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

Town of Clare’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside the Town of Clare, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • The county planning page identifies struck-through municipalities as not having adopted the specified regulations; Clare is struck through in its zoning-regulations table.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling-size controls under Clare zoning.

  • This records the absence of a Clare zoning regulation, not an exemption from the statewide Uniform Code or other applicable laws.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot-size controls under Clare zoning.

  • This records the absence of a Clare zoning regulation; septic, health, subdivision, or state requirements may still affect a parcel.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• SetbacksNone

  Setback controls under Clare zoning.

  • This records the absence of a Clare zoning regulation; other setback requirements may arise under non-zoning laws or permits.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot-coverage controls under Clare zoning.

  • This records the absence of a Clare zoning regulation; other building-code and environmental requirements may still apply.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• Building heightNone

  Building-height controls under Clare zoning.

  • This records the absence of a Clare zoning regulation; statewide building-code controls still apply.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage-system construction or modification inside Clare.

  • The St. Lawrence County sanitary code directs applicants to the Local Code Enforcement Office in the municipality where the property is located.

  “Individual sewage system construction or modification permits shall be obtained from the Local Code Enforcement Office in the municipality where the property is located.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Individual sewage-system construction or modification inside Clare.

  • The permit must be obtained from the Local Code Enforcement Office in the municipality where the property is located.

  “Individual sewage system construction or modification permits shall be obtained from the Local Code Enforcement Office in the municipality where the property is located.”

• Subdividing landNot regulated

  Subdivision regulation adopted by the Town of Clare.

  • The finding is limited to the absence of a Clare subdivision regulation listed by the county; other state or county review requirements may apply.

  “In tables that highlight local land use regulations, an italicized municipality indicates that the specified land use law can be found within the local zoning regulations. A struckthrough municipality has not adopted the specified regulations.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Clare

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

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Clare that must conform to the New York Uniform Code or Energy Code.

  • Certain exceptions are permitted under the minimum standards.
  • The responsible enforcement entity can change if the town opts out under Executive Law § 381.

  “Building permits must be required for any work which is required to conform to the Uniform Code. Certain exceptions are permitted.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside the Town of Clare; New York City is excluded by the statewide rule.

  • The Uniform Code is statewide except in New York City.
  • The local enforcement entity may be the town, county, or Department of State if an opt-out arrangement applies.

  “The Uniform Code is automatically in effect in each city, town, and village in the State (except New York City) by directive of the State Legislature.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction work inside Clare that has specified construction elements requiring inspection.

  • Inspections are required only for specified construction elements.
  • Permit holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspection and acceptance.

  “Inspections of certain specified elements of the construction process must be required. Building permits holders must keep work accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the municipality.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work inside Clare for which a building permit was required, and any building whose general occupancy classification changes.

  • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is required for all work for which a building permit was required.
  • A certificate is also required when the general occupancy classification changes.

  “A certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance must be required (1) for all work for which a building permit was required and (2) whenever the general occupancy classification of a building is changed.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sewage treatment systems and privies inside Clare under the St. Lawrence County Sanitary Code.

  • The county sanitary code prohibits construction or maintenance that exposes or discharges sewage as stated, unless required approval is issued under Environmental Conservation Law and the Department finds no adverse public-health effect.
  • Individual-system construction or modification requires a permit from the local code-enforcement office.

  “No person shall construct or maintain any privy, cesspool, sewage treatment system, pipe or drain so as to expose or discharge the sewage contents or other deleterious liquid or matter therefrom to the atmosphere or on the surface of the ground or into any storm sewer or drain or so as to endanger any water course or body of water unless a permit for such discharge shall have been issued therefore by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and such discharge shall be made in accordance with the requirements thereof.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A new driveway entrance inside Clare when the entrance is within a St. Lawrence County right-of-way.

  • The rule applies only within the St. Lawrence County right-of-way.
  • The stated application fee is non-refundable.

  driveway permit application fee: 50 USD (non-refundable)

  “St. Lawrence County requires all individuals/contractors who seek to install a new driveway entrance within the St. Lawrence County ROW to obtain a Driveway Permit. Please note there is a non-refundable $50.00 application fee associated with the permit application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Clare.
• Septic inspection — Individual sewage systems inside Clare.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Clare.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Clare where public water or sewer might be available.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land-use exemptions inside Clare.

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.