Bolthole Index

St. Lawrence County, New York

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

Town of Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York. Town of Massena adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Massena’s rules apply, not the county’s. 19 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 8, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the St. Lawrence County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Massena

Town of Massena’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, demolition, conversion, or occupancy change of a building or structure inside the Town of Massena.

    • Ordinary repairs that are not structural in nature do not require a building permit.
    • A separate permit is required for each building or structure.
    • The application must be made on the Building Inspector's forms and must provide the information necessary to determine proposed work, responsible persons, and compliance.
    • The Building Inspector may waive filing plans.
    “No person, firm or corporation shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, demolition, conversion or change in the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate building permit from the Building Inspector for each such building or structure; except that no building permit shall be required for the performance of ordinary repairs which are not structural in nature.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction regulated inside the Town of Massena.

    • The ordinance states administration and enforcement began on January 1, 1984, pursuant to Article 18 of the New York Executive Law.
    “The Town of Massena shall administer and enforce the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code on and after January 1, 1984, pursuant to Article 18 of the Executive Law of the State of New York.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Premises for which building applications have been received or permits issued inside the Town of Massena.

    • The Building Inspector may accept certified written inspection reports from deputies, employees, or recognized inspection bureaus.
    • Inspections are those necessary or proper to carry out the Inspector's duties.
    “He shall make all inspections which are necessary or proper for the carrying out of his duties, except that he may accept written reports of inspection from Deputy Building Inspectors or other employees or from generally recognized and authoritative service and inspection bureaus, provided that the same are certified by a responsible official thereof.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

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

    • The code history states it was adopted by the Town Board on 2009-05-20; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Massena 5-20-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside the Town of Massena.

    • The linked schedule is amended by Local Law No. 2-2012.

    districts published in schedule: R-1; R-A; N-C; H-C; I (The Town code table of contents also identifies a Waterfront Revitalization Overlay District article.)

    “Article III R-1 One-Family Residence District [...] Article IV R-A Residential-Agricultural District [...] Article V N-C Neighborhood Commercial District [...] Article VI H-C Highway Commercial District [...] Article VII I General Industrial District [...] Article VIII WRD Waterfront Revitalization Overlay District”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision applications for properties located in the Town of Massena.

    • Applications for subdivisions and appropriate site-plan requests must be filed with the Town Building Department at least one week before the next scheduled Planning Board meeting.

    application filing lead time: >= 1 week (Before the next scheduled Planning Board meeting.)

    “The Planning Board for the Town of Massena is responsible for the administration of the Planning Code and Subdivision Regulations for the properties located in the Town of Massena. Applications for subdivisions, and other appropriate site plan requests are filed with the Town Building Department at least 1 week prior to the next scheduled meeting date.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits and related construction inspections inside the Town of Massena.

    • Requested inspections outside normal business hours cost $15 per hour with a two-hour minimum in addition to the permit fee.
    • Plan review where no permit is requested costs 50% of permit cost.
    • A denied permit application receives a 50% refund only if no work commenced.
    • Renewal costs $10 or 10% of the original permit fee, whichever is larger.

    after-hours requested inspection: 15 USD per hour (Two-hour minimum; in addition to permit fee.) · certificate of occupancy, one- and two-family dwelling without effective permit: 25 USD (No charge if building permit is in effect.)

    “Requested inspections outside of normal business hours: $15 per hour; minimum charge, two hours in addition to the permit fee. Plan review: 50% of the permit cost (where no permit is requested).”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside the Town of Massena.

    • Applications are made on Building Inspector forms.
    • An applicant other than the owner must provide an owner authorization affidavit.
    • Applications require duplicate plans and specifications including a scaled plot plan, with further technical details where required by the Building Inspector.
    • The Building Inspector may waive plan filing.
    • A permit is effective for six months; for good cause, up to two extensions of up to three months each may be allowed.

    initial permit duration: 6 months (Maximum two good-cause extensions, each not exceeding three months.)

    “Application for a building permit shall be made to the Building Inspector on forms provided by him and shall contain all information necessary to determine the work proposed to be done, the persons responsible and whether same will comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Massena

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the Town of Massena R-1 One-Family Residence District.

    • The schedule applies the 850-square-foot living-space minimum in each service configuration: on-site sewage and water, central water only, central sewage only, and central sewage and water.

    minimum living space: >= 850 square feet

    “Living space: [...] 850 sf [...] 850 sf [...] 850 sf [...] 850 sf”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family dwellings in the Town of Massena R-1 One-Family Residence District.

    • The required minimum varies by the schedule's service configuration: A is on-site sewage and water; B is central water only; C is central sewage only; D is central sewage and water.

    minimum lot area: 20,000-30,000 square feet (Varies by water and sewage service configuration.)

    “Lot area: [...] 30,000 sf [...] 23,000 sf [...] 23,000 sf [...] 20,000 sf [...] A = On-site sewage and water B = Central water only C = Central sewage only D = Central sewage and water”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family dwellings in the Town of Massena R-1 One-Family Residence District.

    • Rear-yard setback is 30 feet for on-site sewage and water, and 25 feet for central-water-only, central-sewage-only, or both-central service configurations.

    front yard: >= 83 feet · side yard: >= 20 feet · rear yard: 25-30 feet (Varies by water and sewage service configuration.)

    “Front yard: Side yard: Rear yard: [...] 83 ft 20 ft 30 ft [...] 83 ft 20 ft 25 ft [...] 83 ft 20 ft 25 ft [...] 83 ft 20 ft 25 ft”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the Town of Massena R-1 One-Family Residence District.

    • The schedule applies the maximum under each service configuration.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent

    “Maximums: Lot coverage: Building height: 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    One-family dwellings in the Town of Massena R-1 One-Family Residence District.

    • The schedule applies the maximum under each service configuration.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Maximums: Lot coverage: Building height: 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft 25% 35 ft”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes and manufactured-home parks in the Town of Massena R-A Residential-Agricultural District.

    • The schedule places manufactured homes and manufactured-home parks under uses requiring site-plan review/specific standards.
    “Uses Requiring Site Plan Review/Specific Standards [...] 2. Manufactured homes and manufactured home parks”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside the Town of Massena.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside the Town of Massena.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside the Town of Massena.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the Town of Massena.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside the Town of Massena.
11 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Town of Massena 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 Town of Massena means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

← All of St. Lawrence County: county rules, score and offices