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

Town of Remsen’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New homes, additions, manufactured housing, sanitary sewage systems, garages, and storage buildings inside Remsen town limits, per the town's list of projects requiring a permit.

  • The town's list is described as non-exhaustive; projects not listed should be confirmed with the code enforcement office.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • Storage buildings larger than 144 sq. ft. are listed as requiring a permit.

  storage building size threshold: > 144 sq ft (storage buildings above this size are listed as requiring a permit)

  “new homes, additions, commercial structures, manufactured housing, sanitary sewage systems, camps, garages”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction and alterations inside Remsen town limits.

  • The town adopts and enforces the NYS Uniform Building Code as stated on its official page.
  • Local Law #3 of 2024 (listed on the town laws page) additionally requires architectural/engineered stamped plans for structures built with intent to occupy; its text was not readable.

  “the town of remsen adopts and enforces the nys uniform building code.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Remsen town limits: the town states it has no zoning regulations.

  • Town-level zoning absence only; the town's other local laws (fire codes, building requirements, subdivision law) still apply.
  • Oneida County zoning was not researched; no county zoning rule was confirmed for land inside the town.

  “at present, the town does not have zoning regulations but does have several local laws designed to maintain a safe, comfortable environment for our residents.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Remsen town limits.

  • No zoning districts exist because the town has no zoning regulations, so there is no district map or schedule.

  “at present, the town does not have zoning regulations but does have several local laws designed to maintain a safe, comfortable environment for our residents.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Land inside Remsen town limits for lot-size requirements in the town's minimum lot size law.

  • The laws page lists a minimum lot size law; the numeric minimum was not captured because the PDF returned no text.
  • Applicability within the town (single-family or any district) is not established.

  “minimum lot size and setback regulation set by section 4”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sanitary sewage systems inside Remsen town limits, as a town-permitted project.

  • Town permit is listed on the code enforcement page; the county health approval rule above also applies to septic replacements or upgrades.

  “new homes, additions, commercial structures, manufactured housing, sanitary sewage systems, camps, garages”

• Septic permitRequired

  Sanitary sewage systems inside Remsen town limits.

  • Listed by the town as a project requiring a permit; the permit comes from the town's code enforcement office.
  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • County Health Department approval for septic replacements or upgrades is a separate requirement (see the county claims).

  “new homes, additions, commercial structures, manufactured housing, sanitary sewage systems, camps, garages”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Remsen town limits under the town's subdivision of land local law.

  • The town's amended subdivision law text returned no extractable content; approval thresholds and procedure are not established.
  • The planning board page references a 2010 subdivision local law, not opened.

  “amended local law regarding subdivision of land”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside Remsen town limits.

  • The town page describes contacting the code enforcement office by phone or email for questions and states hours are by appointment; step-by-step review and inspection stages are not published.
  • Office hours: by appointment, 315-269-2214.

  “if your project is not mentioned in this list, or if you have questions regarding the application, please call or email for clarification.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits inside Remsen town limits.
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Remsen town limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Remsen town limits.
• Setbacks — Setbacks for buildings inside Remsen town limits.
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspections inside Remsen town limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.