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

Town of Enfield’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside the Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York.

  • The town law concerns administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Work conducted pursuant to a building permit inside the Town of Enfield.

  • Applies to work conducted pursuant to a building permit.
  • The owner or authorized agent must contact the Code Enforcement Office at least 48 hours before an inspection.
  • More than one inspection may be necessary.

  inspection notice: >= 48 hours (before the owner wishes to have an inspection conducted)

  “Work conducted pursuant to a building permit must be visually inspected by the Code Enforcement Office”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Structures covered by the Town of Enfield building-permit application.

  • The structure may not be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion has been issued.

  “A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion is required, the structure shall not be occupied until above certificate has been issued.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Enfield town.

  • Planning Board approval applies.

  “To initiate review and approval of any subdivision or re-subdivision an owner/subdivider of land must submit to the Planning Board at least ten days prior to the regular meeting of the Board:”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applications inside Enfield town.

  • The application and permit fee are submitted to the Code Office or Town Clerk at Town Hall.
  • Once approved, the permit may be picked up by the applicant.

  “This permit application and permit fee is submitted to the Code Office or the Town Clerk at the Town Hall. [...] Once the permit is approved, the permit may be picked up by the applicant.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Enfield

Town of Enfield 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 sizeSpecified

  New construction on undeveloped lots, including siting a mobile home, or conversions where public wastewater treatment is unavailable inside Enfield town.

  • The usable area must be a single piece.
  • Lots created before August 17, 1977 that contain at least 30,000 square feet may be considered if all other code requirements are met.
  • The minimum may be halved if served by public water supply operated by a municipality or approved water company.
  • The permit issuing official may consider a waiver where a design professional designs the OWTS, submits an acceptable detailed development plan, and all other Article VI requirements are met.

  minimum usable lot area: 1 acre (for an OWTS construction permit)

  “Minimum lot size for an OWTS construction permit is one acre of usable area Minimum lot size must be met by a single piece.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater systems inside Enfield town, which is in Tompkins County.

  • Applies to onsite wastewater systems outside areas served by municipal sewer systems.

  “Tompkins County Health Department: A copy of the sewage system permit for all work requiring Septic systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New onsite wastewater systems and most repairs or replacements inside Enfield town outside areas served by municipal sewer systems.

  • A construction permit is also required before installing or replacing a septic tank, pump chamber, or holding tank.

  “An OWTS construction permit from Tompkins County Environmental Health is required before constructing a new OWTS or prior to conducting most repairs or replacing an existing system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside the Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes inside Enfield town.
• Local zoning — Land inside the Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Enfield town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Enfield 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.