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

Town of Piercefield’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in Piercefield town for which the Uniform, Fire Prevention, Building, or Energy Codes require a permit.

  • The town directs applicants to contact the Code Enforcement Official to determine whether a particular project requires a permit.
  • Approved permits expire 12 months after issuance unless renewed; work must commence within six months.

  “Building Permits are required in the Town of Piercefield.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Public and private buildings in Piercefield town.

  • The ordinance is administrative and accepts applicability of the State Building construction code.

  “accepting the applicability of the State Building construction code”

• Living in an RVLimited

  House trailers and other vehicles capable of use as living quarters in Piercefield town.

  • A town permit is required except for state-approved campgrounds and state-owned land.
  • Temporary parking during construction of the owner's dwelling is limited to six months or occupancy completion, whichever is shorter, with one additional extension of no more than six months.

  “House Trailer. The term “House Trailer” as used in this Ordinance shall be defined as any vehicle or combination thereof, used, designated for use, or capable of being used as living quarters, whether propelled by its own power otherwise.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents, camping trailers, camping vans, truck campers, and other temporary or permanent camping facilities in Piercefield town.

  • A permit is required except for state-approved campgrounds and state-owned land.

  “The term “camping facilities” as used in this Ordinance shall be defined as any tent, camping trailer, camping van, truck camper, and any other equipment capable of being used as living quarters for temporary or permanent camping.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Water and sewage disposal for house trailers and camping facilities in Piercefield town.

  • The Town building inspector approves system type, style, and size.
  • County and/or state health-department approval is additionally required when applicable.

  “The application shall indicate the proposed water supply and sewer disposal systems and the types thereof. Such water and sewage disposal systems shall be of such type, style and size as shall be approved by the building inspector of said town and shall also, if required, be approved by the appropriate county and/or state health departments.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  House trailers and camping facilities in Piercefield town where no sewer connection is available.

  • The private system must provide sanitary disposal, create neither a nuisance nor a menace to health, and include a proper septic tank or cesspool with proper drainage.

  “Where such connections are not available, disposal shall be into a private system which includes a sanitary means of disposal, the operation of which creates neither a nuisance nor a menace to health. a proper septic tank or cesspool with proper drainage shall be provided by the owner or occupant for each house trailer or camping facility.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  House trailers and camping facilities in Piercefield town.

  • Sewer connection is required whenever a sewer system is available.
  • Water connection to a water-district system is required where available; otherwise an independent driven well is required, tested, and approved by the St. Lawrence County Health Department.

  “whenever and wherever the same is available”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New subdivisions in Piercefield town and certain previously filed plats.

  • Previously filed plats are subject to review where entirely undeveloped or where 20% or more of lots are unimproved, unless existing conditions such as drainage prevented development.
  • Planning Board may approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove.

  unimproved lots threshold: >= 20 percent (unless existing conditions, such as drainage, have prevented development)

  “All new subdivisions created within the Town”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town of Piercefield building permits.

  • The published fee schedule is labeled effective January 1, 2023.
  • The permit process states that fees must be paid at application submission for building permits, amended permits, and renewals.

  fee schedule effective date: 2023-01-01

  “TOWN OF PIERCEFIELD BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants in Piercefield town.

  • Applications require enough information to determine code compliance.
  • The application packet states that a completed septic-permit application, site plan, location dimensions, specifications, construction documents where required, and insurance certificates are to be submitted.
  • Fees are due at submission.

  commence-work deadline: <= 6 months after issuance (otherwise permit becomes invalid) · permit expiration: 12 months after issuance (may be renewed upon application, fee payment, and Code Enforcement Officer approval)

  “Building Permits shall expire 12 months after the date of issuance.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Piercefield

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

• Driveway accessLimited

  New driveway access inside Piercefield town only where work is within a New York State highway right-of-way.

  • Applicants must contact the New York State Department of Transportation.
  • This finding does not establish requirements for driveways not affecting a state-highway right-of-way.

  “DOT Permits are required for: -Work in State Highway “Right of Way” (ROWs) including new driveway access, Underground and overhead utilities -Other Activities You must contact the DOT”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Piercefield town.
• Local zoning — Land inside Piercefield town, St. Lawrence County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Piercefield town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Piercefield town.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Piercefield 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.