Bolthole Index

Nassau County, New York

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hewlett Harbor, New York

The Village of Hewlett Harbor in Nassau County, New York requires a building permit from the village building inspector for construction, alteration or demolition1. The village sets its own zoning through its zoning chapter, with residence districts AA, A, AB, B and BX2. Septic and sewage sign-off before a certificate of occupancy comes from the Nassau County Department of Health3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the village building inspector1
Zoning
Village zoning: residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX2
Septic / sewage
Nassau County Department of Health certifies before occupancy3
Minimum lot size
43,560 sq ft in AA; 26,000 in A and AB; 14,500 in B; 18,000 in BX4
Short-term rentals
Prohibited under 180 days5
Livestock
Chickens, horses, cows and pigs not permitted6

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Hewlett Harbor Building Inspector

Building permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside the village

Septic permits

Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering

Reviews on-site sewage disposal plans and sewer connection requirements

516-227-9692

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Hewlett Harbor means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Hewlett Harbor, New York?

Yes. Inside the Village of Hewlett Harbor, it is unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure without a permit1. Ordinary non-structural repairs that do not affect health or safety need no permit, but all electrical and plumbing work does1. Plans must be sealed by an architect or engineer where work costs over $5,0001. New York's statewide Uniform Code applies on top of the village code, and the village building inspector enforces both7. The village building inspector also performs the inspections8.

Who issues building permits in Hewlett Harbor?

The Village of Hewlett Harbor issues its own building permits through its building inspector, not Nassau County or the Town of Hempstead7. Applications need plans, a plot plan and drawings; incomplete applications are held for three months and then cancelled, and permits cannot be transferred9. A permit lapses if no work starts within six months, or if started work stays incomplete past 12 months1. The village's own site, hewlettharbor.org, links to a permit application portal. We could not confirm a direct phone number; ask the Village Clerk at hewlettharbor.org.

Does Hewlett Harbor have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Hewlett Harbor adopts its own zoning chapter, administered by the village's superintendent of buildings, with appeals to the board of zoning appeals2. Minimum lot size is 43,560 square feet in AA, 26,000 in A and AB, 14,500 in B and 18,000 in BX4. Front yards run 50, 35, 35, 25 and 30 feet in AA, A, AB, B and BX, and rear yards 30, 30, 30, 25 and 25 feet10. Minimum single-family floor area under the main alternative is 3,000 square feet in AA and A, and 2,700 in AB, B and BX11. A dwelling with a pitched roof on a lot of half an acre or less may not exceed 33 feet12. Pick your parcel's district before pricing a build.

How do septic permits work in Hewlett Harbor?

Before the village issues a certificate of occupancy, the village clerk must receive written certification from the Nassau County Department of Health that sewage and waste disposal facilities are complete and compliant3. The county's Bureau of Environmental Engineering requires facilities in sewered areas of the county to connect to the sewer13. We could not confirm the village's own plumbing and sewer chapter or whether a particular lot is sewered; ask the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-969213.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or accessory dwelling in Hewlett Harbor?

Residence districts allow accessory living quarters only for servants of occupants of the principal building on the same plot14. An accessory building used as a dwelling by a separate family is treated as a principal use, and only one principal building is allowed per minimum lot area14. Rentals shorter than 180 consecutive days are prohibited, with civil fines starting at $5,0005. We could not confirm the village's rules on RV occupancy or tiny homes; ask the village building inspector before buying.

Building a home in Hewlett Harbor: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your lot's district and size in the village zoning chapter4.
  2. Check yard, height and lot-coverage limits for that district10.
  3. File the building permit application with plans sealed by an architect or engineer where required1.
  4. Build with village inspections8.
  5. Get Nassau County Department of Health sewage certification, then the certificate of occupancy15.

