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

Town of Goshen’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

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

  • The local chapter administers and enforces the New York State Uniform Code and Energy Code.

  “Chapter 49 Construction Codes, Uniform [...] Adopted by the Town Board”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Goshen, New York.

  • Chapter 97 was adopted by the Town Board and has subsequently been amended.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Goshen 1-22-1973 by L.L. No. 2-1973; amended in its entirety 6-10-2004 by L.L. No. 5-2004. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Goshen.

  • The official zoning chapter contains land-use and overlay-district articles and district-specific regulations.

  “Article II Land Use and Overlay Districts [...] § 97-8 Establishment of districts. § 97-9 Zoning Maps.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes, including structures identified as manufactured housing under the Town's mobile-home definition, inside the Town of Goshen.

  • A mobile home is permitted only in a duly authorized mobile-home park, except where a temporary permit is available under § 69-5.

  “manufactured housing [...] must meet the definition of mobile home [...] only when located in a duly authorized mobile home park”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory apartments or accessory residential structures associated with single-family dwellings inside the Town of Goshen.

  • One accessory apartment or residential structure is allowed per single-family dwelling unit, as provided in the Use Table.
  • It must connect to the same well as the principal residence.

  accessory apartments or residential structures per single-family dwelling unit: 1 (as provided in the Use Table)

  “One accessory apartment [...] per single-family dwelling unit [...] as provided in the Use Table. [...] shall be connected to the same well as the principal residence.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats in the Town of Goshen.

  • The chapter authorizes the Planning Board to approve and conditionally approve qualifying plats.

  “This chapter regulates the approval of subdivision plats in the Town of Goshen”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town Building and Zoning permit applications inside the Town of Goshen.

  • The Town page directs applicants to an updated schedule of fees effective August 12, 2024.

  fee schedule effective date: 2024-08-12

  “Effective August 12, 2024 please see our Updated Schedule of Fees.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside the Town of Goshen.

  • Applicants must submit one paper set and an electronic submittal for all permit applications.
  • Applications are accepted at the Building and Zoning office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  “one paper set [...] electronic submittal [...] permit applications. [...] accepted from 9 am to 4 pm”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside the Town of Goshen.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of completed construction inside the Town of Goshen.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential development in Town of Goshen zoning districts.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential development in Town of Goshen zoning districts.
• Setbacks — Single-family residential development in Town of Goshen zoning districts.

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 Goshen 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.

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