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

Town of Hornellsville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work covered by the Town of Hornellsville building-permit application.

  • The completed application and required attachments must be submitted to the Town Code Enforcement Officer.
  • exception: project-specific requirements may apply.

  “An approved Building Permit MUST BE obtained before work may be started.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner performing work on a Hornellsville permit project.

  • Owner doing work personally must sign a workers' compensation insurance waiver.
  • If owner hires anyone, a workers' compensation insurance policy must be in effect during the project.

  “If you, as owner, will be doing the work yourself, you must sign a waiver of Workers Compensation Insurance. If you, as owner, will hire ANYONE to work on the project— you must have a Workers Compensation Insurance policy in effect during the life of the project.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted Hornellsville projects having listed construction elements.

  • Applicant must notify the Code Enforcement Officer at least 48 hours in advance.
  • Applies to listed footers/foundation, structural elements, insulation, electrical, plumbing, septic, and HVAC work.
  • Concealed or enclosed work not inspected must be opened for inspection.

  advance inspection notice: >= 48 hours

  “If your project has any of the following elements, you MUST notify the Officer at least 48 hours in advance for: Footers/ Foundation; Structural Elements; Insulation; Electrical (will also need Board of Underwriters Inspection); Plumbing; Septic; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) System.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use of a building, in whole or in part, inside Hornellsville town.

  • Certificate must indicate compliance with the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
  • Owner must file a notarized Affidavit of Final Cost before a certificate can issue.

  “Use of the building is NOT permitted, either in whole or in part, until the Code Enforcement Officer has granted a Certificate of Occupancy, indicating compliance with the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Hornellsville, Steuben County, New York.

  • Use must conform to the regulations for the district in which it is located.

  “For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the Town of Hornellsville, the Town is hereby divided into the following types of Districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Hornellsville town subject to the zoning map.

  • District boundaries are shown on the adopted and Town-Clerk-certified zoning map.
  • Districts listed are AG, R-1A/R-1B, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1, and I-2.

  “Said districts are bounded as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Hornellsville", adopted and certified by the Town Clerk, which accompanies and which, with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby made a part of this Ordinance.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Hornellsville zoning districts.

  • No building may have smaller rear, front, or side yards than specified for its district.

  “No building shall hereafter be erected or altered to [...] have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards than is specified herein for the district in which such building is located.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Hornellsville zoning districts.

  • No building may occupy a greater percentage of lot area than is specified for its district.

  “No building shall hereafter be erected or altered to [...] occupy a greater percentage of lot area; or, [...] than is specified herein for the district in which such building is located.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in Hornellsville zoning districts.

  • No building may exceed the height specified for its district.

  “No building shall hereafter be erected or altered to [...] exceed the height; [...] than is specified herein for the district in which such building is located.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured/mobile homes inside Hornellsville town.

  • Single-family manufactured/mobile homes are permitted in the AG Agricultural District.
  • Manufactured/mobile homes are prohibited in R-1A and R-1B Single-Family Residence Districts.
  • Manufactured/mobile home parks require a special use permit in AG or R-3.

  “Single-family manufactured/mobile homes [...] 702.5 Prohibited Uses: Manufactured/Mobile homes.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or repaired septic systems submitted with a Hornellsville building-permit application.

  • New individual sewage systems require proof of system approval and plans.
  • New or repaired systems must be engineered by a design professional, including blueprints with the application.
  • New systems require a perc test.

  “Provide proof of approval of individual sewage disposal system and plans. MUST contact Engineer for a “Perc Test” if installing a new system. [...] Septic System must be engineered by a design professional, including blueprints with application for all new or any repair of a system!”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Permitted septic work inside Hornellsville town.

  • Applicant must notify the Code Enforcement Officer at least 48 hours before septic inspection.

  advance inspection notice: >= 48 hours

  “If your project has any of the following elements, you MUST notify the Officer at least 48 hours in advance for: Footers/ Foundation; Structural Elements; Insulation; Electrical (will also need Board of Underwriters Inspection); Plumbing; Septic; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) System.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions in the AG Agricultural District in Hornellsville town.

  • Non-farm dwellings are permitted only where no more than four new lots are created under minor-subdivision regulations.
  • Subdivisions exceeding four lots require a special use permit.

  new lots before special-use-permit threshold: > 4 lots (AG Agricultural District)

  “Non-farm dwellings so long as not more than four (4) new lots are created under the regulations of a minor subdivision [...] Subdivisions in excess of four (4) lots”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town Code Enforcement permits and applications.

  • Fees are based on local building construction factor at full market value.
  • State or federal fees or charges are excluded.
  • Site-plan-review fees are determined by the Board.

  septic-system fee: 60 USD · manufactured-home fee: 145-230 USD (single-wide to double-wide)

  “B. Manufactured Home $145.00 - Single-wide / $230.00 - Double-wide C. Septic System $60.00 D. Demolition of Existing Structure $50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Hornellsville town.

  • Completed application and required attachments are submitted to Town Code Enforcement.
  • Decision is withheld until all required documentation is obtained.
  • Permit expires one year after issue or is void if work has not begun within 90 days.
  • Changes to plans or specifications require Code Enforcement Officer approval before being made.

  permit expiration: 1 year (from date of issue) · work commencement deadline: <= 90 days (from issuance)

  “A permit expires one year from date of issue or is void if work is not begun within 90 days of issuance. Applications for extension shall be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer. ANY CHANGES to the plans or specifications filed with the permit application MUST BE Approved by the Code Enforcement Officer before changes may be made.”

Still unanswered

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

• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Hornellsville town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hornellsville town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Hornellsville town.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Hornellsville town.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Hornellsville 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.