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

Town of Norfolk’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and work subject to Norfolk's Uniform Construction Codes chapter inside the Town of Norfolk.

  • The code defines the Uniform Code as the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, as currently effective and later amended.

  “This chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (the Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (the Energy Code) in this Town.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any work subject to a building permit and changes of use or occupancy classification inside Norfolk.

  • Occupancy or use following a building permit is authorized only by certificate of occupancy/compliance.
  • The Code Enforcement Officer or authorized inspector must inspect before issuance.
  • Where applicable, structural-observation/special-inspection reports and flood-hazard certifications are required before issuance.

  “Permission to use or occupy a building or structure, or portion thereof, for which a building permit was previously issued shall be granted only by issuance of a certificate of occupancy/certificate of compliance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

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

  • Town Code Chapter 150 Part 2 is the Town of Norfolk Zoning Ordinance.

  “This Part 2 shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Norfolk Zoning Ordinance."”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Norfolk zoning districts, including R-H Residential-Hamlet and R-A Residential-Agricultural districts.

  • Attachment I supplies district height figures.
  • Certain non-occupancy features are excepted from height limitations, but only to the height necessary to serve their purpose.

  “No building or structure shall have a greater number of stories, nor have an aggregate height greater than is permitted in the district in which such building or structure is located.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on individual lots inside Norfolk.

  • Class A homes are allowed on individual sites in all districts only subject to listed single-family, water, sewage, zoning-area, foundation, skirting, landscaping, and maintenance standards.
  • Class B homes on individual sites are limited to R-A, P-D, and MHC districts, subject to listed standards.
  • Accessory Class B units in R-A require a special permit and a farm of at least 25 acres; R-H and R-A accessory units for aged or infirm family members have special-permit and other listed conditions.

  minimum farm area for R-A accessory Class B unit: >= 25 acres (For family members or hired help on farms; only one unit per principal farm residence.)

  “Class B mobile/manufactured homes that meet the definition in Part 3 of this chapter may be located on individual sites in the R-A, P-D and MHC Districts, if they meet all of the following standards:”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Lots in a proposed subdivision inside Norfolk.

  • If the Planning Board finds that a subdivision can reasonably be served by a public or community sewer, the developer must provide sewers and laterals for each lot.
  • If it finds a subdivision can reasonably be served by a public or community water system, the subdivider must connect each lot at the property line.
  • Where public/community systems are not feasible, individual systems require Planning Board-specific approval and compliance with state and local requirements.

  “If, in the opinion of the Planning Board, a subdivision can be reasonably served by the extension of a public or community water supply system, the subdivider shall connect each lot at the property line with the public or community supply system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Norfolk; the code defines subdivision as division into four or more lots, plots, sites, or other divisions for ownership transfer or building development.

  • Written application and preliminary and final plats go to the Planning Board.
  • No defined subdivision may be developed, offered for sale, or recorded until its final plat is approved, signed, and filed.
  • In subdivisions reasonably served by public/community sewer or water, the requirements in §§ 150-19 and 150-20 apply.

  subdivision threshold: >= 4 lots (Division for ownership transfer or building development; includes resubdivision as defined.)

  “SUBDIVISION - The division of any parcel of land into four or more lots, plots, sites or”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits, certificates, inspections, and other Chapter 95 actions inside Norfolk.

  • The Town Board establishes and may amend the fee schedule by resolution.
  • The applicable fee must be paid with a building-permit, amended-permit, or renewal application; specific fee amounts were not published in the opened materials.

  “A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Town Board of this Town. Such fee schedule may thereafter be amended from time to time by like resolution.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Norfolk.

  • Application must be in writing on a form provided by or acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer and signed by the owner or authorized agent.
  • Required information includes proposed work, tax-map number, street address, occupancy classification, applicable special-inspection statement, and at least two document sets.
  • Construction documents must include a site plan where applicable; work cannot begin until permit issuance.

  construction document sets: >= 2 sets (Required with a building-permit application.)

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made, in writing, on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer. The application shall be signed by the owner of the property where the work is to be performed or an authorized agent of the owner.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Norfolk.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Norfolk.
• Living in an RV — Residential or long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Norfolk.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Norfolk.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Norfolk.

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.