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

Village of Waterford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, adding to or structurally altering buildings and structures, and erecting fences, inside the Village of Waterford (zoning chapter)

  • Does not apply to a building, structure or fence used for a nonconforming use on the date of enactment, while continued for the same purpose
  • Permit issued as specified in Article VI of Chapter 205 (not opened)

  “no building or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered, and no fence shall be erected, until a building permit has been issued, as specified in article vi”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Change of use of land and use of new, altered or extended buildings inside the Village of Waterford

  • Does not apply to land or buildings used for a nonconforming use on the date of the chapter, while continued for the same purpose

  “no land shall be changed in use and no building or structure hereafter erected, altered or extended shall be used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy has been issued”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside the Village of Waterford, Saratoga County, NY

  • Zoning map adopted May 10, 1965, on file in the village clerk's office
  • Zoning Board of Appeals handles variances and special permits

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "zoning ordinance of the village of waterford, saratoga county, new york."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside the Village of Waterford

  • Districts: Residence, Residence-S, Residence-M, Senior Citizen Housing, Commercial, plus Waterfront Overlay
  • Map is on file in the village clerk's office

  “§ 205-13 residence district. § 205-14 residence - s district. § 205-15 residence - m district. § 205-16 senior citizen housing district. § 205-17 commercial district. § 205-18 area, frontage, bulk, height and setback requirements. § 205-18.1 waterfront overlay district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residence district, one-family and two-family dwellings (column 1), Village of Waterford; multifamily dwellings 2,400 sq ft

  • Residence-M district also lists minimum floor area 800 sq ft
  • Commercial district minimum floor area 800 sq ft for general uses
  • No separate agricultural or rural-residential district found

  minimum floor area, one/two-family: >= 800 sq ft

  “minimum floor area (sq. ft.) 800 2,400 none 800 maximum building height (ft.) 50 50 50 50”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residence district, one-family and two-family dwellings (column 1), Village of Waterford

  • Multifamily dwellings, churches, schools, offices: 6,000 sq ft
  • Residence-M district: 6,000 sq ft
  • Commercial district: none
  • Pre-existing substandard lots usable under § 205-8b and § 205-25

  minimum lot area: >= 4000 sq ft · minimum frontage: >= 40 ft

  “minimum lot area (sq. ft.) 4,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 minimum frontage (ft.) 40 60 60 60”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residence district, one-family and two-family dwellings (column 1), Village of Waterford

  • Minimum yards apply to accessory buildings and roofed porches, except accessory buildings under 700 sq ft and 12 ft high may be within 6 ft of rear lot line
  • Waterfront overlay: 25 ft from canal wall or river high water mark, or average of adjacent buildings within 150 ft, whichever is greater
  • Front yard must not be less than block average within 300 ft (§ 205-25)

  front yard: >= 10 ft · one side yard: >= 5 ft · total both side yards: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 10 ft

  “front yard 10 10 10 10 one side yard 5 10 10 10 total both side yards 10 20 20 20 rear yard 10 10 10 10”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residence district, Village of Waterford

  • Maximum building coverage includes accessory buildings
  • Residence-M district: 80%
  • Commercial district: none

  maximum building coverage: <= 50 % of lot area

  “maximum building coverage (% of area) 50 50 50 50 minimum floor area (sq. ft.) 800 2,400 none 800”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residence district, Village of Waterford

  • Height limit does not apply to chimneys, spires, cupolas, barns, silos, antennas and similar appurtenances
  • Commercial district: 50 ft general, 30 ft for public garage, filling station, automotive repair

  maximum building height: <= 50 ft (listed appurtenances exempt)

  “maximum building height (ft.) 50 50 50 50 minimum yard dimensions (ft.) front yard 10 10 10 10”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside the Village of Waterford
• Building code adopted — Building code inside the Village of Waterford
• Inspections — Building inspections inside the Village of Waterford
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside the Village of Waterford
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside the Village of Waterford

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.