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

Town of Blenheim’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, improvement, removal, demolition, and specified heating-equipment work inside Blenheim town.

  • The permit is issued when the application is complete and proposed work conforms to applicable Uniform Code requirements.
  • A permit is valid for one year unless otherwise noted and may be renewed once at half the original cost.

  “A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED BEFORE commencing construction, enlargement, improvement, removal, demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, or installation of heating equipment or solid fuel burning device.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Town building-permit work inside Blenheim town.

  • The permit holder must keep work accessible and exposed for CEO inspection and notify the Code Enforcement Officer at least 48 hours before inspection.
  • The schedule includes pre-permit site, foundation, framing, mechanical/plumbing, electrical, insulation/fire-penetration, solid-fuel, and final inspections.

  inspection notice: >= 48 hours (Notice to the Code Enforcement Officer before the inspection is needed.)

  “All work is to remain accessible and exposed for CEO Inspection. Permit holder shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer when work is ready for Inspection(s). Please contact the Code Enforcement Officer at least 48 hours prior to need for the inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Town building permits inside Blenheim town.

  • A permit may be closed out with either a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Compliance.
  • The Town states that a Certificate of Occupancy will not issue without a tax-map or property-ID number.

  certificate of occupancy request fee: 30 USD

  “Permits must be keep current until closed out with a certificate of Occupancy, or Certificate of Compliance. [...] A Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued without this number.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots for work processed under the Town of Blenheim building-permit instructions; no zoning district is identified in the source.

  • The source supplies no stated district, exception, or effective date for this minimum.

  minimum lot size: 1 acre

  “A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED BEFORE commencing construction, enlargement, improvement, removal, demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, or installation of heating equipment or solid fuel burning device. • Lot size minimum is 1 acre”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Building-permit work inside Blenheim town; the source identifies no zoning district.

  • The stated road setback is measured from the edge of the road.

  road setback: 40 feet (Measured from edge of road.) · property-line setback: 25 feet

  “Building Setbacks- 40' from edge of road, 25' from property lines”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Blenheim building permits.

  • Flood-plain permit fees are doubled.
  • Roof-replacement permits have no fee but remain required.
  • Permits expire one year after issuance and may be renewed once at half the original cost; after year two or renewal, a new permit is required at the current full schedule cost.

  construction cost range: 30.00-7,500 USD (Published fee is $50.) · construction cost range: 7,501-15,000 USD (Published fee is $75.)

  “$30.00 - $7,500………………………. $50 $7,501 - $15,000……………………... $75 [...] Any permit issued in the flood plain shall have the permit fee doubled. [...] Any roof replacement permit will be at no charge (permit still required).”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Blenheim building permits.

  • The applicant must submit the application and check to the Town Clerk.
  • New septic systems require attachment of County Health Department approval of the system or design.
  • The permit issues only after a complete application and Uniform Code conformity determination.

  “A permit will be issued when it is determined that the application is complete and the proposed work conforms to applicable requirements of the Uniform Code. [...] *Application and check must be submitted to the Town Clerk”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Blenheim

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  New septic-system designs submitted with a Town of Blenheim building-permit application.

  • The application requires attachment of Schoharie County Health Department approval of the new system or design.

  “Septic System: Existing _____ New _____ If new, please attach Schoharie County Health Department approval of system or design.”

Still unanswered

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

• Local zoning — Land inside the Town of Blenheim, Schoharie County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Blenheim town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Blenheim town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Blenheim town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Blenheim 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.