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

Town of York’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside York town regulated by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

  • Applies to work regulated by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

  “A building permit is required for any work that is regulated by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings inside York town that are to be occupied or used.

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

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of York, Livingston County, New York.

  • The Town publishes a zoning ordinance and zoning schedule.

  “Town of York Zoning Ordinance (adopted 1/15/09)”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside York town.

  • The published zoning schedule identifies R-A, R-AA, Business, Industrial, Planned Development, and Agricultural districts.

  “TOWN OF YORK, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, N.Y. ZONING SCHEDULE (SUMMARY)”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside York town.

  • The Planning Board is authorized to approve plats; subdivision plats must conform to town zoning requirements and some applications require county referral and SEQRA review.

  “the Planning Board of the Town of York is authorized and empowered to approve Plats showing lots, blocks, or sites, with or without streets or highways”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside York town.

  • Application is submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer; applicant must provide the listed plot-plan and project information; work cannot commence before permit issuance.

  “This application is to be filled out in ink and submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of York

Town of York 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 inside York town; the statewide Uniform Code applies there because York is not New York City.

  • New York City is excepted from the statewide rule.

  “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

  Specified construction work inside York town subject to New York's Uniform Code enforcement program.

  • Inspection is required for specified elements of the construction process; permit holders must keep work accessible and exposed until 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 authority having jurisdiction.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in York's Agricultural district.

  • Farm structures are unlimited; two-family dwellings have a stated per-family minimum.

  one-story first-floor area: 860 square feet · one-and-one-half-story first-floor area: 720 square feet · two-story first-floor area: 575 square feet

  “One (1) story: 860 One and one-half (1 1/2) stories: 720 Two (2) stories: 575”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in York's R-A Residential district.

    “One (1) story: 860 one and one-half (1 1/2) stories: 720 Two-family dwelling 860 per family Two (2) stories: 575”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-A Residential district inside York town.

  minimum lot area: 20000 square feet · minimum lot width: 100 feet

  “Residential 20,000 100 25 Within the 25% for principal buildings.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural district inside York town.

  • Farm structures have an unlimited height entry; schedule also contains special agricultural use restrictions.

  front setback: 50 feet · one side yard: 15 feet · two side yards: 30 feet · rear setback: 50 feet

  “Agricultural 50 15 30 50 35 Farm structures unlimited. 15 10”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-A Residential district inside York town.

  • Accessory buildings are included within the principal-building coverage allowance.

  maximum lot coverage by principal buildings: 25 percent (Accessory buildings within the 25% for principal buildings)

  “Residential 20,000 100 25 Within the 25% for principal buildings.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual septic systems serving residents inside York town, Livingston County.

  • The county Environmental Health program serves residents of Livingston County.

  “The Center For Environmental Health is committed to the concept of disease prevention and health promotion for the residents of Livingston County.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A new-home wastewater treatment system inside York town.

  • The design must be reviewed and found compliant with minimum New York State Department of Health standards before issuance; installation follows receipt of the permit.

  “Once the design is deemed to be in full compliance with the minimum standards as prescribed by the New York State Department of Health, a permit will be issued by the Livingston County Department of Health.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside York town.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside York town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside York town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside York town.
• Septic inspection — New or existing septic systems inside York 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.