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

Town of Pulteney’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, moving, addition, enlargement, establishment or change of use, and listed solid-fuel work inside Pulteney town.

  • The Town regulation has enumerated exemptions, including certain detached accessory structures not exceeding 144 square feet and specified minor work.
  • A variance appeal order may affect issuance.

  “No building or structure shall be erected, moved, added to or enlarged nor shall any use of buildings or land be established or changed, nor shall a solid fuel burning heating appliance, chimney, or flue be installed in any dwelling unit, without a land use/building permit therefore issued by the Zoning Officer in compliance with these Regulations and the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work under a Pulteney land-use/building permit.

  • The permit holder must notify the Zoning Officer when an enumerated work element is ready for inspection.
  • Remote inspection may be used at the authorized official's discretion where it can provide an equivalent review.

  “Work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Zoning Officer or by an Inspector authorized by the Zoning Officer. The Permit Holder shall notify the Zoning Officer when any element of work in Subdivision (B) of this section is ready for inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building, structure, or portion in Pulteney for which a building permit was issued.

  • A Certificate of Compliance may be issued instead where applicable.
  • The structure or work is inspected before issuance; a certificate depends on compliance with applicable Uniform and Energy Code provisions.

  “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 or Certificate of Compliance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside the Town of Pulteney, including to Keuka Lake's low-water mark where stated.

  • Other laws may apply further lakeward than the low-water mark.

  “This local law shall be known and cited as the "Town of Pulteney Land Use and Zoning Regulations" [...] It shall apply to all land within the Town of Pulteney to the low water mark of Keuka Lake, or further lakeward as other laws may apply.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Pulteney town.

  • The Town's zoning regulations define Districts 1 through 4 and establish district-specific dimensional requirements.

  “For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety and welfare, and otherwise carry out the objectives of these Regulations, the Town of Pulteney is hereby divided into the following land use districts:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupied recreational vehicles or trailers on private lots inside Pulteney town.

  • Outside §515(A) recreational developments, occupied RVs/trailers are barred in Districts 1, 2, and 4.
  • District 3 allows no more than two occupied RVs/trailers, with up to four RVs/trailers not exceeding 30 days.
  • An occupied RV/trailer may not be permanently connected to water or sewer; solid waste and sewage must be disposed of sanitarily under Town and State regulations.

  “Outside of recreational developments regulated by Section 515(A), no occupied recreational vehicle/trailer may be on any lot in Districts 1, 2 & 4.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  A tiny house constructed on a mobile platform inside Pulteney town.

  • The Town expressly directs that a tiny house on a mobile platform be treated under its recreational-vehicle rules.
  • Occupied RVs/trailers are not allowed on ordinary lots in Districts 1, 2, and 4 outside §515(A) recreational developments.

  ““TINY” HOUSE: If constructed on a Mobile Platform, refer to “RECREATIONAL VEHICLES"”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Pulteney town.

  • All manufactured homes must comply with the stated State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Part 1221 and HUD standards.
  • District use tables exclude manufactured homes from single-family dwellings in at least Districts 1, 2, and 4.

  “GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: All manufactured homes in the Town of Pulteney shall conform to the following: 1. Construction Standards: Manufactured homes shall comply with standards prescribed in Part l221 of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and HUD Standards (See Definitions)”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  New structures with bathroom facilities inside Pulteney town using separate disposal of water-borne sewage or trade wastes.

  • The disposal facility must follow Department of Health Part 75 and Appendix 75-A, subsequent revisions, or duly adopted Town regulations, whichever are more strict.

  “Any new structure containing bathroom facilities shall be equipped with a system or facility for the separate disposal of water-borne sewage or trade wastes in accordance with standards for such facilities as set forth in New York State Department of Health Rules and Regulations Part 75 and Appendix 75-A, or any subsequent revisions thereto, or any duly adopted Town regulations, whichever are more strict.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Any proposed division of a parcel into two or more lots, blocks, or sites inside Pulteney town.

