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

Town of Owego’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Owego town that must conform to the Uniform Code and/or Energy Code.

  • Exceptions are listed in § 40-4B, including specified detached one-story structures no greater than 144 square feet and specified minor work.
  • A permit must be obtained from the Town before work begins.

  detached exempt structure maximum gross floor area: <= 144 square feet (One-story detached sheds, playhouses, or similar uses associated with listed dwellings.)

  “Building permits required. Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this section, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners acting as their own contractor for Town building-permit applications.

  • Homeowners acting as their own contractor must complete NYS Workers Compensation form CE-200 and submit a printed copy with the permit application.

  “Yes. Insurance and homeowners who act as their own contractor must go to the NYS Workers Compensation website to complete form CE-200 and provide a printed copy to accompany the building permit application.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises in the Town of Owego.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, Energy Code, other state law, or Chapter 40.

  “The requirements are published by the New York State Department of State and are adopted by the Town of Owego.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Applicable construction work subject to a Town building permit inside Owego town.

  • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • Remote inspection may replace in-person inspection at the authorized official's discretion when it provides equivalent information and quality.

  “Work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer or by an inspector authorized by the Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work subject to a building permit, and structures or portions converted to another use or occupancy classification, inside Owego town.

  • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is required.
  • The Town must inspect before issuance.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued only when safe-occupancy conditions in § 40-7D are met.

  “A certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit and for all structures, buildings, or portions thereof which are converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Owego, Tioga County, New York.

  • Zoning regulations are contained in Chapter 125 of the Town Code.

  “The Zoning Board of Appeals has the authority to grant Special Use Permits, Area and Use Variances as well as make interpretations of the Town’s zoning regulations, which are contained in Chapter 125 of the Code of the Town of Owego.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Owego town.

  • The Town directs users to confirm the current district with Planning & Zoning before issuance of a building or other permit because map changes may not be updated.

  “The Town of Owego’s map is available at this link: Tioga County Geographic Information Tool. In the top right corner of this map is an icon for “Layer List”. Click here, then scroll to the bottom of the list and click on “Town of Owego Zoning Districts” .”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent or travel-trailer camping inside Owego town.

  • Camping is permitted in Agricultural (AG) zoning districts only with a camping permit, or at an approved campground.

  “Camping in a tent or travel trailer is permitted in Agricultural (AG) zoning districts with a camping permit or at an approved campground.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Single-wide mobile homes inside Owego town.

  • Existing single-wide mobile homes are allowed only if a permit is on file in the Town Planning & Zoning office.

  “Single wide mobile homes are not permitted in the Town of Owego. Existing single wide mobile homes are allowed provided a permit is on file in the town's Planning & Zoning office.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Owego town.

  • Building permits are issued in person only.
  • Applicants are encouraged to call to arrange a meeting with the Code Enforcement Officer.

  “Building permits are issued in person only. Applicants are encouraged to call the office to arrange a time to meet with the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Owego

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

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential uses in the Residential A (RA) District inside Owego town.

  • The lower of the two stated caps applies.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Or three stories, whichever is less.) · maximum stories: <= 3 stories (Or 35 feet, whichever is less.)

  “Building height: 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic-system plans submitted with a building-permit application inside Owego town.

  • The Town's building-permit requirements call for an engineered septic plan approved by the Tioga County Health Department.

  “For septic systems, an engineered septic plan approved by the Tioga County Health Department (607-687-8565).”

Still unanswered

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

• Minimum dwelling size — Residential uses in the Residential A (RA) District inside Owego town.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Owego town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Owego town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Owego town.
• Septic permit — On-site septic systems inside Owego 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.