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

Town of Howard’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New buildings, moved, enlarged, or extended buildings and structures, new commercial land uses, and excavation inside Howard town when a Building Permit and/or Land Use Permit is required.

  • The permit required depends on the activity and applicable Building Code or Land Use Law provisions.
  • Commercial activities outside the Building Code may require a Town Land Use Permit.

  “No building or structure, including accessory buildings and signs, shall be erected, moved, enlarged or extended, nor shall any new commercial use of land be initiated or excavation of land be begun until a Building Permit and/or Land Use Permit as required has been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer and/or Land Use Officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code inside Howard town.

  • The cited land-use law also requires compliance with applicable Town, County, State, and Federal laws and regulations.

  “In addition to the requirements of this land use law, all requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as administered through the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer, and other Town, County, State and Federal laws and regulations must also be satisfied.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a Howard town Land Use Permit.

  • The inspection obligation is during the course of permit work and is to ensure compliance with the permit.
  • Most such activities also require a Building Permit under the State Building Code.

  “All work shall be consistent with the permit. During the course of the work, the Land Use Officer (LUO) shall inspect the site to ensure compliance with the Permit.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Establishing a driveway entrance to a State, County, or Town of Howard road inside Howard town.

  • The applicable regulating body is the New York State Department of Transportation, Steuben County Department of Public Works, or Town of Howard, whichever applies.

  “All driveway entrances shall comply with regulations of the New York State Department of Transportation or the Steuben County Department of Public Works or the Town of Howard, whichever applies. The applicant shall obtain a permit that is required in order to establish an entrance to a State, County or Town of Howard road.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Site Plan Only applications for uses subject to Howard town Planning Board review.

  • Applicant must submit the specified application materials.
  • A short-form EAF is required unless the Planning Board determines the action is Type I under SEQRA, in which case a long-form EAF is required.
  • The application fee and any required escrow deposit apply.

  “An applicant for a Site Plan Only approval shall submit: 5.1-1 A Site Plan application form 5.1-2 A site plan drawn to scale with accurate dimensions providing information sufficient to enable the Planning Board to make an informed decision, an agricultural data statement as defined in Chapter 10; and a vicinity map of appropriate scale showing adjacent lots and annotated with the names of adjacent lot owners.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Howard town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Structures and uses inside Howard town.
• Local zoning — Land inside the Town of Howard, Steuben County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Howard town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings inside Howard 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.