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

Town of Cherry Valley’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the Town of Cherry Valley, Otsego County, excluding any separate village jurisdiction.

  • The law establishes one Agricultural/Rural Residential land-use district.

  “one land use district (Agricultural/Rural Residential) is hereby established”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Cherry Valley town subject to the town Land Use Law.

  • The Agricultural/Rural Residential district is established by the Local Law and map.

  “one land use district (Agricultural/Rural Residential) is hereby established and shown on the Land Use Map accompanying this Law.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy in a town campground.

  • Campground occupancy may not exceed 90 continuous days.
  • Campground is three or more campsites; density is one campsite per two acres.

  maximum continuous occupancy: <= 90 days (Campground temporary living quarters) · campground density: per 1 campsite per 2 acres

  “occupancy not to exceed ninety (90) continuous days. [...] Camping Unit: Any tent, cabin, trailer, lean-to, recreation vehicle”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping-unit occupancy in a town campground.

  • Occupancy is temporary recreation, education, or vacation occupancy.
  • Occupancy may not exceed 90 continuous days.

  maximum continuous occupancy: <= 90 days (Campground temporary living quarters)

  “temporary living quarters for recreation, education, or vacation purposes with occupancy not to exceed ninety (90) continuous days.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes proposed for living quarters inside Cherry Valley town.

  • Owner must apply for a general building permit before moving the mobile home to the property and using it for living quarters.
  • Owner must satisfy state health codes.
  • Location and foundation standards in Section 5.03 apply.

  “Mobile home owners must apply for a general building permit before the mobile home can be moved to the property and used for living quarters.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Major subdivisions inside Cherry Valley town.

  • Major subdivisions require mandatory planning by a professional planner.
  • Application must include a subdivision plan prepared by a professional planner.
  • Planning Board considers only the plan prepared by the professional planner.

  “A major subdivision [...] is subject to mandatory planning by a professional planner.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Applications for town permits, certificates, licenses, and Planning Board, Town Board, or Board of Appeals review.

  • Amount is specified from time to time by Town Board resolution.

  “shall be accompanied by a fee: an amount specified from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Applications required by the Town of Cherry Valley Land Use Law.

  • Enforcement Officer generally has 10 days after receipt to issue or refuse requested permit, certificate, or license.
  • Applications requiring subdivision or site-plan review are forwarded to the Planning Board.
  • Applications clearly violating the law are rejected.

  officer decision period: <= 10 days (Except where official-board review is involved)

  “within ten (10) days of his/her receipt of the application thereto, except that where such application involves review by an official board”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Cherry Valley

Town of Cherry Valley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Cherry Valley town that is required to conform to the New York Uniform Code.

  • Certain exceptions are permitted under the state code-enforcement program.
  • Town municipal information identifies Otsego County Codes Office as the town's NYS Fire/Building Code Enforcement Officer.

  “Building permits must be required for any work which is required to conform to the Uniform Code. Certain exceptions are permitted.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Cherry Valley town; New York City is excluded.

  • The Uniform Code is automatically effective in towns other than New York City.

  “The Uniform Code is automatically in effect in each city, town, and village in the State (except New York City)”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction inside Cherry Valley town subject to a Uniform Code building permit.

  • Inspection applies to specified elements of the construction process.
  • Permit holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspection and acceptance.

  “Inspections of certain specified elements of the construction process must be required.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work inside Cherry Valley town for which a building permit was required, and changes in general occupancy classification.

  • Required for all work for which a building permit was required and whenever general occupancy classification changes.

  “A certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance must be required”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural/Rural Residential land-use district in Cherry Valley town.

  • Lot must accommodate buildings and an individual sanitary sewage disposal system designed under the New York State Health Department Sanitary Code and approved by Otsego County Department of Health.
  • Minimum road frontage is 200 feet.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre · minimum road frontage: >= 200 feet

  “Lots shall not be less than one (1) acre and shall have a minimum road frontage of at least two hundred (200) feet.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual sanitary sewage disposal systems serving land in Cherry Valley town.

  • The system must be designed in accordance with the New York State Health Department Sanitary Code.
  • Town law requires Otsego County Department of Health approval.

  “shall require the approval of the Otsego County Department of Health.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Cherry Valley town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Agricultural/Rural Residential land-use district in Cherry Valley town.
• Lot coverage — Agricultural/Rural Residential land-use district in Cherry Valley town.
• Building height — Agricultural/Rural Residential land-use district in Cherry Valley town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Cherry Valley town.

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.