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

Town of Ithaca’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, repair, removal, demolition, heating-equipment installation, and other code-regulated work inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • The quoted rule excepts signs as specified in Chapter 270 Article XXIX.
  • Chapter 125 lists enumerated permit exemptions, including certain small one-story accessory buildings meeting all stated cost, height, area, utility-system, and solid-fuel-appliance conditions.
  • Exemption does not authorize work that violates applicable codes.

  “No person, firm, corporation, association or other organization or entity shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, repair, removal, or demolition of any building or structure (including signs, except as specified in Article XXIX, Signs, of Chapter 270, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Ithaca), nor install heating equipment, nor undertake any other work which must conform to the Uniform Code, ECCCNYS, or ECS, without having applied for and obtained a building permit from a Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building work inside the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York.

  • Chapter 125 administers and enforces the NYS Uniform Code, NYS Energy Conservation Construction Code, and Town Energy Code Supplement.

  “administer and enforce the Uniform Code, ECCCNYS, ECS”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a Town building permit inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • Permitted work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • Permit holder must notify the Code Enforcement Officer at least 24 hours before work is ready for inspection.
  • A shorter scheduling interval is possible if approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.
  • A remote inspection may substitute for an in-person inspection only at the authorized official's discretion and satisfaction.

  advance notice before inspection: >= 24 hours (Inspections can be scheduled in less than 24 hours where approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.)

  “Permitted work shall be required to remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer. Permit holders shall be required to notify the Code Enforcement Officer a minimum of 24 hours in advance of when construction work is ready for inspection. Inspections can be scheduled in less than 24 hours where approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York.

  • The Town enforces its Town Code zoning and land-use ordinances.

  “Code Enforcement and Zoning is a major function of our municipality”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • The Town's adopted zoning chapter establishes zones and district-specific land-use regulations.

  “the Town of Ithaca is hereby divided into the following types of zones”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • Chapter 234 contains preliminary and final subdivision-review procedures, design standards, and plat requirements.

  “Article II General Procedures for Subdivision Review”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building permits inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • Fees are set from time to time by Town Board resolution.

  “To collect fees as set from time to time by Town Board resolution;”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications inside the Town of Ithaca.

  • Application must be in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer.
  • The application must contain information sufficient for a compliance determination and the items required by § 125-5(C).
  • Work may not commence unless a building permit is issued.

  “Applications for building permits. Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside the Town of Ithaca.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential buildings inside the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside the Town of Ithaca.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside the Town of Ithaca.
• Setbacks — Residential structures inside the Town of Ithaca.

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.