What stays with Nassau County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and sewage certification stays with the Nassau County Department of Health3. The rules for land outside the village are on the Nassau County page. Nassau County's median property tax bill is $10,001 a year16. Chickens, horses, cows and pigs are not permitted on village lots, and farming is only an accessory use not for sale6. Floodplain development in mapped flood areas needs a local permit under state rules17.

Watch-outs

  • Hewlett Harbor's minimum floor areas and lot sizes are district-specific; read your lot's district before making an offer4.
  • Short-term rentals under 180 days carry fines of at least $5,0005.
  • No building or structure may be occupied until the village building inspector issues a certificate of occupancy, which needs county sewage certification first15.

Sources

  1. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article IV Permits and Certificates (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article IV Permits and Certificates (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  5. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article II Requirements and Enforcement (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article II Requirements and Enforcement (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article IV Permits and Certificates (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  13. Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering (nassaucountyny.gov)
  14. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 145 Zoning, Article II Residence District Requirements (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  15. Village of Hewlett Harbor Code, Ch. 17 Building Construction, Article IV Permits and Certificates (Village of Hewlett Harbor), quoted and re-checked
  16. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Floodplain Management - NYSDEC (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Hewlett Harbor

Village of Hewlett Harbor’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of buildings inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Ordinary non-structural repairs not affecting health or safety need no permit (§ 17-29), but all electrical and plumbing work requires a permit
    • Grading within 100 feet of a property line also needs a permit; front-yard berms up to two feet high and 15 feet from front and side lines are exempt
    • Plans must be sealed by an architect or engineer where work costs over $5,000 or the building exceeds 15,000 cubic feet or affects structural safety
    • Permit expires six months after issuance if no work started, 12 months if work started but incomplete
    “except as provided in § 17-29, it shall be unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove or demolish or to commence the construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of a building or structure”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Enforced as provided in the rules promulgated by the secretary of state
    • Village building inspector also enforces the NYS building and energy codes in conjunction with village code
    “the building inspector and/or his/her assistant shall administer and enforce the new york state uniform fire prevention code, new york state building code and new york state energy conservation code in conjunction with the code of the village of hewlett harbor.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work under the building code inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Inspections are performed by the village building inspector, who is also the code enforcement official for fire prevention code
    “the inspections under the building code shall be performed by the building inspector”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New, enlarged or altered buildings inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Issued by the village building inspector within five days after written application if entitled
    • Change of occupancy or use inconsistent with last certificate needs a permit
    • Village clerk must first receive Nassau County Department of Health certification of sewage and waste facilities
    “no building or structure hereafter constructed shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the building inspector”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hewlett Harbor village; the village adopts its own zoning chapter (Ch. 145) with residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX

    • Village building zone ordinance administered by the superintendent of buildings; appeals to the board of zoning appeals
    “the following are the specific requirements for the several residence districts referred to in § 145-8”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Residence districts AA, A, AB, B and BX inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Only residence districts were reviewed; zoning map and Articles III-X not opened
    “districts type of regulation aa a ab b bx uses uses specified in § 145-9 height height specified in § 145-10”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Alternatives A/B/C set total, ground-story and second-story minimums; values in table are more restrictive of lot size or lot district

    minimum total livable floor area, alternative A (AA, A / AB, B, BX): 3,000 / 2,700 sq ft (AA and A: 3,000; AB, B and BX: 2,700 (as columns read in table))

    “floor area (square feet) alternative a total 3,000 3,000 2,700 2,700 2,700 ground story 2,000 2,000 1,800 1,800 1,800”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Not more than one principal building per minimum area
    • Minimum street frontage 150/125/125/95/100 ft and depth 150/100/100/95/100 ft

    minimum lot size AA / A / AB / B / BX: 43,560 / 26,000 / 26,000 / 14,500 / 18,000 sq ft

