Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lockport, New York

Lockport’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside the City of Lockport that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code

  • Subsection b lists exemptions (not read in full in this pass)
  • Fee under § 66-24 must be paid when the application is submitted
  • Permit issued by the city code enforcement officer

  “a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the uniform code and/or the energy code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, or demolition of any building or structure, or any portion thereof”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside the City of Lockport: the city administers and enforces the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the NYS Energy Code

  • Chapter 66 adopted 12-14-2022 by L.L. No. 5-2022, superseding former Ch. 66
  • Definitions reference the 2020 Residential Code of NYS and 2020 Property Maintenance Code of NYS

  “this chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (the uniform code) and the state energy conservation construction code (the energy code) in this city of lockport.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside the City of Lockport

  • Permit holder must notify the code enforcement officer when each listed element is ready
  • Elements listed in § 66-5 b are inspected where applicable (site, footing and foundation, slab preparation, framing, etc.)

  “work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the code enforcement officer or by an inspector authorized by the code enforcement officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings subject to the Uniform Code inside the City of Lockport

  • Occupancy after altered work is barred more than 30 days after completion without a CO
  • A change in the nature of occupancy of an existing building needs a CO authorizing it
  • Application is made to the building inspection department
  • Temporary COs and certificates of compliance are also provided under Chapter 66 § 66-7

  “no building erected subject to the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code shall be used or occupied, except to the extent authorized hereunder, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building inspection department.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside the City of Lockport (Niagara County), which administers its own zoning chapter (Chapter 190 Zoning) with an official zoning map

  • Uses, height, yards and lot area are controlled by district regulations in Chapter 190
  • Annexed land is zoned unclassified until reclassified by amendment

  “no building shall be erected and no existing building shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land or building be designed, used or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than as specified among the uses hereinafter listed as permitted in the district in which such building or land is located.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside the City of Lockport, shown on the official zoning map attached to Chapter 190

  • Map is kept and certified by the city clerk
  • Individual district names and standards were not read in this pass

  “the zoning map [1] is hereby established, adopted, and attached to this chapter and shall be as much a part hereof as if fully set forth and described herein.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lockport or Niagara County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside the City of Lockport
• Minimum dwelling size — Main single-family residential district inside the City of Lockport
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district inside the City of Lockport
• Setbacks — Main single-family residential district inside the City of Lockport
• Lot coverage — Main single-family residential district inside the City of Lockport

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.