Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Medina, New York

Village of Medina’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Medina village that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including residential construction.

  • The listed exemptions in § 101-4B apply.
  • Work may not commence before a required permit is obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer.

  “a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises inside Medina village.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law, or Chapter 101.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction subject to Medina village code enforcement.

  • Inspections are made before issuance of certificates of occupancy, certificates of compliance, temporary certificates, and operating permits.

  “To conduct construction inspections; inspections to be made prior to the issuance of certificates of occupancy, certificates of compliance, temporary certificates and operating permits;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Village of Medina limits.

  • Chapter 254 was adopted by the Village Board of Trustees; district and permit requirements apply as stated in that chapter.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Medina 8-26-2003 by L.L. No. 4-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Medina village.

  • Districts are subject to Chapter 254 and its zoning map and district regulations.

  “The Village of Medina is hereby divided into zoning districts as hereinafter set forth and as the same may, from time to time, be amended.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Code-enforcement fees inside Medina village.

  • The Board of Trustees sets the fees; no fee amount was verified in the opened ordinance text.

  “A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Board of Trustees of this Village. [...] Such fee schedule may thereafter be amended”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Medina village.

  • Application is in writing on the Code Enforcement Officer's form.
  • The application must be signed by the owner or an authorized agent.
  • Work may not commence unless a building permit is issued.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Medina village.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Medina village.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Medina village residential districts.
• Minimum lot size — Lots in Medina village residential districts.
• Setbacks — Principal residences in Medina village residential 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 Village of Medina 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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