    “size of lot (square feet) 43,560 26,000 26,000 14,500 18,000”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Front yard must also be not less than the average of existing dwellings within 300 feet (§ 145-13)
    • No encroachments permitted in required yards except stoops and below-grade structures (§ 145-15.1)

    front yard AA / A / AB / B / BX: 50 / 35 / 35 / 25 / 30 ft · side yards total AA / A / AB / B / BX: 50 / 45 / 45 / 35 / 35 ft · each side yard AA / A / AB / B / BX: 25 / 20 / 20 / 15 / 15 ft · rear yard AA / A / AB / B / BX: 30 / 30 / 30 / 25 / 25 ft

    “front yards (feet) 50 35 35 25 30 side yards (feet) total 50 45 45 35 35 each 25 20 20 15 15 rear yards (feet) 30 30 30 25 25”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residence districts AA, A, AB, B, BX inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Also floor area ratio limit: 5,500 sq ft for lots up to 17,999 sq ft, plus 0.15 of lot area over 18,000, max 12,000 sq ft (§ 145-18.1)
    • Surface coverage limits by lot size also apply; the more restrictive of lot size or district governs

    building area percentage total AA / A / AB / B / BX: 12.5 / 25 / 25 / 30 / 25 percent · accessory buildings percentage AA / A / AB / B / BX: 4 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 percent

    “building area (percentage) total 12 1/2 25 25 30 25 accessory 4 7 7 7 7”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residential dwellings in all residence districts inside Hewlett Harbor village, by lot size

    • Lots of half acre or less: 33 ft pitched, 28 ft flat
    • Lots over half acre to one acre: 35 ft pitched, 32 ft flat
    • Lots over one acre: 35 ft pitched and flat
    • Accessory structures no higher than 1 1/2 stories or 18 ft
    • Height/setback plane at 38 degrees, max 35 ft; street wall max 21 ft rising to 25 ft (§§ 145-10.1, 145-10.3)

    max dwelling height, pitched roof, lot half acre or less: <= 33 ft

    “the height of a residential dwelling with a pitched roof shall not exceed 33 feet.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units on residence-district lots inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • An accessory building used as a dwelling by a separate family is deemed a dwelling and a principal use (only one principal building per minimum lot area)
    • Accessory living quarters only for servants of occupants of the principal building, on the same plot
    “living quarters may be permitted in accessory buildings, including garages, when they are occupied by a servant or servants of occupants of the principal buildings on the same plot and in connection with said principal building.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Accessory farming, gardening, nurseries and greenhouses on residence-district lots inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Only as accessory use on the same lot, not for sale of products, no display or advertising
    • Keeping of chickens, roosters, pigeons, pigs, swine, horses, cows or cattle is not permitted
    “accessory uses customarily incident to the above uses and located on the same lot with them, including farming, gardening, nurseries and greenhouses, provided that such use is not for the sale of the products”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Rentals of residential premises for fewer than 180 consecutive days inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Transient dwelling unit means occupancy of less than 180 consecutive days by non-owners or non-family
    • Advertising under 180 days creates a rebuttable presumption
    • Civil fines not less than $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 for first, second and later violations

    minimum rental term: >= 180 days

    “d. transient dwelling units: the use of any premises as a transient dwelling unit.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications inside Hewlett Harbor village

    • Plans, plot plan and drawings required; incomplete applications held three months then cancelled
    • Permits are nontransferable
    “incomplete applications for building permits will be held for three months without action, after which the permit application will be cancelled.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Hewlett Harbor

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

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Sewage and waste disposal facilities for new construction inside Hewlett Harbor village; Nassau County Department of Health certifies compliance before a CO

    • Village code only cites the county health department's written certification; the county's own rule was not opened
    “prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the village clerk shall have received written certification from the nassau county department of health indicating that all sewage and waste disposal facilities are complete and in compliance with applicable new york state and nassau county standards.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Hewlett Harbor or Nassau County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Hewlett Harbor village
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Hewlett Harbor village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Hewlett Harbor village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Hewlett Harbor village
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Hewlett Harbor village
9 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Hewlett Harbor publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Nassau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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