Bolthole Index

Nassau County, New York

Zoning, building permits and septic in the Village of Hewlett Neck, New York

The Village of Hewlett Neck, New York, in Nassau County, adopts its own zoning for all land inside the village1. Building permits are filed with the village building inspector2. Septic approvals do not come from the village: Nassau County's Department of Health handles on-site sewage disposal3.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning covers all land inside Hewlett Neck; districts Residence A, B, C and D14
Building permit
Required; apply in writing to the village building inspector2
Building code
New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, plus the village building chapter5
Minimum lot
Set by district: 5,000 sq ft in Residence A up to 40,000 sq ft in Residence D6
Height limit
30 feet and 2.5 stories in all four districts7
Short-term rental
Transient rental is prohibited in every district8
Septic
Nassau County Department of Health; check with the village building inspector for single homes93

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Hewlett Neck Building Department (Building Inspector)

Building permit applications, inspections and the village's permit forms

516-295-1400

30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, NY 11557

Also useful

Village of Hewlett Neck Village Clerk

General village office: contact, meeting schedules and local laws

(516) 295-1400

[email protected]

30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, NY 11557

Septic permits

Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering

On-site sewage disposal plan approval, SPDES permits and septic closures where public sewer is available

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 Neck means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Hewlett Neck, NY have zoning, and what does it allow?

Yes. The village zoning law applies to all land within the corporate limits of the Village of Hewlett Neck1. The village is divided into four districts, Residence A, B, C and D, shown on the zoning map4.

Lot sizes depend on the district: the minimum lot is 5,000 square feet in Residence A, 15,000 in Residence B, 30,000 in Residence C and 40,000 in Residence D6. Front yards run from 20 feet in Residence A to 30 feet in Residence C and D, and side yards from 10 feet in Residence A to 20 feet in Residence B, C and D10. Buildings in all four districts are capped at 2.5 stories and 30 feet7.

Short-term rentals are not allowed: no building or premises may be used for transient rental in any district8. Dividing a lot so that either piece falls below its district minimum is barred11.

Do you need a building permit in Hewlett Neck, and who issues it?

Yes. Inside the Village of Hewlett Neck it is unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure without filing a written application with the village building inspector and obtaining a permit, subject to an exception for ordinary repairs2. The application goes in on the form the building inspector requires12.

The village's building code sits on top of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code5. Plans must be prepared by a registered architect or engineer when the work costs more than $5,000, when the building exceeds 15,000 cubic feet, or when the inspector finds structural safety involved2. The building inspector examines premises with issued permits and makes the inspections13.

The village posts its permit forms and fee schedule on its building department page14. Hewlett Neck issues its own building permits, so the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County are not the office for work inside the village.

How do septic permits work inside Hewlett Neck?

The village's own code does not answer who approves septic systems, and we could not confirm a village septic rule. Nassau County's Department of Health runs the county's on-site sewage disposal program, and a SPDES permit from that department is required before sanitary waste is discharged into the ground after approved construction15.

For a single home, the county tells owners building a house outside a new realty subdivision or renovating one to contact the local building department for septic approval requirements9. Inside Hewlett Neck, that means the village building inspector14. Developments of 5 or more lots go to the county Health Department for water supply, sewage disposal and drainage plans16.

Where public sewer serves the area, homes must connect to the sewer and old septic systems must be properly abandoned17. Call the Bureau of Environmental Engineering to confirm which applies to a given address17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Hewlett Neck?

We could not confirm an answer. The village code was not found to contain an explicit rule on RV living, camping or tiny homes, and the village zoning chapter should be read for the permitted uses in each district. Ask the building inspector at the village office before planning anything other than a standard one-family house14.

The zoning in Hewlett Neck is a residential framework with four districts4, and short-term rental is prohibited in every district8. Treat any plan to live in a temporary or nonstandard structure as needing written confirmation from the village first.

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

  1. Confirm the district (Residence A, B, C or D) and check lot size, yards and the 30-foot height limit467.
  2. Ask the building inspector whether the work needs a zoning variance or board approval before applying14.
  3. File a written building permit application with the village building inspector, with architect or engineer plans where required2.
  4. Settle sewer or septic with the Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering17.
  5. Keep inspections moving through the building inspector13.
  6. Get a certificate of occupancy: the state requires one for work done under a building permit18.

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

Septic and sewage disposal approvals stay with the Nassau County Department of Health, not the village3. Nassau County does not zone; zoning is administered through city, town and village laws, with the county planning commission reviewing referred actions19. Subdivision of land near a municipal boundary can also involve the county Planning Commission20.

For land outside the village, see the Nassau County page. County-level figures: Nassau County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%21 and the typical home value is $859,54422. Hewlett Neck's own tax bill depends on the village, town and school district, so confirm with the village clerk before closing23.

