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

Town of Dix’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structural, electrical, or mechanical work; additions; manufactured-home installations; renovations; residential or commercial construction; and detached storage buildings over 120 square feet in Dix.

  • No work may start before a permit is issued.
  • Detached storage buildings are covered when over 120 square feet.

  detached storage building threshold: > 120 square feet

  “Building Permits are required for: Any structural, electrical or mechanical work to existing buildings, additions to existing buildings, installations of manufactured homes, renovations, any residential/commercial construction and any detached storage building over 120 square feet.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Dix.

  • Applicants and owners must arrange required inspections; the Town requires 24 hours' advance notice.
  • Electrical work must be inspected by the same national certified third-party electrical inspector at rough and final stages.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “Applicants/Owners are responsible for arranging required inspections. [...] Applicants must call the Code Enforcement Officer to arrange for required inspections. Advance notice of 24 hours is necessary.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings in Dix before occupation or use.

  • Fire/house numbers are required before the certificate is issued.

  “NO BUILDING MAY BE OCCUPIED OR USED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OR COMPLIANCE.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Dix, Schuyler County, New York.

  • The county planning page identifies a Town of Dix Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map.

  “Planning/Zoning Information [...] Zoning Ordinance: [...] Zoning Map: [...] Site Plan Review: Included within Zoning Ordinance. [...] Subdivision Law: Included within Zoning Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land in Dix subject to the Town zoning map and ordinance.

  • The zoning map is designated the Official Map and is on file with the Code Enforcement Officer.

  districts: LDR; MDR; MU; BP; SE

  “The Town of Dix is hereby divided up into the following types of districts [...] LDR Low Density Rural MDR Medium Density Residential MU Mixed Use BP Business Park SE Special Entertainment”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campground use and temporary sleeping use in Dix.

  • Campgrounds require a special use permit in Low Density Rural, Mixed Use, and Special Entertainment districts.
  • The zoning code separately limits living or sleeping use of tents and trailers.

  “‘SUP’ A use labeled with “SUP” requires a Special Use Permit in order to be allowed. It will require a submission of a Site Plan and review by the Planning Board. [...] Campground SUP SUP SUP”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes and mobile-home parks in Dix.

  • Installation requires a building permit.
  • Mobile-home parks require a special use permit in Low Density Rural, Medium Density Residential, and Mixed Use districts.
  • The Town's instructions require a certified installer and listed home information.

  “Building Permits are required for: [...] installations of manufactured homes [...] MANUFACTURED HOMES – REQUIRES CERTIFIED INSTALLER - year, make and/or model, HUD number, and dimensions must be provided.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in Low Density Rural, Medium Density Residential, and Mixed Use districts in Dix.

  • A special use permit, site-plan submission, and Planning Board review are required.
  • The lot owner must live in the principal or accessory dwelling.
  • The accessory dwelling may be in the principal or an accessory building and cannot exceed 40% of the principal dwelling's area.

  maximum accessory dwelling area: <= 40 percent of principal dwelling area

  “The owner(s) of the lot upon which the accessory dwelling unit is located shall reside within the principal or accessory dwelling unit. [...] The area for an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 40% of the area of the principal dwelling unit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Dix.

  • The county's Dix planning page states that the subdivision law is included in the zoning ordinance.

  “By the authority of the resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Dix, the Planning Board of the Town of Dix is authorized and empowered to approve plats showing lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, to approve the development of entirely or partially undeveloped plats already filed in the office of the Clerk of the County and to approve preliminary plats within the Town of Dix.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction of buildings in Dix, except qualifying detached accessory buildings.

  • The structure must have access from an improved street, an official-map street, an approved subdivision, or a duly filed plat.
  • Detached accessory buildings permitted under Article VII-2.A are excepted.

  “No permit for the construction of any building, except a detached accessory building permitted under Article VII-2.A, shall be approved, unless such structure has access from an improved street or a street on an official map, plan, approved subdivision or duly filed plat in accordance with Subdivision of Land, Article XIII.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Dix building permits.

  • Projects over the listed value bands have additional per-$1,000 charges; amounts in excess of $5,000,001 are negotiated.

  base fee for projects from $0 to $10,000: 100 USD · additional fee over $10,000: per 3 USD per $1,000 (for the $10,001 to $25,000 band)

  “$0 to $10,000 .............................................................$100.00 $10,00l to $25,000 ....................................................$100.00 plus $3.00 per 1,000 over $10,000”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants in Dix.

  • The application must be completed and signed, fee paid, and applicable plans supplied.
  • The permit issues after approval of applications and plans.

  “THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE REQUIRED WHEN FILING FOR A PERMIT: 1. The APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION/INSPECTION form: completed and signed 2. FEE for permit: Cash, Check, Money Order and Major Credits payable to TOWN OF DIX”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Dix

Town of Dix 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)

  Septic-system permitting for new construction, certain alterations, or installations inside Dix.

  • The Town directs applicants to Schuyler County Watershed.

  “SEPTIC SYSTEM PERMIT is required for new construction, certain alterations or installations. Contact Schuyler County Watershed at phone 607-535-6868; FAX 607-535-6867.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction, certain alterations, or septic installations in Dix.

  • The Town directs applicants to Schuyler County Watershed.

  “SEPTIC SYSTEM PERMIT is required for new construction, certain alterations or installations.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Dix.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Dix.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings in Dix.
• Septic inspection — On-site septic systems in Dix.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation for dwellings in Dix.

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.