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

Town of Reading’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development, alteration, or construction of any building or structure within Reading town.

  • The proposed use or structure must follow all applicable federal, state, county, and local laws.

  “Prior to the development, alteration, or construction of any building(s) or structure(s) within the Town of Reading, a Building Permit must be obtained”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A structure or expansion of an existing structure in Reading town before occupancy or use.

  • The certificate certifies compliance with the Building Permit, Local Land Use Law, and applicable local, county, state, and federal laws and regulations.

  “No structure or expansion of an existing structure shall be occupied or used until the Building Inspector issues a Certificate of Occupancy.”

• Local zoningAbsent (with conditions)

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

  • The Town instead administers a Local Land Use Law, which is expressly not a zoning law.

  “Zoning Ordinance: The Town of Reading does not have a Zoning Ordinance.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable

  Agriculture and forestry uses in Reading town.

  • The exemption stated is from the Land Use Permit requirement.

  “Agriculture and forestry uses are exempt from the Land Use Permit requirement.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Access from and egress to public highways for site-plan projects in Reading town.

  • Approval is required from the Town, County, State, or Federal Highway Department to the extent it has jurisdiction over the access.

  “Access from and egress to public highways shall be approved by the appropriate Highway Department”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and land-use approvals inside Reading town.

  • Site-plan and special-permit applications require Planning Board approval before the Building Inspector or Land Use Officer may issue the related permit.

  “The Building Inspector and/or Land Use Officer may issue such permit(s) provided approval is granted by the Planning Board”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Reading

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Development within the Town of Reading.

  • Other applicable local, county, state, and federal requirements must also be satisfied.

  “the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as administered through the Town's Building Inspector”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Reading town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Reading town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings in Reading town.
• Living in an RV — Private-land RV occupancy in Reading town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Reading 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.