Bolthole Index

Putnam County, New York

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

The Town of Kent, New York requires a building permit for work covered by the state Uniform Code, and its Building Inspector issues it1. Kent adopts its own zoning, so lot size and setbacks depend on the district2. Septic and private-well permits for Kent addresses come from the Putnam County Department of Health, not the town34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for work that must meet the Uniform Code or Energy Code, issued by the Town of Kent1
Zoning
Kent has its own zoning chapter (Chapter 77); Putnam County has no countywide zoning25
Septic permits
Putnam County Department of Health3
Well permits
Permit from the Putnam County Department of Health before drilling4
R-80 minimum lot
80,000 square feet6
Permit timeline
Generally 14 to 21 days7
Owner-builder
Homeowner may act as contractor with proof of homeowner insurance; no owner electrical, HVAC or gas work8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Kent Building Department

Building permits, plan review and inspections for work inside the Town of Kent; zoning questions start here

845-225-3900

25 Sybil's Crossing, Kent Lakes, NY 10512

Septic permits

Putnam County Department of Health, Environmental Health Services

Septic system and private well permits and inspections for every address in Putnam County, including Kent

(845) 808-1390

1 Geneva Road, Brewster, New York 10509

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Kent, NY?

Yes. The Town of Kent requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including building, enlarging, altering, moving or demolishing a structure, subject to the exemptions in § 27-8B of the Town Code1. The Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer administers and enforces both codes inside Kent9. New York State's Uniform Code is the statewide baseline, so a permit is not something Kent added on top10.

The Town's building page says permit fees are based on the total cost of the project, and that permits generally take 14 - 21 days to process11. The Building Department asks for 2 sets of plans and a copy of the survey, and projects costing more than $20,000 need a stamped set of plans even when you build it yourself11. Completed work also needs a certificate of occupancy12.

Who issues building permits in the Town of Kent, and how do you reach them?

The Town of Kent Building Department issues building permits and inspects the work inside Kent9. Call the office at 845-225-3900, or visit Town Hall at 25 Sybil's Crossing, Kent Lakes, NY 1051211. Do not go to the Putnam County government for building permits: Putnam County does not run a building department for Kent, and each Putnam town handles its own.

Electrical permits are a separate step. The Town's page states owners may not do electrical, HVAC or gas work under Putnam County Consumer Affairs rules11. If you are your own general contractor, the Town asks for a copy of your homeowner insurance8.

Does the Town of Kent have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Kent has its own zoning chapter, Chapter 77 of the Town Code, adopted by the Town Board2. Putnam County has no countywide zoning code; zoning is adopted and administered by each town and village5.

Rules differ by district. In the R-80 Residential District the minimum lot area is 80,000 square feet6, and no building may exceed 2 1/2 stories or 30 feet13. The Town's building page lists 10,000 square feet for R-10 and 40,000 square feet for R-40, with front setbacks of 40 feet in R-40 and R-8011. A lot smaller than its district minimum needs a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals before the permit application11. Accessory apartments in R-80 are special uses that need Zoning Board of Appeals approval14.

Living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home on a Kent lot is not something we could confirm; ask the Building Department before you buy.

How do septic permits work in the Town of Kent?

Septic permits for Kent properties come from the Putnam County Department of Health, not from the town3. A repair permit must be filed with and approved by the Health Department15, and the repaired system is inspected before backfilling16. A repair permit costs $150, paid by bank check or certified check17.

For new construction on vacant land, the county requires a professional design18. The Health Department also requires soil test pits or percolation tests witnessed by its engineering staff19. Across Putnam County, only 8.7% of soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system20. Call (845) 808-1390 and ask for an engineer21.

Indoor plumbing wastewater, including showers and sinks, must go to an approved septic system22. Some Kent projects may fall under joint review with New York City's DEP, which the Health Department determines23.

Do you need a well permit in the Town of Kent?

Yes. Before drilling a private well in Kent, you must obtain a permit through the Putnam County Department of Health4. Contact the Health Department at (845) 808-1390 before a driller starts21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Kent?

We could not confirm Kent's rule on living in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on private land. Ask the Town of Kent Building Department at 845-225-3900 before you buy or park anything11.

How do you build a home in the Town of Kent, step by step?

  1. Confirm the zoning district and its minimum lot size with the Building Department11.
  2. Call the Putnam County Department of Health at (845) 808-1390 about septic design and a well permit21.
  3. Gather 2 sets of plans and a survey; stamped plans are required above $20,00011.
  4. Apply for the building permit and expect roughly 14 - 21 days7.
  5. Schedule the required inspections as work progresses24.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in12.

What stays with Putnam County, and what to check before you buy in Kent?

Septic, wells and subdivision health review stay with the Putnam County Department of Health25. Outside Kent, Putnam County's page covers the county-level picture.

The Town's page says projects within 100 feet of wetlands, with more than 5,000 square feet of soil disturbance, or moving more than 100 cubic yards of material need Planning Board approval first11. A driveway onto a state highway needs a NYSDOT permit26. Putnam County's effective property tax rate is 2.2%27.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Kent's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, manufactured homes, subdivision, short-term rentals or floodplain permits; ask the Kent Building Department at 845-225-390011.
  • The Town of Kent requires a building permit for covered work, but owners may not do electrical, HVAC or gas work themselves11.
  • A new bedroom or accessory apartment can trigger Health Department review of the septic system; call (845) 808-1390 before you plan an addition21.