  • The subdivision definition includes resubdivision and certain lot-line or dimensional alterations.
  • Written Planning Board approval application is required before a sale contract or an erection permit in the proposed subdivision.

  “Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed to be made, and before any contract for the sale of, or any; thereof is made, and before any permit for the erection of a structure in such proposed subdivision shall be granted, the subdivider or his duly authorized agent shall apply in writing for approval of such proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedures.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways opening on Town highways inside Pulteney town.

  • Where Town rules conflict with State or County regulations, the more restrictive rule governs.
  • Residential driveway standards include an 18-inch minimum pipe diameter, 20-foot minimum pipe length, 12-foot minimum width, 5-foot minimum distance from property lines, and maximum 12% grade.

  “All driveways opening on Town highways shall be classified "Residential" or "Commercial" and shall conform to the following specifications (except where these may be in conflict with other State and County regulations, in which case, the more restrictive shall govern):”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town land-use/building permit applications.

  • The application identifies a $50 minimum fee for renewal and other listed matters.
  • The Town Board may amend the fee schedule by resolution.

  major project fee: per 1 USD per $1,000 of total major-project cost · minimum fee, renewal, other: 50 USD

  “Permit #_________ Issued __________ Fee _________ $1. per $1000 of total “Major” project cost Minimum Fee, Renewal, Other - $50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Pulteney town.

  • Do not begin work until the Building Inspector issues the permit.
  • The application must supply drawings, sketches, and information sufficient for code and zoning review.
  • Some projects require sealed New York-licensed professional drawings and information.

  “For all proposed projects you must submit drawings, sketches and information sufficient to enable the Zoning Officer and Building Inspector to determine whether the proposed project meets the minimum requirements of the Town Zoning Regulations and/or New York State Building Code.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Pulteney

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

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Pulteney District No. 3, the district intended to preserve agricultural land.

  minimum lot size: 80000 square feet · minimum lot size: 1.84 acres

  “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 3 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 80,000 sq. ft. (1.84 acres)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Pulteney District No. 4, the Hamlet district.

    “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 4 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 20,000 sq. ft. (.46 acres)”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Pulteney District No. 3, the agricultural-preservation district.

  front setback: 50 feet · side setback: 50 feet · rear setback: 50 feet

  “3. Minimum setbacks: front 50 feet; side 50 feet; rear 50 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Pulteney District No. 4, the Hamlet district.

    “3. Minimum setbacks: front 25 feet; side 10 feet; rear 25 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Pulteney District No. 3, the agricultural-preservation district.

  maximum structure coverage: 20 percent

  “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 3 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 80,000 sq. ft. (1.84 acres) 2. Minimum lot width: 200 feet 3. Minimum setbacks: front 50 feet; side 50 feet; rear 50 feet 4. Maximum structure height: 35 feet 5. Structure coverage: 20%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Pulteney District No. 4, the Hamlet district.

    “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 4 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 20,000 sq. ft. (.46 acres) 2. Minimum lot width: 75 feet 3. Minimum setbacks: front 25 feet; side 10 feet; rear 25 feet 4. Maximum structure height: 35 feet 5. Structure coverage: 35 %”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Pulteney District No. 3, the agricultural-preservation district.

  maximum structure height: 35 feet

  “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 3 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 80,000 sq. ft. (1.84 acres) 2. Minimum lot width: 200 feet 3. Minimum setbacks: front 50 feet; side 50 feet; rear 50 feet 4. Maximum structure height: 35 feet 5. Structure coverage: 20%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Pulteney District No. 4, the Hamlet district.

    “The dimensional requirements in Pulteney District No. 4 shall be as follows: 1. Minimum lot size: 20,000 sq. ft. (.46 acres) 2. Minimum lot width: 75 feet 3. Minimum setbacks: front 25 feet; side 10 feet; rear 25 feet 4. Maximum structure height: 35 feet 5. Structure coverage: 35 %”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Pulteney town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Pulteney town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Pulteney town outside a regulated recreational development.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Pulteney town.
• Septic permit — Onsite sewage systems serving land inside Pulteney 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.