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

Town of Patterson’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises in the Town of Patterson.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law, or Chapter 64.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Major construction projects within the Town of Patterson.

  • Inspection is to ensure compliance with building codes and the plans and drawings filed with the building-permit application.

  “The Building Inspector will inspect all major construction projects”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, structurally altered, moved, or changed-use buildings and applicable land uses within Patterson.

  • The certificate must be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer before the owner may use or permit use of the covered building or premises.
  • Exceptions include changes to another use of the same type and land uses consisting primarily of tilling the soil, as stated in § 154-126.

  “A certificate of occupancy shall be obtained”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within the Town of Patterson, Putnam County, New York.

  • Uses and development remain subject to the Town's adopted zoning code and related zoning documents.

  “The Planning Board will ensure that projects are in compliance with Town zoning regulations.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Patterson zoning districts.

  • The Town publishes a zoning code, dimensional schedule, and zoning map.

  “R-1 [...] R-2 [...] R-4 [...] GB [...] C-1 [...] I [...] CR”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-site sanitary systems on parcels in the Town of Patterson.

  • The program is intended to ensure systems are inspected and, where necessary, maintained or rehabilitated under the referenced SPDES permit or successor permits.

  “shall cause an inspection to be performed”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land within the Town of Patterson.

  • Chapter 138 contains compliance, fee, submission, plat, improvement, inspection, variance, waiver, and enforcement provisions.

  “SUBDIVISION OF LAND [...] Procedures [...] Compliance required”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Building-permit applications within Patterson where driveway jurisdiction is Town, county, or state.

  • The issuing authority depends on road jurisdiction.

  “a driveway permit issued by the town, county or state”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications within the Town of Patterson.

  • Applications are filed in triplicate on the Code Enforcement Officer's form and must include the listed site, project, and dimensional information.
  • County health and applicable driveway permits accompany the application.

  application copies: 3 copies

  “filed in triplicate on a form provided by the Code Enforcement Officer”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Patterson

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 zoning district within the Town of Patterson.

  • The dimensional schedule applies by zoning district.

  minimum livable first-floor area for dwelling purposes: 1000 square feet

  “R-1 43,560 100 12 35 30 50 150 38 1,000 sq.ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 zoning district within the Town of Patterson.

  • The dimensional schedule applies by zoning district.

  minimum lot size: 43560 square feet

  “R-1 43,560 100 12 35 30 50 150 38 1,000 sq.ft. n/a 35 15 25”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 zoning district within the Town of Patterson.

  • The dimensional schedule applies by zoning district.

  principal-building front-yard setback: 35 feet · principal-building side-yard setback: 30 feet · principal-building rear-yard setback: 50 feet

  “R-1 43,560 100 12 35 30 50 150 38 1,000 sq.ft. n/a 35 15 25”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 zoning district within the Town of Patterson.

  • The schedule column is maximum percent of lot covered by impervious surface.

  maximum impervious lot coverage: <= 12 percent

  “R-1 43,560 100 12 35 30 50 150 38 1,000 sq.ft. n/a 35 15 25”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 zoning district within the Town of Patterson.

  • The dimensional schedule applies by zoning district.

  maximum building height: <= 38 feet

  “R-1 43,560 100 12 35 30 50 150 38 1,000 sq.ft. n/a 35 15 25”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Construction-related septic approval for land within the Town of Patterson.

  • The Town zoning code requires the Putnam County Department of Health construction permit as an accompaniment to the local building-permit application.

  “Certificate of construction compliance issued by the Putnam County Department of Health, guaranty of septic system”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building-permit applications for construction in the Town of Patterson that require the accompanying health construction permit.

  • The Putnam County Department of Health construction permit accompanies the local building-permit application.

  “construction permit issued by the Putnam County Department of Health”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from construction or contractor requirements within Patterson.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land within Patterson.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land within Patterson.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy within Patterson.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy within Patterson.

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.