Sources

  1. Chapter 27: Building Administration and Construction - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 77: Zoning - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  4. putnamcountyny.gov (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  5. Putnam County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Section 9.1 (2026 county census)
  6. Article III: R-80 Residential District - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building permit requirements | Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building permit requirements | Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 27: Building Administration and Construction - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  10. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Kent Building Department (townofkentny.gov)
  12. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article III: R-80 Residential District - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article III: R-80 Residential District - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  16. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  17. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York, quoted and re-checked
  18. Procedures & Policies for Subsurface Sewage Treatment & Water Supply for Single Family Residences, quoted and re-checked
  19. Environmental Health - Putnam County, quoted and re-checked
  20. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Putnam County Department of Health, Environmental Health Services (putnamcountyny.gov)
  22. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  23. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York, quoted and re-checked
  24. Chapter 27: Building Administration and Construction - Town of Kent, NY (Town of Kent), quoted and re-checked
  25. Environmental Health - Putnam County, New York, quoted and re-checked
  26. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Kent

Town of Kent’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work inside Kent that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code.

    • The requirement is subject to the exemptions in § 27-8B.
    • The permit is issued only if the work complies with the applicable Uniform Code, Energy Code, and Town Code requirements.
    “Except as otherwise provided in § 27-8B of this chapter, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, and the installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A homeowner acting as contractor for a Kent building project.

    • The official Town page requires a copy of homeowner insurance when the homeowner is the contractor.
    • The page separately says owners may not do electrical, HVAC, or gas work under Putnam County Consumer Affairs requirements.
    “if you, the homeowner, are the contractor”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Uniform Code and Energy Code enforcement inside the Town of Kent.

    “The Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) is hereby designated to administer and to enforce the Uniform Code and the Energy Code within the Town of Kent.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Kent.

    • Remote inspection may be used instead of an in-person inspection when the authorized official finds it can be performed to the same level and quality.
    “The Building Inspector shall make all inspections which are necessary or proper for the carrying out of his or her duties;”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the Town of Kent.

    • The chapter was adopted by the Town Board on December 28, 1978 and amended in its entirety on November 24, 2008 by L.L. No. 8-2008.
    “Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Kent”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Town of Kent building permits.

    • The Town page states that fees are based on total project cost.
    “Permit fees are based on the total cost of the project.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Kent.

    • The Building Department requests two sets of plans and a survey.
    • If project cost exceeds $20,000, the Town page requires stamped plans.

    typical processing time: 14 - 21 days (A larger project could take longer.)

    “Permits generally take 14 - 21 days to process.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Kent

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

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-80 Residential District inside Kent.

    • Subject to § 77-34.2 supplementary minimum-lot-area regulations unless otherwise specified.

    minimum lot area: 80000 square feet (subject to § 77-34.2 unless otherwise specified)

    “minimum lot area shall be 80,000 square feet”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-80 Residential District inside Kent.

    maximum height: <= 30 feet (2 1/2 stories maximum)

    “Maximum height. No building shall be erected to a height in excess of 2 1/2 stories or 30 feet.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory apartments in the R-80 Residential District inside Kent.

    • Accessory apartments are special uses subject to Zoning Board of Appeals approval under § 77-70.
    “Accessory apartment subject to § 77-70 of this chapter.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Individual septic-system matters for property inside Kent, administered by the Putnam County Department of Health.

    • The County page describes this as County Health Department approval.
    “The repair or replacement of any component of a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (SSTS) requires prior approval by the Putnam County Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Repair or replacement of a component of an existing SSTS inside Kent.

    • A repair permit must be filed with and approved by Putnam County Health Department.
    • Routine pumping, snaking or cleaning existing sewer lines, and replacement of sewage pumps are stated not to require prior approval.
    “A repair permit must be filed for and approved by the Putnam County Health Department. Applications are available by contacting the Putnam County Health Department at 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, New York 10509 or by calling (845) 808-1390.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Approved septic-system repairs inside Kent.

    • The inspection applies after repair-permit approval and before backfilling.
    “Upon approval of the repair permit, the repaired septic system is inspected by health department staff prior to backfilling to further assure permit compliance.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Indoor-plumbing wastewater disposal for property inside Kent.

    • The requirement applies to discharge from indoor plumbing fixtures.
    “No. The discharge from any indoor plumbing fixture, including showers, sinks and washing machines is considered sewage, and must be discharged only into an approved septic system (SSTS).”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private-well drilling inside Kent.

    • PCDOH jurisdiction for private wells is stated to apply when the well is drilled.
    • The well location is approved under NYSDOH separation-distance and construction requirements.
    “For private wells, the PCDOH has jurisdiction only when the well is drilled. Before drilling begins, a permit must be obtained through the PCDOH.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Kent.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside Kent.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Kent.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Kent.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Kent.
5 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Kent publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Putnam County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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