the Town Clerk's office and available from the Code Enforcement Officer.

  “The Code Enforcement Officer shall collect permit and application fees. Fees shall be paid according to the fee schedule adopted and amended from time to time by the Town Board and in effect at the time of application.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Application must be completed in typewriter or ink and submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer with two sets of plans and specifications.
  • An approved zoning application accompanies the building application when applicable.
  • Approved plans must remain on the premises during work.

  “This application is to be filled in by typewriter or in ink and submitted with 2 sets of plans and specifications to the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Leicester

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in the Agricultural (A) District of Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Subject to limitations imposed by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA §305-a.
  • Does not apply to Type 2 Solar Energy Systems, which are governed by Section 714.

  minimum floor area: 1000 square feet

  “Subject to any limitations imposed by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA §305-a, the following minimum requirements shall apply to all Uses within the Agricultural (A) zoning district, excepting for Type 2 Solar Energy Systems, which shall be governed by Section 714: [...] Minimum Floor Area – 1,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the Agricultural (A) District of Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Subject to limitations imposed by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA §305-a.
  • Does not apply to Type 2 Solar Energy Systems, which are governed by Section 714.

  front setback: 60 feet (Measured from center line of roadway.) · side setback: 40 feet (Measured from lot line.) · rear setback: 75 feet (Measured from lot line.)

  “Minimum Set Backs for Principal Buildings: a. Front Set Back– 60 feet from center line of roadway. b. Side Set Back– 40 feet from Lot Line. c. Rear Set Back– 75 feet from Lot Line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Uses in the Residential (R) District of Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

    “Minimum Set Backs: a. Front Set Back – 60 feet from centerline of Road. b. Side Set Back – 20 feet from Lot Line. c. Rear Set Back – 60 feet from Lot Line.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal buildings and dwellings/non-agricultural structures in the Agricultural (A) District of Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • Subject to limitations imposed by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA §305-a.
  • Does not apply to Type 2 Solar Energy Systems, which are governed by Section 714.
  • Grain bins and silos have no height limitation.

  maximum building height: 35 feet (For principal buildings and buildings/structures used for dwellings or non-agricultural uses.)

  “Maximum Building Height: a. Grain bins and Silos – no limitation. b. Buildings and Structures used for Dwellings or Non-Agricultural Uses – 35 feet. c. Principal Building – 35 feet.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Temporary tent-and-trailer camping areas during scheduled events in the Recreational-Commercial (R-C) District of Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

  • The use is listed among permitted uses for the Recreational-Commercial District and is limited to scheduled events.

  “Temporary camping areas for tents and trailers during scheduled events.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.
• Building code adopted — Construction in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.
• Inspections — Building work in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Leicester town outside the Village of Leicester.

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.