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

Town of Morristown’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Certificates of occupancy and temporary certificates of occupancy issued inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • An architect or engineer may submit an inspection report, but the code officer issues the final certificate.

  “code officer issues all certificates of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

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

  • The Town's Zoning Board of Appeals issues zoning interpretations and variances.

  “Morristown has a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) that issues interpretations and variances that over-ride the code officer on Zoning issues.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage treatment systems inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • The Town's permit packet identifies Article IX of the St. Lawrence County Sanitary Code and Appendix 75-A of the New York State Sanitary Code as governing requirements.

  “This packet contains all the information needed to obtain a construction permit and certificate of approval from the Town of Morristown as required by Article IX, of the St. Lawrence County Sanitary Code and Individual Residence Wastewater Treatment Systems Design Handbook 1996 NYS Department of Health, Appendix 75-A of the New York State Sanitary Code.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an individual sewage treatment system inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • Before construction, submit the construction-permit application and Soil & Site Data Sheets; data sheets are unnecessary for lots in an approved subdivision because the Town uses the approved subdivision plan.
  • Installation may proceed only with an approved construction permit in possession.
  • The system must be installed as specified by the permit; field changes require Town approval and a revised permit.

  new or replacement system fee: 50 USD

  “Before any construction, complete and submit the Construction Permit Application form along with the Soil & Site Data Sheets to the Town of Morristown. For lots in an approved subdivision, the Soil & Site Data Sheets are not necessary as the soil and site information is taken from the approved subdivision plan on file at the Town of Morristown. (6) Only with an approved Construction Permit in your possession may you proceed with the installation of the sewage treatment system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Completed individual sewage treatment systems inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • Notify the Town at least 24 hours before final inspection and before the system is covered.
  • The inspection compares the installed system with the approved construction permit.
  • A certificate of acceptance issues if the final inspection is satisfactory.

  “When the sewage treatment system has been completed, byt not covered, notify the Town of Morristown at least 24 hours in advance that you are ready for final inspection. An inspector will visit the site sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to check the installed system against the Town of Morristown’s copy of the approved Construction Permit.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Farm buildings inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • The building must be used for livestock, feed, tack, milking, or farm implements.
  • A barn-style building used as a garage for a boat, RV, personal vehicle, or similar non-farm use is not exempt.

  “If the building is used for livestock, feed, tack, milking, and farm impliments, no permit is required. A barn style building is not exempt if it is used as a garage to house a boat, RV, personal vehicle, etc. That building would be classified as a garage.”

• Permit processPartial

  Individual sewage treatment-system permitting inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

  • For new systems outside an approved subdivision, a professional soil evaluator conducts soil tests.
  • For replacement systems, soil tests may be performed by an approved-list soil evaluator, contractor, or homeowner.
  • The submitted construction-permit application must include Soil & Site Data Sheets unless the lot is in an approved subdivision.

  “If your lot is not in a Realty Subdivision, you will need a Professional Soil Evaluator to conduct the soil tests on your site. Make arrangements for the Soil Evaluator to come to your site and perform the tests. Inform the Soil Evaluator of the location of the proposed system and have him/her indicate on the Plot Plan exactly where the tests were performed.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwelling construction inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.
• Inspections — General building construction inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside the Town of Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York.

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.