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

Town of East Hampton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, construction, enlargement, removal, improvement, transportation, or demolition of a building or structure in the Town of East Hampton.

  • A particular Code provision may explicitly exempt an action from a building permit.
  • A permit is also required for listed-category conversions or changes of use.

  “Commence, cause or continue the erection, construction, enlargement, removal, improvement, transportation or demolition of any building or structure, or any portion thereof, unless a particular provision of this Code explicitly exempts the particular action from the need for a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises in the Town of East Hampton.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law, or the local law.
  • NYStretch applies to applicable permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2023, subject to the stated exception for Section R403.6.2.

  “This local law provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code ("Uniform Code") and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code ("Energy Code") in the Town of East Hampton.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work governed by the Town Building Construction article.

  • Inspections are those necessary or proper for the Building Inspector to carry out duties.

  “He shall make all inspections which are necessary or proper for the carrying out of his duties.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings or structures erected in the Town of East Hampton.

  • Updated CO required upon a property ownership change, except where an updated CO was obtained no more than six months before transfer or transfer is solely for estate planning with unchanged beneficial ownership.
  • Altered buildings requiring a permit may not continue to be occupied more than 30 days after completion without a CO.

  “No building or structure hereafter erected shall be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Building Inspector.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in the Town of East Hampton.

  • The residential dimensional table identifies A10, A5, A3, A2, A, B, MF, and attached dwelling units pursuant to open-space subdivision approval.
  • Use and dimensional tables and zoning maps are attachments to Chapter 255.

  “A10 Residence A5 Residence A3 Residence A2 Residence A Residence B Residence MF Multifamily Residence Attached Dwelling Units Pursuant to Open Space Subdivision Approval”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Building-permit applications for land within the Town Flood Hazard Overlay District.

  • Plans must provide the stated elevation and floodproofing information; further engineering or architectural certificates may be required by the Building Inspector.
  • State elevation-code changes apply to Town permit applications filed on or after December 31, 2025.

  “Applications for a building permit for lands within the Flood Hazard Overlay District as defined by § 255-3-40 of Chapter 255, Zoning, of the Town Code shall include and show the following additional information on the plans and specifications submitted:”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building, sign, and revegetation permits.

  • Fees are set from time to time by Town Board resolution and may differ by permit type or category.
  • Current fees are maintained by the Building Inspector and made available to the public.

  “The office of the Building Inspector shall maintain a current copy of all such fees and shall make the same available to any member of the public wishing to obtain a copy of the same.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building Department applications in the Town of East Hampton.

  • Applications must be submitted digitally through OpenGov.
  • An OpenGov account is required before submitting an application.

  “ALL Building Department applications must be submitted digitally through our Digital Portal OpenGov”

Rules another office applies inside Town of East Hampton

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A10 Residence District inside the Town of East Hampton.

  • Subject to the dimensional-table notes and applicable overlay restrictions.

  minimum habitable floor area: 600 square feet

  “Habitable floor area Minimum (square feet) 600 600 600 600 600 600 400 500”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — B Residence District inside the Town of East Hampton.

    “Habitable floor area Minimum (square feet) 600 600 600 600 600 600 400 500”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A10, A5, A3, A2, A, B, MF, and Attached Dwelling Units pursuant to Open Space Subdivision Approval districts inside the Town of East Hampton.

  • The values correspond in order to the district headings in the dimensional table.

  minimum lot area by district: A10 425,000; A5 200,000; A3 125,000; A2 84,000; A 40,000; B 20,000; MF 170,000; attached dwelling units n/a square feet

  “Minimum (square feet) 425,000 200,000 125,000 84,000 40,000 20,000 170,000 n/a”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units within a residence or detached structure in A10, A5, A3, A2, A, B, and MF residential districts inside the Town of East Hampton.

  • The residential use table marks this use permitted in A10, A5, A3, A2, A, B, and MF, prohibited in AHO, and special-permit use in LBO, RO, RS, NB, CB, WF, and CI; the table marks it prohibited in CS and PC.

  “(5) Accessory dwelling unit (within residence or detached structure) P P P P P P P X SP X SP SP SP SP SP X X”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in the Town of East Hampton.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside the Town of East Hampton.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside the Town of East Hampton.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside the Town of East Hampton.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside the Town of East Hampton.

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.