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

Town of Fowler’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Special-permit conditions in Fowler town.

  • Inspection is annual for conditions included with a special permit.

  inspection frequency: per 1 year (Conditions included with a Special Permit)

  “Any conditions included with a Special Permit are subject to inspection annually by the Code Enforcement Officer,”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the Town of Fowler, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • The land-use law applies to construction, installation, alteration, and land or structures used, occupied, or maintained as provided in the law.

  “For the purpose of this Local Law, the Town of Fowler is divided into the following districts; R-A Residential-Agricultural District S Shoreline District”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Fowler town development districts.

  • District locations and boundaries are established in the Development District Map, as amended.

  “For the purpose of this Local Law, the Town of Fowler is divided into the following districts; R-A Residential-Agricultural District S Shoreline District”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Multiple-family dwelling developments in Fowler town.

  • All health and State Building Code requirements must be met.

  maximum building lot coverage: <= 30 percent (Multiple-family dwelling developments)

  “The building lot coverage of multiple-family dwelling developments shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total lot area.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles in Fowler town campgrounds.

  • Campgrounds are for temporary habitation and travel, vacation, and recreational purposes.
  • Removing wheels or placing a unit on a foundation in a campground is prohibited.

  “Campgrounds shall be occupied only by travel trailers, pick-up camper, motor homes, camping trailers, recreational vehicles and tents suitable for temporary habitation and used for travel, vacation and recreational purposes. The removal of wheels or placement of a unit on a foundation in a camping ground is prohibited.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Farm operations in agricultural districts adopted by Fowler town and certified by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

  • The farm operation must meet the definition in Article Twenty-Five-AA of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.

  “Notwithstanding any other provision of this Local Law, "farm operations" as defined in Article Twenty-Flve-AA of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, shall be a permitted principal use in all areas located within an agricultural district adopted by the Town of Fowler and certified by the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to said Article Twenty-Five-AA, regardless of what development district such areas are located within.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats in Fowler town.

  • The Planning Board may approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove plats.

  “Review subdivision plats and approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove them,”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and other vehicular access points onto public roads in Fowler town.

  • Access must be located to prevent hazards such as blind driveways.

  “Driveways or other points of vehicular access onto public roads shali be located in such a manner so as to prevent hazards, such as blind driveways.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Structures in areas possibly subject to seasonal flooding in Fowler town.

  • Such structures must comply with FEMA elevation guidelines.

  “No structure shall be located in an area possibly subject to seasonal flooding, except as it complies with FEMA elevation guidelines.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Bed-and-breakfast operations in Fowler town.

  • The Planning Board may permit the use upon application and public hearing.
  • Food service is limited to breakfast included with accommodation.
  • The special-permit requirement applies regardless of service or marketing method.

  “The Town Planning Board may upon application and a Public Hearing thereon, permit a Bed and Breakfast to operate in any zone subject to the provisions of this definition and subject to the applicant's ability to provide reasonable evidence that all of the following conditions will be met.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Land-use permits in Fowler town.

  • Fees are established from time to time by Town Board resolution.

  “Permit fees shall be paid according to the fee schedule as may, from time to time, be established by resolution of the Town Board.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Special-permit applications in Fowler town.

  • The application must meet Article VII site-plan-review requirements.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer refers a complete application to the Planning Board within ten days.

  CEO referral deadline: <= 10 days (After receiving complete special-permit application)

  “The Code Enforcement Officer shall refer the submitted special permit application to the Town Planning Board within ten (10) days after receiving the complete application,”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Fowler

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential-Agricultural (R-A) District in Fowler town.

  • Existing lots of record are addressed by the nonconforming-lots provisions.

  minimum lot size: 1 acre (R-A District)

  “Height: forty-five (45) feet, except for agricultural buildings. iv. Minimum lot size: one (1) acre.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Shoreline District in Fowler town.

    “iv. Minimum lot size: one-half (1/2) acre.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential-Agricultural (R-A) District in Fowler town.

  front setback: 50 feet (Measured from center of road) · side setback: 15 feet · rear setback: 15 feet

  “i. Setbacks. (a) Front; Fifty (50) feet from the center of the road. (b) Side: Fift:een (15) feet. (c) Rear; Fifteen (15) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential-Agricultural (R-A) District in Fowler town.

  • Agricultural buildings are excepted.

  maximum height: <= 45 feet (Agricultural buildings)

  “iii. Height: forty-five (45) feet, except for agricultural buildings.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Manufactured homes in the R-A Residential-Agricultural District and Shoreline District of Fowler town.

  • Uses not listed as permitted are prohibited in each district.

  “Primary uses allowed with no Site Plan Review or Special Permit.: Single family dwelling units including manufactured homes.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences in Fowler town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential construction in Fowler town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Fowler town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes in Fowler town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Fowler 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.