Watch-outs

  • Hewlett Neck sets its own zoning and issues its own building permits, so the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County planning counters are not the right office for work inside the village12.
  • We could not confirm village permit fees, floodplain rules or driveway rules; ask the building inspector before you budget14.
  • Plans by a registered architect or engineer are required when work costs more than $5,0002.
  • Transient or short-term rental is prohibited in every Hewlett Neck zoning district8.

Sources

  1. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Zoning (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 50 Building Construction (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  3. On Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  4. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article II Establishment of Districts (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  5. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 50 Building Construction (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article III District Regulations (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article III District Regulations (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article II Establishment of Districts (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  9. On Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article III District Regulations (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 195 Article II Establishment of Districts (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 50 Building Construction (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Hewlett Neck Code, Chapter 50 Building Construction (Village of Hewlett Neck), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Hewlett Neck Building Department (Building Inspector) (hewlettneck.org)
  15. On-Site Sewage Disposal System and SPDES Permit, quoted and re-checked
  16. On Site Sewage Disposal | Nassau County, NY, quoted and re-checked
  17. Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering (nassaucountyny.gov)
  18. Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code: What Elected and Other Government Officials Need to Know, quoted and re-checked
  19. Zoning Review, quoted and re-checked
  20. Environmental Review, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Village of Hewlett Neck Village Clerk (hewlettneck.org)

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 Neck

Village of Hewlett Neck’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

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

    • Exception for ordinary repairs under § 50-14 (text not reviewed).
    • Plans must be prepared by a registered architect or engineer where work costs more than $5,000 or the building has more than 15,000 cubic feet in volume or the inspector finds structural safety involved.
    “except as provided in § 50-14, 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 without first filing with the building inspector an application, in writing, and obtaining a permit therefor.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Village building code (Chapter 50) must also be complied with in addition to Chapter 195 zoning.
    “the village has heretofore adopted the provisions of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code applicable to general building construction.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work under building permits inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Inspections are made by the village building inspector appointed by the Board of Trustees.
    “he or she shall examine premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law and village laws are complied with”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land within the Village of Hewlett Neck

    “this building zone law is intended to include and apply to all of the territory within the corporate limits of the village of hewlett neck.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Hewlett Neck village: Residence A, B, C and D

    • Districts are shown on the building zone map attached to Chapter 195.
    “the village of hewlett neck is hereby divided into districts which are hereby designated as follows: (1) residence a district. (2) residence b district. (3) residence c district. (4) residence d district.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residence A, B, C and D districts inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Lot width and street frontage minimums: A 50 ft, B 100 ft, C 125 ft, D 150 ft.
    • Exception for present existing buildings as provided in the code.

    Residence A minimum lot: >= 5000 sq ft · Residence B minimum lot: >= 15000 sq ft · Residence C minimum lot: >= 30000 sq ft · Residence D minimum lot: >= 40000 sq ft

    “no principal building, including the accessory building incident thereto, shall occupy a lot of less than 15,000 square feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residence A, B, C and D districts inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Accessory buildings have separate yard rules in each district.

    Residence A front yard: >= 20 ft · Residence A side yard: >= 10 ft · Residence A rear yard: >= 20 ft · Residence B front yard: >= 30 ft · Residence B side yard: >= 20 ft · Residence B rear yard: >= 20 ft · Residence C and D front yard: >= 30 ft · Residence C and D side yard: >= 20 ft · Residence C and D rear yard: >= 30 ft

    “front yards shall be not less than 20 feet in depth. c. side yards. side yards shall be not less than 10 feet in width.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residence A, B, C and D districts inside Hewlett Neck village (same limit in all four)

    maximum height: <= 30 ft · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

    “no building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories, with a maximum height of 30 feet.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of lots inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Portion failing requirements may be added to an adjoining lot so that the enlarged lot complies.
    • Chapter 182 subdivision of land not opened.
    “no lot shall be sold, divided or set off in such a manner that either the portion sold, divided or set off, or the portion remaining: a. shall be less than the minimum size prescribed by the regulations relating to the district in which it is situated;”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Transient rental of buildings or premises in all zoning districts inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Added by L.L. No. 1-2012 (12-3-2012).
    “no building or premises shall be used and no building shall be erected or altered for transient rental.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit applications inside Hewlett Neck village

    • Application is filed in writing with the village building inspector; Chapter 195 requirements also apply.
    “an application for a permit shall be submitted in such form as the building inspector may require.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Hewlett Neck village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Hewlett Neck village
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Hewlett Neck village
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Hewlett Neck village
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Hewlett Neck village
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Neck publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Nassau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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