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

Town of Gorham’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Gorham, Ontario County, New York.

  • The town has 11 zoning districts with differing regulations, requirements, and setbacks.

  “The Town of Gorham has 11 Zoning districts, each with different regulations, requirements and building setback requirements.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Gorham.

  • The zoning law establishes eight basic districts, four overlays, and two floating districts; the official zoning maps are kept in the Town Clerk's office.

  basic zoning districts: 8 · overlay districts: 4 · floating districts: 2

  “Eight (8) basic zoning districts, four (4) overlay districts, and two (2) “floating” districts are hereby established”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land splits, subdivisions, and lot combinations inside the Town of Gorham.

  • The Town Planning Board handles the listed actions as required by the town.

  “Review and approval of required building permits Process variance requests Land splits, subdivisions and lot combining as required by the Town Planning Board Answer questions regarding land use in the different Zoning Districts within the Town Site Plan Review for all new construction in the Town”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New development, site plans, subdivisions, variances, and building-permit applications inside the Town of Gorham.

  • Such actions must comply with the Town of Gorham Access Management Local Law.

  “ACCESS MANAGEMENT All new development in the Town, including site plans, subdivisions, variances and building permit applications and approvals shall comply with the Access Management Local Law of the Town of Gorham.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Gorham

Town of Gorham 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)

  Buildings, structures, and premises inside the Town of Gorham.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, Energy Code, other state law, or Chapter 36.

  “This Chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders of residential structures inside the Town of Gorham.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside the Town of Gorham.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside the Town of Gorham.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the Town of Gorham.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside the Town of Gorham.

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.