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

Town of Fulton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, improvement, removal, demolition, and specified heating work inside Fulton town.

  • Structures with a gross floor area of 144 square feet or less do not require a building permit.

  small-structure exemption threshold: <= 144 square feet (Structures with a gross floor area of 144 sq ft or less do not require a building permit.)

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Fulton town.

  • The owner must give the Building Inspector at least 48 hours' notice for inspections.
  • The published inspection schedule includes pre-permit site, footing, foundation, waterproofing, rough framing, rough mechanical/plumbing, electrical third-party, fire-resistance/insulation, solid-fuel appliance, and final inspections.

  inspection notice: >= 48 hours

  “It is the Owners responsibility to give the Building Inspector at least 48 hrs. notice for inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Projects permitted by Fulton town.

  • The permit must remain current until closed out with either a Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Compliance.
  • The published instructions state that a Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued without the property's tax-map or property-ID number.

  “Permits must be kept current until closed out with a certificate of Occupancy, or Certificate of Compliance.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Dwelling units, manufactured homes, accessory buildings, structures, and additions inside Fulton town.

  • Road setback is measured horizontally from the edge of the street or road right-of-way.
  • Side and rear setback is measured horizontally from property boundary lines.

  road setback: >= 40 feet (Measured horizontally from the edge of the right-of-way.) · side and rear setback: >= 25 feet (Measured horizontally from property boundary lines.)

  “No dwelling unit, manufactured home, accessory building or structures of additions thereto shall be located closer to any street or road than forty (40) feet (measured horizontally) from the edge of the right-of-way of said street or road; nor closer to the sides or rear property boundary lines than twenty-five (25) feet (measured horizontally).”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Camping trailers and other recreational or temporary living quarters on private land inside Fulton town.

  • Camping is limited to temporary periods not exceeding three months per calendar year.
  • Approved sanitary facilities are required.
  • The units must be removed at the end of the three-month period, except legally registered recreational vehicles may be stored if a permanent dwelling exists on the lot.

  maximum camping period: <= 3 months per calendar year (Legally registered recreational vehicles may be stored if a permanent dwelling exists on the lot.)

  “Camping trailers, tents, or other recreational or temporary living quarters will be allowed for the purposes of camping for temporary periods, not to exceed three (3) months per calendar year, and must have access to approved sanitary facilities.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents, camping trailers, and other temporary living quarters inside Fulton town.

  • Camping is limited to no more than three months per calendar year.
  • Approved sanitary facilities are required.

  maximum camping period: <= 3 months per calendar year

  “Camping trailers, tents, or other recreational or temporary living quarters will be allowed for the purposes of camping for temporary periods, not to exceed three (3) months per calendar year, and must have access to approved sanitary facilities.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Fulton town.

  • Only one residence, dwelling unit, or manufactured home may be constructed per site.
  • Manufactured homes require an approved sewage-disposal system and must meet the site requirements in the ordinance.

  manufactured homes per site: <= 1 home

  “Only one (1) residence, dwelling unit or manufactured home shall be constructed per site.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal for dwellings and manufactured homes inside Fulton town; the Town ordinance identifies the Schoharie County Department of Health as the approving authority.

  • The Town Clerk forwards a sewage-disposal application to the Schoharie County Health Department when applicable.

  “No dwelling unit or manufactured home shall be erected in the Town of Fulton without a proper sewage disposal system approved by the Schoharie County Department of Health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New dwellings and manufactured homes inside Fulton town using sewage disposal systems.

  • The sewage-disposal system must be approved by the Schoharie County Department of Health before erection of a dwelling unit or manufactured home.

  “The County Health Department will notify the Inspector that the applicant has permission to construct a sewage disposal system by furnishing him with a copy of said plan.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Sewage disposal systems constructed inside Fulton town.

  • The applicant must notify the Schoharie County Department of Health before the system is covered.
  • The Health Department issues a Certificate of Approval only if the system conforms to its design for that property.

  “Before the sewage disposal system is covered, the applicant shall notify the Schoharie County Department of Health who will return to inspect the system and issue a Certificate of Approval if the system is in accordance with their design for the applicant’s property.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings and manufactured homes inside Fulton town using an on-site sanitation system.

  • A proper sewage disposal system approved by the Schoharie County Department of Health is required before a dwelling unit or manufactured home is erected.

  “No dwelling unit or manufactured home shall be erected in the Town of Fulton without a proper sewage disposal system approved by the Schoharie County Department of Health.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Land used for dwelling units or manufactured homes inside Fulton town.

  • The entrance must be adequate and well drained.
  • The entrance must comply with regulations of the applicable highway department having jurisdiction.

  “All lands used for dwelling units or manufactured homes shall have an adequate, well drained entrance in accordance with regulations of the applicable highway department of jurisdiction.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits and listed related permits inside Fulton town.

  • Fees use local construction factors of $65 per square foot for new work, $30 per square foot for renovations, and $20 for decks.
  • The annual renewal fee is $75 starting July 2024.
  • Projects exceeding $1,000,000 are to be negotiated by the Town Board.

  annual renewal fee: 75 USD (Starting July 2024.)

  “Annual Renewal Fee - $75 (starting July 2024) Certificate of Compliance - $75 Certificate of Occupancy search - $75”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications inside Fulton town.

  • Applications are obtained from the Town Clerk and, where applicable, include a Schoharie County Department of Health application.
  • Applications must be in writing and include the information specified by the ordinance.
  • The Town Clerk forwards applicable sewage-disposal applications to the County Health Department.

  “Application for the following permits shall be obtained from the Town Clerk for a fee as provided for on the application: 1. Application for Town Building Permit. 2. Schoharie County Department of Health application where applicable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Fulton town.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Fulton town.
• Local zoning — Land inside Fulton town, Schoharie County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Fulton town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Fulton 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.