Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Heuvelton, New York
Village of Heuvelton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York. Village of Heuvelton adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Village of Heuvelton’s rules apply, not the county’s. 12 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 11, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the St. Lawrence County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Village of Heuvelton
Village of Heuvelton’s own rules
Building permitRequired
Buildings and structures in any district inside Heuvelton village
Issued by the code enforcement officer.
Ordinary maintenance that does not infringe height or setback limits does not need approval.
Permit expires 12 months after issuance unless there has been substantial progress.
Conditional uses also need a special permit and site plan review.
permit expiration: 12 months (unless substantial progress in the work)
“no building or structure in any district shall be started or extended without a building permit issued by the code enforcement officer.”
InspectionsLimited
Inspection tied to certificate of occupancy inside Heuvelton village
Only the certificate-of-occupancy inspection by the code enforcement officer was found; no general inspection schedule located.
“upon application and with an approved inspection by the code enforcement officer such property owner shall be entitled to a”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Buildings and lots inside Heuvelton village
Code enforcement officer acts on an application within five working days.
Planning board may authorize a temporary certificate of occupancy, possibly with a bond or letter of credit.
CEO response time: <= 5 working days
“no building shall be occupied, and no lot used, until said certificate of occupancy has been issued.”
Local zoningPresent
Land inside Heuvelton village, St. Lawrence County, NY
Adopted under Village Law article 7; copy hosted by St. Lawrence County Planning Office; the copy is labeled revised 1994 with a 1998 amendment, and later amendments were not located.
“all land use within the village of heuvelton shall fall within one of the established land use control districts as shown on a zoning map.”
The zoning map is available for inspection at the village office.
“for the purpose specified in these laws, the village of heuvelton is divided into the following land use control districts: residence (rd)”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Residence (RD) district inside Heuvelton village
Commercial C-1: residential use 10,000 sq. ft.; other uses 5,000 sq. ft.
Industrial: 10,000 sq. ft.
C-2 permitted uses are exempt from lot area minimums.
minimum lot area: >= 10000 sq ft per dwelling unit · minimum lot width: >= 100 ft
“c. minimum lot area: residential uses -- 10,000 sq. ft. for each dwelling unit all other uses -- 10,000 sq. ft. d. minimum lot width: residential uses -- 100 ft. all other uses -- 100 ft.”
SetbacksSpecified
Principal buildings in the Residence (RD) district inside Heuvelton village
Front setback for residential principal buildings shows 10 ft under a 1998 amendment; accessory structures: front 30 ft, side 10 ft, rear 10 ft.
Other districts have different setbacks.
front: >= 10 ft (1998 amendment text) · side: one side 15 ft, total 25 ft · rear: >= 20 ft
“e. minimum setbacks: residential uses: principal building amendment (1998) front -- 10 ft. side -- one side must be 15 ft. total -- 25 ft. rear -- 20 ft.”
Building heightSpecified
Residence (RD) district inside Heuvelton village
Exempt: church spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, skylights, mechanical equipment, water tanks, monuments, flagpoles, utility lines (as determined by planning board).
C-1 other uses: 4 stories or 40 ft; Industrial: 40 ft.
maximum height: 3 stories or 35 ft
“rear -- 20 ft. height -- 3 stories or 35 ft. accessory structures:”
Manufactured homesLimited
Mobile homes on single private lots in the Residence (RD) district inside Heuvelton village
Listed as a permitted use requiring a building permit in residential districts.
Must be occupied as a single-family residence.
Must be attached to a permanent foundation or concrete pad with wheels and towing equipment removed.
Sloped roof, residential-style exterior covering, skirting to the ground, steps with railings.
No more than one mobile home per lot.
mobile homes per lot: <= 1 count
“c. occupancy. the mobile home shall be occupied as a single family residence. d. foundation. the mobile home shall be attached to a permanent foundation or concrete pad and the wheels and towing equipment will be removed.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development involving a structure or fill in the flood hazard area inside Heuvelton village
Planning board must be satisfied the structure or fill will not significantly retard floodwater flow and that the lowest habitable floor is above flood level or flood proofed.
Planning board may require flood-proofing measures.
“all development occurring within a flood hazard area as delineated on the zoning map, and involving a structure or the placement of fill material shall be permitted only by approval of the planning board.”
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
Building and special permits inside Heuvelton village
Amounts are set by the village board of trustees; the fee schedule is available at the village office for review and may be amended; no dollar amounts located online.
“every application for a building permit/special permit shall be accompanied by a fee as noted on a fee schedule as established by the village board of trustees.”
Permit processPartial
Special permits for conditional uses inside Heuvelton village
Planning board holds a public hearing within 60 days of a complete application and decides within 60 days after the hearing.
A building permit for a conditional use issues only after planning board approval of the special permit and site plan.
Application forms were not located.
public hearing deadline: <= 60 days (from completed application) · decision deadline: <= 60 days (after public hearing)
“c. decision of planning board. the planning board shall render its decision within 60 days following the date of the public hearing.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Heuvelton or St. Lawrence County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Heuvelton village
Building code adopted — Building code inside Heuvelton village
Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Heuvelton village
Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Heuvelton village
Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Heuvelton village
13 more unanswered
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Accessory dwellings
Who permits septic
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Subdividing land
Driveway access
Short-term rentals
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Heuvelton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Lawrence County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Village of Heuvelton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
